AURORA, Ill. – Aurora (Ill.) University's Molly Rosenow scored the go-ahead basket with 1:50 to play as the Lakeland College women's basketball team's late rally was spoiled in a 69-62 loss Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans closed the game by scoring on their final five possessions after the Muskies had come back from an 11-point deficit to tie the game. Lakeland lost by single digits for the third time in its last five games and is now 2-10 overall and 2-6 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.
After leading 30-28 at halftime, the Muskies trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half and were down 11 after a bucket by Shannon Koski made it 58-47 with 6:08 to play. Lakeland went on a 13-3 run to tie the game, with
Maddy Doll (
Fr.-Florence, Wis.) scoring a pair of baskets and
Bailey Grayvold (
So.-Norway, Mich.) adding five points, including the tying three-pointer to make it 60-60 with 2:17 remaining.
The Muskies ran out of gas in the final two minutes, though, missing their final seven shots from the field. The Spartans (4-9 overall, 4-4 NACC) took advantage, with Rosenow scoring twice and Bethany Dorrington adding four free throws as Aurora closed the game on a 9-2 run.
Lakeland got off to a good start, leading much of the first half with a biggest lead of eight when
C.J. Usadel (
Fr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) hit a three-pointer to make it 28-20. The Muskies held a 30-28 lead at the break, but Koski hit a three-pointer just 12 seconds into the second half and Lakeland never led again.
Kayla Clark (
So.-West Bend, Wis.) led the Muskies with 12 points and six assists. Doll and
Rachel Stankevich (
Fr.-Goodman, Wis.) both added 10 points each, and Doll led Lakeland with six rebounds.
The Muskies shot 20 of 59 from the field (33.9%) but finished with 14 more field goal attempts than Aurora thanks to 16 offensive rebounds and just eight turnovers committed. The Spartans shot 48.9% (22 of 45) and were led by Koski with 21 points and Dorrington with 18.
Lakeland returns to play on Tuesday when it hosts Rockford (Ill.) University at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
