HANCOCK, Mich. -- Natalie Bartle scored the final six points of the game to lift Finlandia to a 64-58 victory over the UW-Superior women's basketball team at Paavo Nurmi Center on Tuesday.
 
Bartle stole an in-bounds pass and raced the length of the floor with 53 seconds remaining to give the Lions a 60-58 lead after UWS gained a brief edge of 58-55 on a Katie Dobson (Black River Falls, Wis./Black River Falls) 3-pointer moments earlier. Finlandia's Elli Djerf responded with a trey of her own on the next trip to knot it at 58-all prior to Bartle's quick six in secession put the game away.
 
Three Yellowjackets landed in double figures with senior Kaelyn Christian (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville Senior) scoring 17 points, sophomore Dobson tallying 14 and freshman MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset) adding a season-high 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench.
 
With the win, the Lions (7-10) avenged a season-opening 69-68 home loss to Superior Nov. 8 to even the season series, sending UWS (5-11) to its fifth consecutive loss overall.
 
The game featured nine lead changes and four tie scores, with Finlandia on top for over 32 minutes. The Lions led by as many as 10 points with 2:18 remaining in the third quarter before the Yellowjackets' comeback try commenced.
 
UWS ripped off a 9-0 run in the middle of the fourth quarter, capped with an offensive rebound and layup from senior Mady Sanders (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial), to pull within 52-51 with 6:35 remaining. Sanders and Christian recorded four points each in the stretch.
 
The Lions, however, received another triple by Djerf to restore a four-point, 55-51, advantage. Sophomore then Elise Besonen (Ewen, Mich./Ewen-Trout Creek) scored the next four points for the 'Jackets to tie, 55-55, setting the stage for the go-ahead 3 by Dobson with 2:01 to play.
 
Finlandia shot 42.9 percent from the field for the game, connecting on 24-of-56 shots, while holding UWS to just 32.8 percent (20-of-61). UWS earned a 42-35 rebounding edge, including 18-9 on the offensive glass. Sanders pulled down a game-high 11 boards.
 
For Finlandia, Bartle finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals. Maija Rice chipped in with 19 points, eight boards and two assists.
 
UWS returns to action Saturday at Northland in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action. Game time at Kendrigan Gymnasium in Ashland, Wis., is set for 4:45 p.m.