ROCKFORD, Ill. – Lakeland University wrapped up a spot in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament with an easy 82-37 victory Wednesday night in a women's basketball game at the Seaver Center.
The Muskies will defend their 2017 NACC tourney title after locking up their spot in this year's six-team field with their seventh straight win. Lakeland also continued to inch up the conference standings, moving into a tie for third place at 12-5 with three games left in the regular season.
The Muskies (15-7 overall, 12-5 NACC) held the Regents to 21.3% shooting and never trailed throughout. Lakeland built a 17-2 lead less than seven minutes into the game and continued to build the lead throughout to complete a season sweep of Rockford (5-17 overall, 3-14 NACC).
Miranda Jacobson (
Jr.-Felch, Mich.) finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds for her sixth consecutive double-double.
Amanda Majewski (
So.-Peshtigo, Wis.) and
Megan Will (
Fr.-Lake Mills, Wis.) both scored 11 points each and
Kylie Birkholz (
So.-Kenosha, Wis.) added a career-high 10 points.
Rachel Stankevich (
Sr.-Goodman, Wis.) also pitched in nine points, six rebounds and seven assists and
Rachel Hasko (
So.-Racine, Wis.) added five steals and four assists plus four points.
Lakeland shot 47.8% as a team, making 33 of 69 shots, with a heavy dose coming inside as the Muskies posted a 52-12 advantage in points in the paint. Lakeland also finished with a huge 52-34 rebounding advantage.
Rockford made just 13 of 61 shots for the game, including 5 of 31 in the first half (16.1%) in falling behind 41-14 at halftime. Nicole Silvers led the Regents with 10 points.
Lakeland moved into a tie for third in the NACC when Benedictine University was defeated by Concordia University Wisconsin in a battle between two second-place teams in the conference. The Muskies are now tied with Benedictine and Concordia University Chicago for third, all at 12-5, with Concordia Wisconsin a game ahead in second at 13-4. Wisconsin Lutheran College continues to lead the league with a 16-1 mark.
Lakeland is on the road again Saturday when it travels to face Aurora University at 4:15 p.m. in Aurora, Ill.
