CHICAGO – One of the most efficient offensive performances in school history propelled the Lakeland University women's basketball team to its third straight win, an 86-70 victory over Illinois Institute of Technology Saturday evening.

The Muskies shot a sizzling 59.3% for the game, their best shooting mark in more than 17 years, and easily set a season high for points. Lakeland won its second straight road game this week and improved to 6-7 overall and 4-2 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

The Muskies made 35 of 59 field goal attempts, shooting better than 50% for the first time this season and posting the program's best performance from the field since hitting 60.3% (35 of 58) at Alverno College Feb. 15, 2005. The showing also wasn't far off the school single-game record of 62.7% (47 of 75) set in a victory against Mount Mary University Dec. 29, 2003.

Lakeland shot better than 50% in all four quarters, including 56.3% in taking a 21-17 lead after one period. The Scarlet Hawks (3-9 overall, 1-5 NACC) hung in early and even led briefly at 17-16 late in the first quarter, but the Muskies began to pull away in the second. A 7-0 run was capped by Lauren Downs (Sr.-West Bend, Wis.) converting a three-point play for a 30-19 lead with 4 minutes, 46 seconds left in the first half, and the margin grew to 16 in the final seconds of the half after a jumper by Mackenzie Miller (Fr.-Schoolcraft, Mich.).

Lakeland led 44-31 at the half, and then drained 11 of 15 shots in the third quarter (73.3%). Brianna Jones (Sr.-Indianapolis, Ind.) and Kacey Gardner (Sr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) both scored eight points in the period, and two free throws by Downs with three seconds left in the quarter gave the Muskies their largest lead at 69-44. Illinois Tech would briefly close back to within 14 midway through the fourth quarter but got no closer.

Downs led a balanced scoring effort with 15 points, most since she tallied a career-best 17 in the team's season opener. Gardner scored 14 points, making 7 of 10 shots, and also added five rebounds and four assists. Miller also added 13 points plus 11 rebounds, and Jones, Kerstin Sauerbrei (Jr.-Ripon, Wis.) and Sydney Walker (Jr.-Flint, Mich.) all scored eight points each.

Sauerbrei also chipped in a career-high five assists, and the Muskies posted a 44-19 advantage in bench points and a 46-36 rebounding margin.

Chloe Churilla scored 23 points to lead Illinois Tech, which shot 37.5% (27 of 72). Kaya Jones added a career-high 15 points.

Lakeland is home for its next game Wednesday when it welcomes Concordia University Chicago for a 7 p.m. tip at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.