The Lakeland University women's basketball team reined in an opponent with defense for the second straight game, defeating Dominican (Ill.) University 56-26 Saturday afternoon at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
The Muskies held the Stars to six second-half points and just 18.3% shooting for the game, following up a 54-34 win over Marian University on Wednesday with another excellent defensive performance. Lakeland won its fourth straight game and improved to 8-5 overall and 6-2 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.
The Muskies pulled away in a game that was close at halftime and even after shooting just 25.0% themselves in the second half and 32.7% for the contest. Lakeland hit just 17 of 52 shots from the field for the game, including 3 of 18 from three-point range (16.7%), and made 6 of 24 shots in the second half.
The Muskies were able to get to the free-throw line 29 times, though, hitting 19 (65.5%). Lakeland also forced 24 turnovers and finished with a 24-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
The Stars (1-11 overall, 0-8 NACC) trailed just 29-20 at halftime but hit just 3 of 29 shots in the second half (10.3%). Lakeland outscored the guests 14-2 in the third quarter and then held Dominican scoreless for the game's final 8:34.
Bailey Grayvold (
Sr.-Norway, Mich.) scored 23 points, nearly equaling the Stars' tally herself. She surpassed the 1,100-point mark for her career and moved into ninth place on the school's all-time scoring list, past Steph Sprenger (1993-96), who finished her career with 1,108 points.
Grayvold also tied for the team high with seven rebounds and added four steals.
Maddy Doll (
Jr.-Florence, Wis.) and
Rachel Stankevich (
Jr.-Goodman, Wis.) also scored eight points each, with Doll grabbing seven rebounds and blocking three shots and Stankevich posting seven steals.
Dominican made 11 of 60 shots for the game but finished with a 48-42 rebounding advantage. The Stars, who started three freshmen, were led by Timiya Ray with eight points and 10 rebounds.
The Muskies return to the court Wednesday when they host Milwaukee School of Engineering at 7 p.m.
