Miranda Jacobson (Sr.-Felch, Mich.) became the 13th player in program history to score 1,000 points and played a lead role as the Lakeland University women's basketball team defeated Aurora University 59-51 Monday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Jacobson scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, carrying a big load in leading the Muskies in both categories as they picked up another Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win. Lakeland stayed on a path to clinch the No. 2 seed in next week's NACC Tournament, improving to 18-5 overall and 14-4 in conference play.

Jacobson needed eight points entering the game to reach 1,000 for her career, and she hit the mark by making the first of two free throws with 3 minutes 37 seconds left in the third quarter. The foul line was an appropriate spot for her to reach the milestone as it's where she and the Muskies as a team did quite a bit of good work.

Jacobson hit 4 of 13 shots from the field but made 10 of 12 from the free throw line. Lakeland as a team hit 20 of 25 free throws, shooting 80% from the stripe to overcome a rough offensive outing.

The Muskies made just 18 of 62 field goals, shooting 29.0% for their third-worst shooting performance of the season and their lowest in a win all year. Aurora (10-12 overall, 10-8 NACC) shot better from the floor, hitting 36.7% (18 of 49) and also won the rebounding battle 44-33, but turnovers were the other area where Lakeland finished with a big advantage.

The Spartans committed 22 turnovers to the Muskies' 9, including 14 in the first half. It caught up to the guests eventually, even as they led for most the first 17 minutes before a Lakeland run to close the half.

Aurora was ahead 10-4 early and later took a 20-15 lead on a pull-up jumper on the fast break by Julie Galauner, the NACC's leading scorer who finished just a shade under her average with a game-high 19 points. The Spartans would go scoreless for nearly six minutes, though, and Lakeland took a 26-22 lead into halftime after a three-pointer by Janai' Farr (So.-Racine, Wis.), two free throws by Kacey Gardner (Fr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.), a putback by Jacobson and another free throw by Gardner capped an 11-0 run.

The Muskies held a tenuous lead much of the second half but had answers every time Aurora crept close. Many came at the free throw line, where Lakeland made 15 of 16 in the final 20 minutes.

Rachel Hasko (Jr.-Racine, Wis.) and Megan Will (So.-Lake Mills, Wis.) both added eight points and Will also posted seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Gardner also scored seven and added four steals, and Lakeland finished with an 18-6 advantage in bench points.

Galauner made 8 of 15 shots for the Spartans, while teammate Meija Rabi added 12 points and 12 boards before fouling out and Ariana Ramirez posted a game-high 13 rebounds.

The Muskies are in action again on Wednesday when they host Illinois Institute of Technology at 7 p.m. The game has been designated as the team's Play4Kay pink game to raise awareness for cancer research.