APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University women's basketball team turned up the heat defensively in the second half, and that allowed the Vikings to pull away for a 72-57 nonconference victory over Marian College on Tuesday at Alexander Gymnasium.
Jenny Stoner and Carrie Van Groll scored 17 points apiece to pace Lawrence (2-1), and Caresse Reiland had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Coleen Moody scored 15 points to lead Marian (0-3).
The Vikings trailed by as many as seven points in the first half but were only down two at the break. Marian's Stephanie Bouchard hit a 3-pointer 13 seconds into the second half to put Marian up 40-35, but the Sabres would go another 8:55 without scoring a point.
During that stretch, Lawrence held Marian to 0-for-13 shooting from the floor and forced six turnovers.
Lawrence took advantage by scoring 16 consecutive points. Lawrence took the lead for good at 41-40 on Stoner's free throw with 16:14 left, and Sarah Ehlinger's layup with 11:09 remaining gave the Vikings a 51-40 lead and capped the outburst.
Marian never got closer than nine points after that, and the Vikings led by as many as 20.
Lawrence returns to action on Nov. 30 when it travels to Lake Forest College to begin Midwest Conference play.