MILWAUKEE – Rachel Stankevich (Jr.-Goodman, Wis.) made two free throws with 23 seconds left to give the Lakeland University women's basketball team its first lead of the game and the Muskies went on to a 59-54 win Tuesday night at the Kern Center.

Lakeland took a step towards a home game in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament, improving to 15-7 overall and 13-4 in conference play. The Muskies moved ahead of Concordia University Chicago and into sole possession of fourth place in the conference after Concordia was defeated by Benedictine (Ill.) University 68-58 on Tuesday.

Lakeland played from behind the entire night and was down by as much as 18 points late in the second quarter. The Muskies chipped away, though, and then closed the game on a 9-0 run after the Raiders (10-12 overall, 7-10 NACC) had taken a 54-49 lead with 1:49 left.

Maddy Doll (Jr.-Florence, Wis.) made two free throws and Bailey Grayvold (Sr.-Norway, Mich.) hit a jumper to cut the MSOE lead to one, and the Muskies got a stop on the defensive end with 36 seconds left. Stankevich then was fouled in the lane and made both free throws to put Lakeland ahead.

The Muskies then dodged a bullet as the Raiders, with the chance to take the lead, missed two free throws with 11 seconds left. Lakeland then closed it out with four free throws in the final seconds.

The Muskies won despite ice-cold shooting to start, making just 5 of 34 from the field in the first half. Lakeland warmed up some in the second half but still finished the game shooting just 26.7% (16 of 60).

Grayvold scored 24 points and added four steals, while Kayla Clark (Sr.-West Bend, Wis.) scored 11 and Tori Lauren (Fr.-Gwinn, Mich.) added 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.

MSOE shot 20 of 54 (37.0%) and out-rebounded the Muskies 41-38, but the hosts also committed 21 turnovers which Lakeland turned into 19 points.

The Muskies are back in Milwaukee Saturday when they travel to face Alverno College at 7 p.m.