PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Lakeland University darted out to a big lead early and Kerstin Sauerbrei (So.-Ripon, Wis.) scored a career-high 24 points to safeguard the margin as the Muskies defeated Concordia University Chicago 71-54 Saturday afternoon in the first round of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.

The eighth-seeded Muskies led by as many as 29 points but still weathered some nervous moments late to avenge a loss at home to the No. 9 seed Cougars four days earlier and defeat Concordia for the second time in three meetings this season, all in the month of February. Lakeland (13-12 overall) advanced to the tournament quarterfinals where it will travel to meet top seed and NACC regular season champion Wisconsin Lutheran College Wednesday night in Milwaukee.

The Muskies quickly built a big lead with a dominant first half from virtually the opening tip. Lakeland scored on its first possession, built an 11-0 lead and held the Cougars (7-16 overall) scoreless for the game's first 6 minutes, 7 seconds. In all Concordia shot just 1-for-10 and committed seven turnovers as the Muskies led 16-2 after one quarter.

Lakeland continued to build the lead in the second quarter, all the way to a huge 35-7 advantage with 2:52 left in the half after a short jumper by Sydney Walker (So.-Flint, Mich.). The Cougars scored the final ten points of the first half but the Muskies still held a 35-17 lead at halftime after holding CUC to 5 of 24 shooting (20.8%) in the first half.

Lakeland would stretch the lead back out quickly at the start of the second half. Sauerbrei scored 13 of her 24 points in the third quarter, including ten in a 17-5 run out of halftime. She drove to the basket twice for hoops, scored again and was fouled for a three-point play, and also hit a three-pointer in a stretch of three minutes, and when Ellie Felsinger (Jr.-Cedar Grove, Wis.) wheeled inside to score with 5:38 left in the third quarter Lakeland held its largest lead of the game at 51-22.

Concordia would still mount a rally, including a 9-0 run to finish the third quarter. Madalyn McGrath twice scored on scoop shot layups and Mikalah Ellis drained a three-pointer just before the quarter buzzer to get the Cougars within 56-43, the closest CUC had been since the first quarter.

Lakeland opened the fourth quarter with Lauren Downs (Jr.-West Bend, Wis.) fouled twice and making three of four free throws to slow Concordia's momentum. The Cougars would continue to chip away and closed within 62-52 on a three-pointer by McGrath with 4:46 left, but would get no closer. Alexa Yost (So.-Menasha, Wis.) scored on a driving layup on the Muskies' next possession, and CUC went scoreless the next three minutes with two turnovers, two missed free throws and two missed jump shots. The Cougars would finish with just two points in the final 4:45 while Lakeland closed making five of six free throws in the final minute to salt the game away.

Sauerbrei made 9 of 16 shots from the field, including 5 of 12 from three-point range, to best her previous high of 18 points set against the University of Northwestern (Minn.) in December. Kacey Gardner (Sr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) also posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds and controlled the game in many ways, also adding five assists and five steals and making all eight of her free throw attempts.

The Muskies had their worst shooting night of the season in a 54-44 loss to the Cougars Tuesday, but rebounded with one of their better offensive performances all year. Lakeland shot 41.8% (23 of 55) and also made 19 of 25 from the free throw line (76.0%). Morgan Zenon (Twin Lakes, Wis.) also finished with eight points in 13 minutes and made all four of her field goal attempts off the bench as the Muskies' owned a 19-9 advantage in bench points.

Concordia finished shooting 37.7% (20 of 53) after making 15 of 29 shots in the second half (51.7%). Ellis scored 15 points and Alisyn MacGregor added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Muskies now will face a nationally ranked Wisconsin Lutheran team that won its first 20 games this season but enters the NACC Tournament coming off its first loss to St. Norbert College earlier this week. Lakeland fell at home to WLC 70-49 Feb. 1, falling behind 43-21 at halftime, though the Muskies did hold Lutheran to 24.3% shooting after halftime and outscored the Warriors in the second half.

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