A late-game rush made the difference for the second time this season for the Lakeland University women's basketball team against Edgewood College as the Muskies rallied for a 63-54 win Tuesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

In a near-carbon copy of its win 18 days earlier against the Eagles, Lakeland rallied from a seven-point deficit late in the third quarter to turn around the game late. The Muskies completed a sweep of the season series with Edgewood and ensured they would stay ahead of the Eagles in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference standings, improving to 9-7 overall and 6-5 in conference play.

Edgewood (6-10 overall, 4-7 NACC) appeared to have all momentum late in the third quarter after scoring seven straight points to take a 43-36 lead. The Eagles scored on seven consecutive trips down the court, outscoring Lakeland 14-6 in the quarter to that point after trailing by one at halftime.

The Muskies also had trailed by seven in the third quarter of the teams' Dec. 30 meeting before going on a 15-1 run to pull ahead. Once again facing the same deficit, this time Lakeland outscored Edgewood 17-2 over the next 6 minutes 53 seconds, turning the deficit into a 53-45 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Miranda Jacobson (Jr.-Felch, Mich.) made a three-pointer with four seconds left in the third quarter to draw the Muskies within 43-41 after three periods, and Lakeland answered an Eagles basket with 12 consecutive points. Rachel Stankevich (Sr.-Goodman, Wis.) and Maddy Doll (Sr.-Florence, Wis.) both converted three-point plays, Stankevich and Jacobson added two more free throws each and Megan Will (Fr.-Lake Mills, Wis.) also rebounded her own miss and scored, and the Muskies led 53-45 with 5:13 left.

Edgewood briefly closed back within four points after a three-point play by Allison Gordon made it 54-50 with 4:29 left, but Lakeland scored again on three straight possessions, with Jacobson delivering the dagger with a three-pointer making it 60-50 with 3:01 to play.

The Muskies received a challenge throughout from the Eagles with the contest featuring nine ties and nine lead changes. Neither led by more than seven points in the first half, with Lakeland starting out hot in grabbing an early 16-9 lead before Edgewood came back to take the lead briefly in the second quarter and then lead most of the third.

Stankevich finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and a team-high four assists and made 9 of 11 free throws, part of a team wide good effort at the line. Lakeland converted 20 of 25 foul shots (80.0%).

Jacobson also scored 15 points and Doll added 13 points and seven rebounds. The Muskies shot 34.5% as a team, making 20 of 58 field goals, and also outrebounded the Eagles 41-32.

Diamond Pikulyk scored a game-high 18 points and added 10 rebounds for Edgewood, which shot 40.4% (21 of 52).

Lakeland takes to the road next when it travels to face Benedictine University Saturday at 4 p.m. in Lisle, Ill.