AURORA, Ill. – Sydney Walker (Jr.-Flint, Mich.) nearly tied a Lakeland University women's basketball single-game record for steals but Aurora University surged in the second half to defeat the Muskies 71-61 Saturday afternoon at Thornton Gymnasium.

Walker finished with a career-high eight steals, one shy of the school mark of nine steals set by Becca Tilleman also against Aurora Jan. 22, 2011. She also added seven points and seven rebounds to tease a triple-double in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference contest.

The Spartans would get the final say, though, with a strong second half to overcome a good Lakeland start. Aurora shot 56% (14 of 25) in the second half and went on separate runs to end the third quarter and again in the fourth quarter to take control.

The Muskies (3-7 overall, 2-2 NACC) led by 10 points in the second quarter and for most of the game's first 28 minutes, but Aurora took the lead for good with a 10-0 run to finish the third period. Sam Barrett hit a three-pointer to put the Spartans ahead 49-48 with 2 minutes, 7 seconds left in the third, and the 5-foot-1 reserve guard added an offense rebound and scored with two seconds left in the quarter to put Aurora up 56-48.

Lakeland closed back within four points on two occasions early in the fourth, the last time after an offensive rebound and putback by Mackenzie Miller (Fr.-Schoolcraft, Mich.) made it 58-54 with 6:35 left. The Spartans' Kamryn Bullock answered with a three-pointer, though, and Aurora would put the game away over the next three minutes, though, with an 11-0 run, capped by two Jaylah Mays free throws for a 69-54 lead with 3:38 to play.

The Muskies started strong, with eight different players scoring in a 23-point first quarter. Lakeland led 23-15 after one quarter and stayed a step ahead in the second quarter and most of the third even as the Spartans closed in, including leading 37-33 at halftime after Lauren Downs (Sr.-West Bend, Wis.) hit a jumper with five seconds left in the half.

The Muskies shot 40.6% (13 of 32) in the first half but 29.4% (10 of 34) in the second half to come in at 34.8% for the game. Downs and Kacey Gardner (Sr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) scored 11 points each and Ellie Felsinger (Sr.-Cedar Grove, Wis.) added 10 points.

Aurora finished shooting 46.3%, making 25 of 54 field goals including 8 of 24 from three-point range. Eliot Dojutrek scored 13 points and Mays added 12 points. The Spartans outrebounded Lakeland 41-36 and won despite committing 30 turnovers.

The Muskies are now idle until facing Blackburn (Ill.) College for their final non-conference game of the season Monday, Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. at the Woltzen Gymnasium.