"RATHDRUM — Junior Mel Loutzenhiser scored 15 points and the Lakeland Hawks snapped a 24-game losing streak in 4A Inland Empire League play by beating the Moscow Bears 55-45 in the league opener for both teams Thursday night at Hawk Court.

Lauryn Cooper had 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals for Lakeland (6-7), which last won a league game in the 2011-12 season. The Hawks had beaten Moscow at regionals in the 2014 and ’17 seasons.

“I’m just really happy for the girls; they’ve been working pretty hard in practice the last few days,” Lakeland coach Steve Seymour said. “It was nice to see them close it out.

Katy Ryan added 10 points and 12 rebounds for Lakeland, which outscored the Bears 9-2 in the second quarter after trailing 13-11 after one.

“I was really pleased with our defense the last couple minutes of first quarter, and in the second quarter,” Seymour said.

Megan Jung led Moscow with 16 points, and Peyton Claus added 12.

Lakeland plays at Coeur d’Alene on Saturday.

Moscow 13 2 15 15 — 45

Lakeland 11 9 20 15 — 55

MOSCOW — M. Watson 0, Rauch 2, Verlin 4, Claus 12, P. Watson 1, Anderson 7, Pilcher 0, Jung 16, Buzzoli 3, Hanson 0.

LAKELAND — Boyer 2, Cooper 11, Kime 0, Cooley 2, McDevitt 0, Elpers 3, Loutzenhiser 15, Kirk 10, Ryan 6, Pruitt 6, Neff 0."

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