APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University women’s basketball team endured a night of ice-cold shooting and dropped a 58-52 nonconference decision to Finlandia University on Thursday at Alexander Gymnasium.
The Vikings shot only 32.4 percent (22-68) from the floor, including 26.3 percent (5-19) from 3-point range. Lawrence (1-10) also hit only 3 of 10 shots from the foul line.
Marissa Burke led Finlandia (4-12) with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Burke was only 5-for-14 from the floor, but she went 4-for-7 from 3-point range. Hailey Gervais added 15 points, and Emma Cole picked up 10 rebounds for the Lions.
Amber Lisowe paced Lawrence with 17 points, and freshman forward Katie Schumacher added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds to go along with three steals and a block.
Finlandia took control of the game midway through the first half when the Lions went on a 14-2 run to grab a 24-13 lead with 6:47 left before the break.
The Lions led 32-21 at the half and built that lead to as many as 19 points before the Vikings rallied late. Finlandia got its final field goal of the game on Gervais’ layup with 6:25 remaining and led 53-34.
Lawrence scored the next eight points as Alex Deshler, Kassidy Rinehart and Patsy Kealey all hit jumpers and Katie Schumacher added a layup to cut the lead to 53-42 with 3:47 left.
After a pair of Brierra Ruska free throws for the Lions, Lisowe hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 55-45 with 2:04 remaining. Finlandia turned it over on its next three possessions, but Lawrence couldn’t take advantage by missing a pair of 3-pointers.
After Paige Yoho hit two more free throws to push the lead to 57-45 with 1:03 left, Cathy Kaye hit a jumper for the Vikings and Lisowe followed with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 57-50 with 41 seconds left. After a Yoho free throw, Rinehart scored on a layup for the final margin.
Lawrence returns to action next Wednesday when it hosts Lake Forest College in a Midwest Conference game.