Miranda Jacobson (So.-Felch, Mich.) scored a career-high 21 points, Kayla Clark (Sr.-West Bend, Wis.) scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half and the Lakeland University women's basketball team fought off Alverno College for a hard-earned 74-67 win Saturday afternoon at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Jacobson and Clark combined to make 14 of 18 field goal attempts, including all four of their three-point attempts, helping the Muskies climb back to the .500 mark at 5-5 overall. Lakeland also improved to 3-2 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, including 3-0 in league games at home.

The Muskies never trailed in the game and led by as many as 16 points early in the third quarter, but still received a challenge down the stretch. Alverno (2-6 overall, 2-2 NACC) got back into the game with its three-point shooting, including four triples in the fourth quarter that helped the guests draw within four points on two occasions.

Lakeland had the answer for every Alverno rally, though. Clark hit three three-pointers in the fourth quarter, including a big one for a 61-54 lead with 2:25 left and another just over a minute later that was essentially the final dagger, stretching the lead out to nine points. Kylie Birkholz (Kenosha, Wis.) also had a three-point play, part of the most productive game of her freshman season so far.

The Muskies shot a solid 48.1% for the game, making 26 of 54 field goals. Jacobson played a big part of that, hitting 9 of 13 from the field, many from close range. That included 7-for-8 markmanship in the first half when she scored 15 of her 21 points and led Lakeland to a 34-21 halftime lead.

Rachel Stankevich (Jr.-Goodman, Wis.) added 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists off the bench and Clark's 16 points included 5-for-5 shooting from the floor. Bailey Grayvold (Sr.-Norway, Mich.) added seven points and eight assists and Birkholz finished with six points and five rebounds off the bench.

Karli Selear led Alverno with 17 points and both Mackenzie Mathies and Gabby Hood added 15 points each. Selear and Mathies both hit five three-pointers each as the Inferno hit 11 three-pointers in 32 attempts. Alverno shot 23 of 61 for the game (37.7%) and won the rebounding battle 40-34 but committed 18 turnovers.

Lakeland now has an extended break and will not play again until New Year's Eve when it hosts Rockford (Ill.) University at 2 p.m. at the Woltzen Gymnaisum.