PLYMOUTH, Wis. -- Alverno College scored just two points in the first 10 minutes of the game and wasn't able to overcome the slow start in a 66-55 loss to host Lakeland College, the fourth-straight loss for the Inferno.
The Muskies (11-6, 6-5 Northern Athletics Conference) opened up the game 7-0, and kept the Inferno (5-12, 2-9) scoreless until Kristen Speerschneider (New Franken, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) scored on a fast break layup to put the visitors on the scoreboard.
The offensive woes would continue for Alverno as Lakeland would increase its lead to 17-2, until sophomore Anna Boteva (La Crosse, Wis./Central) would connect from the 3-point arc on three of the Inferno's next four possessions to make the score 21-13.
Lakeland would close out the first half on a 13-2 run for a 34-15 halftime advantage, as it forced 13 turnovers and held the Inferno to under 30 percent shooting in the period.
The Inferno opened up the second half on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 34-24, but the Muskies would maintain a double-digit lead until the 3-minute mark when an Alyssa Jensen (Cudahy, Wis.) layup would trim the lead to eight, 56-48.
Unfortunately for the Inferno, the Muskies would make enough of their free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
The Inferno's Alicia Kontowski (South Milwaukee, Wis.) would explode for 20 second-half points, and set a new career high for the third time in four games with 24 points to lead all scorers. She shot 9-of-16 from the floor, also setting a new career high with the nine makes.
Boteva was the only other Inferno player to reach double-digits, tying a career high of her own with 11 points.
The Muskies had three players with 11 points and Jessica Genke grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the double-double. Lakeland dominated the boards, 46-27, holding the Inferno to just five offensive rebounds.
Alverno hosts NAC North Division leader Wisconsin Lutheran College on Thursday at 7 p.m.
