PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Lakeland University shot a frigid 25.0% for the game and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse rolled to a 93-54 win in a non-conference women's basketball matchup at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.
The Muskies played from behind almost from the start and struggled especially offensively in dropping their second straight game this week. Lakeland also lost to a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team for the third time in six games this season, falling to 2-4 overall.
The taller and experienced Eagles (4-1 overall) scored their first points just five seconds after the tip-off and never trailed the rest of the way. UW-L built a double-digit lead by late in the first quarter and led 44-18 at halftime.
Lakeland's afternoon was foreshadowed early, as the Muskies missed eight of their first nine shots and committed five turnovers in the first 6 1/2 minutes. Lakeland made just 3 of 16 shots in the first quarter and 5 of 28 in the first half, shooting 17.9% in the opening half.
The Muskies improved slightly from the field in the second half, making 10 of 32 field goals and also getting to the free throw line 21 times, making 15. Lakeland hit 22 of 31 foul shots in all (71.0%), but UW-L led by as many as 45 in the third quarter. The Muskies did mount a mini-rally in the fourth quarter with nine straight points capped by a short jumper by
Meghan MacPhee (
So.-Marquette, Mich.) to make it 83-51.
Lakeland finished making 15 of 60 field goals, including 2 of 15 from three-point range.
Alexis Johnson (
Jr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) was a bright spot throughout, leading the team with 10 points and five steals and also adding five rebounds.
A.T. Bartlett (
Jr.-Farmington Hills, Mich.) added eight points and
Halle Boldt (
Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) posted six points and seven rebounds.
Lauryn Johnson (
Jr.-Kenosha, Wis.) also added four points and seven rebounds. The Muskies did force the Eagles into 22 turnovers and on a few occasions were able to get the pace to their liking, winding up with a 15-10 advantage in fast break points.
UW-La Crosse finished the game shooting 54.7%, making 35 of 64 shots including 21 of 35 (60.0%) in the second half. Lindsey Knuth and Ellie Waukau scored 13 points each off the bench and Ali Sprangers added 10 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Muskies are off for more than a week and do not play again until after Thanksgiving in December when they host Benedictine University Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:15 p.m.
