SUPERIOR, Wis. – Junior Kaelyn Christian (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville Senior) scored 15 points on 7-for-17 shooting to lead the UW-Superior women's basketball team in a 67-62 loss to Finlandia at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium on Thursday.
 
The Yellowjackets, playing their first game in 26 days, held a 31-28 edge at halftime before the Lions outscored Superior by eight in the second half to move to .500 on the season at 7-7. UWS (2-9) also received 12 points and five rebounds off the bench from sophomore Bryton Kukowski (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown) in the loss. 
 
Superior shot 44 percent from the field as a team and 70 percent from the foul line in the game, which featured eight lead changes and two ties.
 
UWS shot better than 56 percent in the second quarter to help erase a slight 11-10 deficit through the first stanza. Kaija Davies (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) finished off a 9-2 run with a jumper at the 7:45 mark of the period that made it a 19-13 game. Elise Besonen (Ewen, Mich./Ewen-Trout Creek) later pushed the lead 26-17 on a 3-pointer with 5:22 left in the half prior to Finlandia cutting the advantage 26-24 with a Maija Rice jumper with just over two minutes left.
 
The 'Jackets again grabbed a nine-point lead at 41-32 with a Christian jumper with 2:33 gone in the third quarter. The Lions, though, rallied to take lead, 45-43, as Martina Jahfetson knocke down a trey with 2:20 left.
 
The Yellowjackets never led in the fourth quarter, twice getting to within one point, including when Kukowski hit two of her eight made free throws, making 63-62 with 1:35 to play.
 
Finlandia used a game-high 24 points from Katie Lundeen, who also reached the 1,000-point mark for her collegiate career on the night. Bailey Froberg added 18 points and Rice 10 in a reserve role.
 
UWS next jumps back into UMAC play at Northland Saturday. Game time at Kendrigan Gym is slated for 3 p.m.