PLYMOUTH, Wis. -- Another first half, another first half deficit. Just as in the Alverno College Inferno's last two games they found themselves in a similar spot, trailing at the half. Yet unlike the previous come-from-behind victories, only one and three points, today they found themselves trailing by 15 to host Lakeland College, but outscored the host team 47-26 in the second period for their third-consecutive win, and first victory over the Muskies.

"We picked up the tempo in the second half," Alverno head coach Brad Duckworth said. "I said 'Let's get off of red and turn it to medium-yellow, not quite full green, but let's get above yellow and pick up the pace.' The team responded and did that. Gabby (Allen) came out in the second half and got hot, and everyone fed off of her."

The Inferno (6-8, 4-4 NAC) scored only 14 points in the first period, but Allen (Milwaukee, Wis./Bay View) led a 7-0 run to begin the second half, connecting on two layups and a 3-point shot to cut the Muskies' (10-3, 5-1 NAC) lead nearly in half in just over 2 minutes of game time. Allen scored 21 of her game-high 24 points in the second half, shooting 8-of-10 from the floor in the period and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.

Alverno shot 56.3 percent (18-of-32) from the floor in the second half, including an incredible 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from the 3-point arc. In addition to Allen's 3-pointer, Shataya McComb (Kingston, N.Y.) and Kelsey Kochanowski (Oak Creek, Wis.) each shot a perfect 2-for-2 from downtown in the period.

The first half was a completely different story, compared to the second half, offensively.

To begin the game the Inferno took the early 4-0 lead with just over a minute of play, but would be held to just three free throws the next 13 minutes, 4 seconds, shooting 0-of-12 from the field and committing 13 turnovers in the stretch as Lakeland took a 21-7 lead.

Freshman center Kaitlin Schaeren (New Berlin, Wis./West) would end the Alverno scoring drought with 3:51 remaining in the first half on an offensive rebound and put back. Schaeren's second put back a few possessions later would be the Inferno's fourth and final field goal of the period, trailing 29-14 at the break.

The Inferno managed to shoot only 20 percent (4-of-20) in the first half compared to the host Muskies 35.7 percent (10-of-28) accuracy, and committed 14 first half turnovers to Lakeland's six.

"I said to the team at halftime that we're the second best field goal percentage team in the conference," Duckworth said. "Law of probability says that if you're not shooting well in one half, you're going to get a half that will balance itself out. If you're really a 40 percent shooting team, you're going to get a half back."

The Inferno ended up shooting 42.3 percent from the floor for the game, and committed only nine second half turnovers.

In the second half with 11:41 to play, Alverno would take the lead, 38-37, on a steal and fast break layup by McComb (12 points, 6 rebounds). Lakeland would take back the lead on a 3-point shot two possessions later, but Kochanowski (8 points, 4 rebounds) and McComb would match with back-to-back 3-point field goals to take the 44-40 lead in the game, which would not be relinquished.

The host Muskies would cut the game to 58-55 with just under a minute to play on a jumper by KC Blahnik (Gladstone, Mich.), who led Lakeland with 16 points and 11 rebounds. But the Inferno would go 3-of-4 on free throws the final seconds of the game to pull away with the 61-55 victory.

For the fourth straight game Alverno outrebounded their opponent, winning the rebounding battle 44-34 today. Lisa Sorgi (Milwaukee, Wis./Greenfield) had 11 rebounds to lead the Inferno.

"I thought tonight was decided yesterday in practice," Duckworth said. "We had commitment from 12 players yesterday in practice. It was just a different focus. I thought that everybody came into the gym yesterday and really pressured and worked, because that's what they were going to do in the game, and that was just as big as a factor as anything in the win today."

The Inferno have a two-week break before their next game on Saturday, Jan. 23, at Marian University. Game time is set for 2 p.m. in Fond du Lac, Wis.