Box Score AURORA, Ill. – A huge finish to the first half turned the tide for the Lakeland University women's basketball team as it overcame an early challenge to down Aurora University 83-63 Saturday afternoon in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action.
The Muskies used a good shooting performance in all areas to pull away from the Spartans, bouncing back nicely after their 10-game winning streak was stopped Wednesday by Wisconsin Lutheran College. Lakeland finished with four scoring in double figures and received good contributions from its bench in improving to 14-3 overall and 10-2 in conference.
The Muskies shot 26 of 53 from the field (49.1%), including 11 of 26 from three-point range, tying a season high for triples made. Lakeland also was nearly perfect from the free throw line, making 20 of 21 shots, including 13 of 14 in the second half.
The Muskies finished the second half on a 20-6 run to take a 42-32 lead at the break. The spurt came after Aurora had never trailed in the first 12 minutes, but Lakeland never trailed again after
Miranda Jacobson (
Sr.-Felch, Mich.) hit a three-pointer for a 27-26 lead with 7 minutes, 16 seconds left in the first half.
Lakeland led by double digits almost the entire second half, with the Spartans (7-9 overall, 7-5 NACC) only briefly getting within seven at the start of the half. The Muskies really stretched it out late in the third quarter, scoring nine straight points to build a 61-43 lead.
Megan Will (
So.-Lake Mills, Wis.) scored 16 points and added eight rebounds and five blocked shots.
Janai' Farr (
So.-Racine, Wis.) also scored 16 off the bench, while Jacobson and
Amanda Majewski (
Jr.-Peshtigo, Wis.) added 14 points each, with Jacobson also collecting 12 rebounds.
Morgan Zenon (
Fr.-Twin Lakes, Wis.) also added seven points off the bench. Lakeland finished with a big 32-7 advantage in points from the bench, and the Muskies also finished with an 18-0 advantage in points off turnovers after forcing Aurora into 15 turnovers.
Julie Galauner scored 24 points to lead the Spartans, who shot 40.4% (23 of 57) and hit 11 of 20 from three-point range (55.0%). Alyssa Brems added 18 points.
Lakeland is back home Tuesday when it hosts Alverno College at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
