The Lakeland College women's basketball team saved its best for last, ending the game on a 28-4 run to roar back and defeat Dominican (Ill.) University 73-57 Saturday afternoon at the Woltzen Gymnasium.

After trailing virtually the entire game, the Muskies dominated the final 10 minutes with a spurt that included 21 straight points. Lakeland finally wore down an undermanned Dominican team and improved to 6-8 overall and 3-5 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

The Muskies took over by owning play inside. Leah Eisner (Sr.-Stevens Point, Wis.) and Vashia Gordon (Sr.-Green Bay, Wis.) combined for 21 points and six steals in the final 20 minutes, and both were heavily involved in the late surge.

Gordon scored 10 points and Eisner added seven over the game's final nine minutes. Both converted key three-point plays and helped Lakeland shoot 47.5% in the half (16 of 33).

Gordon helped provide a spark and actually scored four quick points when she refused to be denied after missing the second of two free throws. She grabbed her own rebound twice before converting and being fouled, and then made that free throw to cut the Stars' lead to 53-51 with 8:52 to play.

Lakeland took the lead for good when Trista Barron (So.-Escanaba, Mich.) made two free throws for a 57-55 edge, and Eisner followed the next time down with a basket and the foul. She also converted the free throw, and the Muskies were off and running.

Lakeland picked up its defense in the second half, forcing Dominican (0-14 overall, 0-8 NACC) into 17 turnovers while committing just three turnovers of its own. The Muskies took advantage of 28 Stars turnovers in the game and also committed just 10 turnovers of their own, including a mere three in the second half.

The hosts needed all of those advantages against a Dominican team that came out hungry for its first win and played with poise for 30 minutes. The Stars never trailed in the first half and led by as many as 12 points, eventually taking a 37-28 lead into halftime.

Dominican sustained a crushing blow late in the first half, though, when senior guard Katie Budz went down with a knee injury and did not return. Budz had three points but also five assists and two steals in the first half and was helping frustrate Lakeland's guards, and her departure left an already thin team short a key player in the backcourt in the second half.

Eisner finished with 15 points to lead the Muskies, who also received important contributions from a number of reserves. Bailey Grayvold (Fr.-Norway, Mich.) scored 11 points off the bench, Lexie Greenheck (So.-Oostburg, Wis.) chipped in 10 and Kaytlyn Eidson (Fr.-Twin Lakes, Wis.) added a career-high nine as Lakeland got 35 points from its bench.

The Muskies are back in action Wednesday night when they host Alverno College at 7 p.m. at Woltzen Gynasium.