Question about Outlook Express

I recently purchased a new Macbook Pro with Retina Display.  I installed my Outlook 2011 Home and Business edition on the computer and proceeded to add my account to Outlook.  Outlook will download nearly all ~45k messages, but when it gets to the last 5-10 messages the entire program freezes and I have to force quit. 

I've had zero luck trying to fix this and there is no available help from Apple because it's a Microsoft product and no available help from Microsoft without paying a huge fee.  Apple suggested using their Mac Mail and that's a very POOR substitute for Outlook.

Can ANYONE help?

Thanks!