APPLETON, Wis. -- The Carroll University women's basketball team held off a determined effort by Lawrence University on Saturday and posted a 67-58 Midwest Conference victory at Alexander Gymnasium.
Janelle Groer had a double-double for Carroll (10-8, 5-6 MWC) with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Cathy Kaye paced Lawrence (2-14, 0-10) with 15 points and five assists. Laura Aerts added 13 points and Katie Van Es had 12 for the Vikings.
Lawrence led early and was up 21-20 with 4:41 left in the opening half. Carroll finished the half on a 13-6 run to take a 33-27 lead at the break.
The Vikings came out cold early in the second half, and Carroll scored the first 10 points of the half to take a 43-27 lead with 13:21 left. Kanesha Walker hit a pair of free throws with 12:26 left to break the scoring drought for Lawrence.
Carroll would lead by as many as 17 points, but the Vikings battled back. Lawrence scored seven straight points, including four by Van Es, to cut the margin to 48-38 with 9:45 remaining.
Carroll pushed the lead back to 15 points, but Lawrence responded with a 9-1 run, capped by a pair of Katie Condon free throws, to cut the lead to 54-47 with 4:22 left.
Lawrence could get no closer, and Carroll hit just enough free throws, 5 of 8 in the final 1:16, to keep the Vikings at bay.
Lyndsey Seewald added 12 points for Carroll, and Leah Lemke and Karen Hoewisch had 11 points apiece.
Lawrence returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts St. Norbert College.