WAUKESHA, Wis. - The fourth quarter belonged to Brittney Wald.
Wald, a 5-foot-6 senior guard from Antigo, Wis., emphasized that by scoring 10 of her game-high 16 points in the final quarter as the Carroll University women's basketball team defeated Lakeland University 53-51 in a physical, hard-fought nonconference showdown at Van Male Field House on Wednesday night.
It was the third consecutive victory for Carroll, which improved to 4-6 overall with the gritty come-from-behind performance.
The victory took on added significance as it ensured the program's first three-game winning streak since 2014-15.
Carroll trailed 42-35 at the end of three quarters and responded to the challenge by outscoring the Muskies by a 19-9 margin during the fourth quarter - including a powerful, momentum-shifting 11-2 run over the course of the opening four minutes.
Lakeland battled back to take a 49-47 lead but Wald rose to the occasion by contributing four critical points, including a game-tying layup and clutch mid-range jumper to claim a 51-49 lead with 1:43 remaining.
Junior guard Sara Hartl (Racine, Wis.) made two pressure-packed free throws with 56.8 seconds left to help seal a victory.
"It's super exciting to win our third straight game and see all of the hard work begin to pay off," said Wald, who earned second-team all-conference honors in the College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin last year. "Having struggled to execute against a zone defense this season, we really made it a point of emphasis and worked hard on it during practice over the course of the last week. It was just great to be able to put it all together and have it play such a big part in our success tonight. Looking back, it was a relief to hit the jumper to take the lead and provide a spark in the final minutes.
"I was really proud of our effort on the defensive end and how we responded with some big stops down the stretch to stay in the game. With their height inside and quick guards, we just stayed aggressive and kept fighting on every possession. It was awesome to see everything work out in the end. This performance will serve as a great confidence builder as we continue to prepare for the next part of the season."
Lakeland trimmed the deficit to two points with 35.5 seconds remaining but couldn't get any closer. The Muskies attempted a potential game-winning baseline 3-pointer from the right side in the final seconds but missed the shot.
Junior guard Rachel Van Sluys (Sheboygan, Wis.) followed with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Pioneers, who made 11 of 16 free throws, didn't convert a basket from 3-point range and shot 36.2 percent from the field. Freshman forward Katie Rossetti (Wauconda, Ill.) chipped in eight points, a team-best 11 rebounds, five blocked shots and four steals.
Freshman small forward Delaney Sjong (Salem, Wis.) had eight points for Carroll, which forced 26 turnovers. Junior guard Sara Hartl (Racine, Wis.) and freshman guard Anna Menges (Manitowoc, Wis.) each added four points. 
"It was a huge victory that showcased our maturity and resilience," Carroll second-year head coach Lindsay Schultz said. "Being down heading into the fourth quarter, it was exciting to see the way we adjusted to the situation after being stagnant against their zone defense. We knew it would be tough so it was great to watch how it all came together when it counted the most. Throughout the night, I was also very impressed with the effort on the defensive end and how active we were on a lot of key possessions.
"I'm just very proud of the kids and how they fought each step of the way to pull it out. We continue to get better and make strides each time we step on the court so it's nice to see the success and be a part of a three-game winning streak."
Junior guard/forward Miranda Jacobson scored a team-high 13 points for Lakeland, which entered the contest riding the momentum of two straight victories but dropped to 6-4 overall.

PIONEER FAST FACTS
What: The Carroll University women's basketball team defeated Lakeland University 53-51 in a nonconference game at Van Male Field House on Wednesday night.
Record: 4-6 overall
Scoring Leaders: Brittney Wald (16 points), Rachel Van Sluys (11 points), Katie Rossetti (8 points), Delaney Sjong (8 points), Sara Hartl (4 points), Anna Menges (4 points)
Notable: Carroll trailed 42-35 at the end of the third quarter and responded with a decisive 19-9 fourth-quarter run to capture its third straight victory - accomplishing the feat for the first time since the 2014-15 season.