Becky Mayo (Sr.-Gladstone, Mich.) and Leah Eisner (Jr.-Stevens Point, Wis.) both scored 17 points and Lakeland College won its second game in as many nights with a 63-56 victory over Alma (Mich.) College in a non-conference tilt Thursday afternoon at Woltzen Gymnasium.
The Muskies got a quick jump to start the second half and it proved to be the difference, as the Scots fought back and hung around but never were able to lead in the game. Lakeland improved to 6-8 overall, while Alma dropped to 3-9 overall this season.
Lakeland led from the start and took a 27-21 lead into halftime, as the two teams limped into the break offensively. The Muskies were held scoreless the final 6:47 of the first half after a layup by Liz Morrison (Fr.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.), but the Scots scored just four points themselves over that time, and none in the final 4:20 of the period.
Lakeland asserted control with a 13-3 run over just over 2 1/2 minutes to start the second half. Eisner scored inside twice and knocked down a three-pointer, and Taylor Jandrin (Jr.-Forestville, Wis.) and Aimee Thrune (Jr.-Prairie du Sac, Wis.) both added threes as the Muskies took a 40-24 lead.
The Muskies still led by 16 at 45-29 after a three-point play by Mayo with 15:43 to play, but the Scots got back into the game. A quick 10-0 run led by two three-pointers by Mallory Pruett made it 45-39, and Alma continued to chip away, getting as close as 52-48 with 6:21 to play after Pruett scored in the lane.
Eisner scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half, and she followed Pruett's layup with six straight points, including another three-pointer to make it 58-48 with 4:40 to play. The Scots never got closer than six points the rest of the way.
Mayo finished with her fifth double-double this season with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and carried the Muskies in the first half with 10 points and seven boards before the intermission. Thrune also added seven assists, and Lakeland made 9-of-18 from three-point range while shooting 22-of-53 for the game (41.5%).
Alma was led by Bailey Gooding, who scored 18 points off the bench, including 12 in the first half to keep the Scots close. Alma shot 41.8% (23-of-55) and hit all six of its three-pointers in the second half. The game featured a buffet of turnovers, with the Scots committing 24 and the Muskies turning it over 23 times.
Lakeland returns to Northern Athletics Conference play Saturday when it hosts Dominican (Ill.) University at 2 p.m. at Woltzen Gymnasium. The game is the first of a women's/men's doubleheader, with the Muskie men's game against the Stars to follow at 4:15.