APPLETON, Wis. -- A big third quarter proved to be the difference Saturday as the Lawrence University women's basketball team fell 73-62 to Illinois College in a Midwest Conference game at Alexander Gymnasium.
    Lawrence led by double digits in the first half, but Illinois College scored 31 points in the third quarter to surge ahead. The Vikings were able to draw within 10 points early in the fourth quarter but could pull no closer.
    Kenya Earl led Lawrence (9-12, 6-7 MWC) and all scorers with 15 points and she grabbed eight rebounds. Mallory Meyer came off the bench for the Vikings to score 13 points and pull down a team-high nine rebounds. Maggie Culver also was in double digits for Lawrence with 10 points, and she had eight rebounds.
    Ashlyn Wightman led Illinois College (9-10, 8-6) with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
    The game was tied early at 13-13 when the Vikings scored 11 consecutive points. After a pair of free throws from Meyer, Ashley Batac hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Culver followed with another trey to give Lawrence a 24-13 advantage.
    The Lady Blues chipped away at the lead and closed to 32-27 at the half.
    Lawrence was still holding a 37-36 lead when Illinois College scored 22 points over the final 4:59 of the third quarter to build a 58-42 lead heading to the fourth quarter. Illinois College went 10-for-17 from the floor in the third quarter.
    The Vikings started strong in the final period as Earl and Meyer scored four points apiece to slice Illinois College's lead to 60-50 with 6:50 left. The Lady Blues responded by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead back to 66-50.
    Lawrence trimmed the lead back to 71-60 when Delaney Brooks buried a 3-pointer, and Earl followed with a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 71-62 with 1:58 left. The Vikings were forced to foul but were unable to draw any closer.
    Lawrence had a rough shooting night from long range as the Vikings went just 5-of-20 from beyond the arc. Lawrence also shot an uncharacteristic 59.1 percent from the foul line, hitting just 13-of-22 from the stripe.
    Lawrence finishes its home schedule on Sunday when the Vikings host Monmouth College.