PLYMOUTH - St. Norbert College opened Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play with a 62-46 win over Lakeland University at Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Green Knights (4-1, 1-0 NACC) committed just 12 turnovers and got up 70 field-goal attempts to maximize their offensive chances and eventually pull away from the Muskies (1-6, 0-1). St. Norbert improved to an unblemished 22-0 all-time against Lakeland.

Lakeland built a 14-8 lead just over six minutes into the game before St. Norbert responded with a 7-0 run to close out the first quarter. Natalie Cerrato got the skein started with a 3-pointer, and Kaycee Gierczak followed with a layup. Olivia DeCleene canned a pair of free throws with 48 seconds left in the period to put the Green Knights ahead 15-14.

The Muskies went back ahead 16-15 just 20 seconds into the second quarter, but St. Norbert would hold the host scoreless for the next 9:05 to take control. Chloe Gruszynski and Casey Jepson made baskets on St. Norbert's next two possessions for a 19-16 lead. Emma Morrisey, DeCleene and Cerrato all had hoops to put the Green Knights ahead 25-16 with 1:46 left before halftime. St. Norbert led 25-18 at the break.

St. Norbert led 34-26 with 6:07 left in the third quarter before going on a decisive 9-0 run to pull away for good. Gruszynski drained a jumper, Taylor Thiry split a pair of free throws, Cerrato splashed a 3-pointer, DeCleene also split a pair of free throws, and Morrisey bottomed a jumper for a 43-26 lead with 2:39 left in the period. St. Norbert, which led 45-27 at the end of the third quarter, saw its lead cut to 48-39 with 6:39 left but a DeCleene 3-pointer but it ahead by double digits to stay.

The Green Knights shot 34.3 percent (24-for-70) from the floor and held a commanding 50-37 rebounding advantage. DeCleene had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Jepson had 12 points and Gierczak 11 points.

Lakeland, which shot 31.7 percent (19-for-60) from the floor, got a team-high 12 points from Kacey Gardner.