Tightening the screws when it mattered most, the Lakeland University women's basketball team made the plays needed down the stretch to defeat Aurora University 61-54 Saturday afternoon at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies trailed heading into the fourth quarter but shut down the Spartans in the final 10 minutes, outscoring the visitors 16-3 over one stretch. Though hardly the prettiest win, Lakeland moved to 5-3 overall and is now 2-2 in in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.

Aurora (2-3 overall, 1-3 NACC) hung close throughout and led by a point after three quarters, but the Muskies held the Spartans to one field goal in the game's final 7 minutes, 23 seconds and also forced 10 Aurora turnovers in the final quarter. A 46-43 deficit transformed into a 59-49 lead, and Lakeland closed the game out making its free throws, hitting 7 of 8 foul shots in the final 2:40.

The Muskies were victorious in a game that saw both teams struggle from the field and handling the ball. Lakeland shot just 34.0% (17 of 50), while the Spartans hit 37.0% from the floor (17 of 46). The teams also combined for 56 turnovers, including 30 by Aurora which the Muskies turned into 22 points.

The Spartans got off to a good start, leading 10-3 in the early minutes before freshman Megan Will (Lake Mills, Wis.) came off the bench to get Lakeland going. The post player scored on four straight possessions, including a three-point play, as the Muskies kept up even as Aurora still held an 18-17 lead after one quarter after out-rebounding the hosts 15-5 over the first 10 minutes.

Lakeland took the lead early in the second quarter and would not trail again until late in the third, though the contest remained a close back-and-forth affair for the entire stretch. The Muskies led by no more than six, and the Spartans crawled back in soon after to trail just 30-29 at halftime.

In all the teams swapped the lead seven times and were tied on three other occasions before Lakeland went ahead for good on a pair of free throws by Rachel Stankevich (Sr.-Goodman, Wis.) making it 49-48 with 6:14 left in the game.

Miranda Jacobson (Jr.-Felch, Mich.) just missed a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Stankevich finished with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals. Will also contributed 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.

The Muskies fought back from the early rebounding disadvantage to knot the Spartans 31-31 on the boards. Lakeland also hit 22 of 27 foul shots, an 81.5% rate.

Lakeland has a break next week for final exams and will play again next Saturday when it travels to face Marian University at 6:15 p.m. in Fond du Lac.