APPLETON, Wis. -- Lawrence University women's basketball standout Caresse Reiland recorded the first triple-double in the Midwest Conference this season, but it wasn't enough for the Vikings, as they fell 66-51 to visiting Monmouth College Friday night at Alexander Gymnasium.
Reiland, a sophomore forward from Wauwatosa, Wis., scored 16 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and blocked a school-record 10 shots for the Vikings (4-14, 1-10 MWC). She broke the 25-year-old record for blocked shots in a game, eight, set by Robin Chapman vs. Edgewood College on Jan. 22, 1983. Jenny Stoner added 12 points for Lawrence, which has now dropped five straight.
Elise Waldorf paced Monmouth (10-8, 6-5) with 14 points. Melissa Gorski added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Ashley Yeast pulled down 15 boards for the Scots and broke the school's career rebounding record in the process.
The Vikings trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half, but trimmed that margin to 30-21 at the half. Lawrence then trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half before mounting a rally.
Lawrence trailed 50-35 with nine minutes left, but the Vikings scored the next six points, including four by Reiland, to cut the margin to 50-41 with 7:49 remaining. After a pair of free throws from Waldorf, Reiland converted a three-point play, and Sarah Ehlinger followed with a jumper to cut the lead to 52-46 with 6:01 left.
That's as close as the Vikings would get. After Monmouth got the lead back to nine, Ehlinger hit a jumper and Reiland connected on a free throw to slice the lead back to six at 55-49.
Reiland did her best to keep it close, picking up blocks nine and 10 on the next two minutes, but Monmouth hit eight of nine free throws in the final 1:26 to seal the victory.
Lawrence is back in action at home Saturday when it faces Lake Forest College.