APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University women's basketball team rallied Saturday but came up short in a 60-49 nonconference loss to Lakeland University at Alexander Gymnasium.
    Lakeland built a 16-point advantage in the third quarter, but the Vikings trimmed the lead to eight before the Muskies recovered and hung on for the win.
    Mallory Meyer led Lawrence (1-4) with 15 points and she pulled down six rebounds. Emma Carlson posted a double-double for the Vikings with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Maggie Culver added eight points and seven rebounds for the Vikings.
    Lakeland (1-5) built an early nine-point edge as the Vikings' shooting went cold. Lawrence battled back in the second quarter as Meyer took command. Meyer scored 11 consecutive points for the Vikings as Lawrence cut the Lakeland lead from 19-7 to 24-18 with 4:17 left before the break. 
    After Caroline Sharp's layup cut the lead to 24-20 with 1:59 left, the Muskies surged farther ahead. Lakeland scored eight straight points in the final 1:45 to push the lead to 32-20 at the half.
    Lakeland would lead by as many as 16 points in the third quarter and were up 48-35 with 8:08 remaining. Sharpe then drained a 3-pointer, and Culver hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 48-40 with 6:45 left. 
    Kerstin Sauerbrei answered with a 3-pointer for the Muskies, but Culver came right back with a jumper to cut the margin to 51-42. Lawrence couldn't draw any closer as Mackenzie Miller hit a pair of crucial jumpers to keep Lakeland comfortably ahead.
    Miller finished with a game-high 16 points off the bench for Lakeland.
    Lawrence returns to action on Tuesday as the Vikings travel to Beloit College to open Midwest Conference play.