NEW ULM, Minn. – The Lakeland University women's basketball team drained 14 three-pointers and used its proficiency from long range to pull away in the fourth quarter and defeat Martin Luther (Minn.) College 74-57 Wednesday night in a non-conference game.

The Muskies made 14 of 28 three-pointers in all, easily their season high for triples and most since hitting 14 against Illinois Tech on Feb. 19, 2020. Lakeland led almost the whole way in the first-ever meeting between the teams but didn't pull away until the fourth quarter in improving to 2-7 overall this season.

The Muskies held a slim 52-49 lead going into the final quarter but opened the lead up with three consecutive three-pointers. Continuing to attack the Maritn Luther (7-5 overall) zone, Alexis Johnson (Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) hit a three-pointer, Madeline Sasis (Fr.-Huntley, Ill.) banked in a three and Jenna Shea (Jr.-Appleton, Wis.) added another from the right wing, giving Lakeland a 61-49 lead with 6 minutes, 57 seconds left in the game.

Lauryn Johnson (Sr.-Kenosha, Wis.) also added a basket to extend the Muskies' run to 13-0 going back to the end of the third quarter, and the Knights never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way. Shea and Johnson added three-pointers down the stretch as Lakeland hit 5 of 8 from deep in the fourth quarter and 8 of 12 from three in the second half.

The Muskies led 17-11 after the first quarter and opened up to an 11-point lead twice early in the second period, the second time on a layup by Alexis Johnson making it 30-19 with 4:40 left in the first half. Martin Luther closed the half on a run, though, outscoring Lakeland 14-3 the rest of the way to take a 34-33 lead into the break after a three by Mya Morris with 20 seconds left in the half.

The teams went back and forth in the third quarter with four ties and three lead changes. MLC took its last lead at 44-42 on a putback by Ava Stein with 4:41 left in the third, and the teams were tied before Shea hit another three to put Lakeland ahead for good at 50-47 with 1:06 left in the period.

Alexis Johnson finished with a game-high 17 points, Sasis scored a career-high 13 including three three-pointers and Shea added 12 points, all coming on three-point bombs, as well as a career-high seven rebounds. Sasis and Shea helped the Muskies to a big 32-9 advantage in points from the bench.

Lauryn Johnson also added eight points, six rebounds and five assists, Lydia Levra (So.-Elk Mound, Wis.) finished with a career-best five assists and Sadie Grabow (So.-Bourbonnais, Ill.) added four steals.

Morris and Stein led Martin Luther with 13 points each. The Knights, members of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, shot 32.9% (23 of 70) including 5 of 25 from three-point range.

Lakeland continues its swing in Minnesota on Friday when it takes on Crown College on Friday at 2 p.m. in St. Bonifacius, Minn.