SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior went on a deciding 12-0 run in the fourth quarter and the Lakeland University women's basketball team was defeated 72-57 Tuesday night in a non-conference game.

The Muskies came back from an eight-point deficit late in the third quarter to take the lead but struggled down the stretch for the second straight game. Lakeland dropped to 2-4 overall heading into its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener against Aurora University Saturday.

The Muskies and Yellowjackets (3-4 overall) rode momentum swings most of the game, with the teams combining for 11 ties and five lead changes. Lakeland rode one of those waves to take a 48-47 lead with 7 minutes, 12 seconds left in the game, with a 13-2 surge over the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter capped by a jumper by A.T. Bartlett (So.-Farmington Hills, Mich.).

UW-Superior answered with five straight points, but Kerstin Sauerbrei (Sr.-Ripon, Wis.) made a three-pointer with 5:43 to play to get the Muskies back within 52-51. Lakeland would go dry over the next four minutes, though, while Superior scored on six of its next seven trips down the court, including five points coming after offensive rebounds, and area where the Yellowjackets had a big advantage all night.

UW-Superior outrebounded Lakeland 47-32, including 20 offensive rebounds which the hosts turned into a big 25-10 advantage in second chance points. An offensive board and three-point play by Charlotte Ferstl put the Yellowjackets ahead 59-51, and when Ferstl split two free throws with 1:46 left UWS held a 64-51 lead. The Muskies got no closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Lakeland got off to a good start, leading 16-7 late in the first quarter after consecutive three-pointers by Bartlett and Bree Arsenault (Sr.-Hermansville, Mich.). The game would settle down into a back-and-forth in the second quarter, but the Muskies still held a 27-26 lead at halftime and extended it to six early in the third quarter on a steal and layup by Alexis Johnson (So.-Sheboygan, Wis.) for a 37-31 lead.

UW-Superior answered with what would be the first of two big runs in the second half, outscoring Lakeland 14-0 to take a 45-37 lead. Caris Jaeger (Fr.-Oostburg, Wis.) and Sauerbrei answered with three-pointers, though, and the Muskies trailed just 45-43 after three quarters.

Sauerbrei finished with 13 points including four three-pointers for the second straight game. Her four triples give her 131 for her Lakeland career, and she surpassed Kayla Clark (2013-17) and her 130 career threes for third on the school's all-time career three-point field goals made list.

Jenna Caterino (Jr.-Stanton, Mich.) scored 12 points and Bartlett added 11 points plus five rebounds and four assists. Lakeland shot 34.6%, making 18 of 52 field goals, including 8 of 25 from three-point range (32.0%).

UW-Superior shot 37.5% (24 of 64), including 21 of 28 from the free throw line (75.0%). Ferstl led the hosts with 17 points and 12 rebounds and Elise Besonen added 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Lakeland is back home Saturday to host Aurora with game time in the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium set for 2 p.m.