Lakeland last time out: Defeated Finlandia 62-46 last Wednesday
The Muskies earned their first win of the season on the strength of a first-quarter scoring blitz that carried them comfortably for the final three quarters. Lakeland scored 30 points in the first quarter, one game after scoring just 40 in the entire game at nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh. The Muskies made seven consecutive shots in a 17-0 run and in all knocked down 12 of their first 15 shots. Lakeland led 30-9 after one period and the Lions never got closer than 13 points the rest of the way. Lauren Downs scored 13 points off the bench including four three-pointers and Hayley Walding (9 points, 6 rebounds) and Morgan Zenon (8 points, 4 blocks) also contributed off the bench as Muskies reserves combined for 35 points.

Wheaton last time out: Defeated Otterbein (Ohio) 62-34 Saturday
The Thunder won the championship of their own Beth Baker Classic, dominating the Cardinals almost from the start in a lopsided win. Wheaton held Otterbein to six, six and eight points in the first three quarters and led 37-12 at halftime and 50-20 after three quarters. Annie Tate scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Ellie Cassel added a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds). Wheaton also held the guests to 20.6% shooting and outrebounded Otterbein 53-33. The Thunder won the four-team, two-day tourney, also defeating Maryville (Tenn.) 58-49 on Friday.

About the Thunder: Wheaton comes into this season highly regarded, ranked No. 11 in the D3hoops.com top 25 poll after finishing 11-1 in a short season played in January and February in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. Wheaton has been a perennial power in the CCIW, winning at least 20 games each of the previous six years before last year's shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Thunder have won five of the last seven CCIW titles and this year return three starters, including Annie Tate, an honorable mention Division III All-American last year.

The last time...: Lakeland is playing a ranked team for the first time since its last meeting against Wheaton Nov. 12, 2019, when the Thunder were ranked 14th in the D3hoops.com poll. The Muskies are hosting a ranked team for the first time since Jan. 30, 2018, when Wisconsin Lutheran College came to the Woltzen Gymnasium fresh off its first-ever national ranking a day earlier. The Muskies frustrated the Warriors almost from the start and toppled WLC 58-49, shooting 57.1% from the field and limiting the visitors to a season-low 32.1% shooting.

Young Muskies: This year's Lakeland team is one of the more young and unproven ones for the program in some time. The collective group of 17 returnees back this year entered the season with a combined 1,160 points scored, led by Kacey Gardner with 366 career points (now up to 386 after two games). To put that in perspective, departed three-time all-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference performer Megan Will scored almost as many points by herself-1,079-in her four years as a Muskie.