PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Mackenzie Miller (Fr.-Schoolcraft, Mich.) had another big game with a career-high 20 points and the Lakeland University women's basketball team held Benedictine University to 27.0% shooting in a 69-49 win Saturday afternoon at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies led from start-to-finish and won their third straight game to move to the doorstep of a berth in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament. Lakeland is now 13-10 overall and 11-5 in conference, and can clinch a berth in the six-team league tourney with a win in one of its final two games. The Muskies also put a capper on a big day that included recognizing the 50th anniversary of Title IX and the contributions of former coach and athletic director Jane Bouche, as well as the retiring of the jersey of the program's all-time leading scorer Jill (Dewane) Banowetz at halftime.



Lakeland took it to a potentially dangerous opponent quickly, scoring the first nine points of the game. Kerstin Sauerbrei (Jr.-Ripon, Wis.) hit a three-pointer 13 seconds in and another just over two minutes later for an early 9-0 lead, and the Muskies would also score the final nine points of the first quarter to lead 25-10 after one period, shooting a searing 61.5% (8 of 13) over the first 10 minutes.

The offense would not come as easily in the second or third periods, but the Muskies still held a comfortable 36-15 lead at halftime while limiting the Eagles (8-16 overall, 8-8 NACC) to 6 of 28 shooting (21.4%) in the first 20 minutes. Benedictine would warm up in the third period, though, scoring 21 points and closing within 12 on four occasions late in the quarter, the last time on a layup by Charsan McCory with 27 seconds left in the quarter.

Miller helped keep Lakeland afloat in the middle quarters and especially in the third, scoring the Muskies' final nine points of the period to keep a 49-36 lead going into the fourth. The hosts then scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to regain full control, including back-to-back threes by Sauerbrei plus a layup by Ellie Felsinger (Sr.-Cedar Grove, Wis.) for a 57-36 lead, and Benedictine never got closer than 18 again.

Miller finished making 9 of 12 shots from the field and added six rebounds to cap a big week that also included the game-winning basket in the final seconds in Lakeland's 77-75 win at Marian Wednesday night. Sauerbrei also scored 14 points, making four of nine three-point attempts, and Lauren Downs (Sr.-West Bend, Wis.) also added an offensive spark with 10 points off the bench. Sydney Walker (Jr.-Flint, Mich.) added eight rebounds.

The Muskies finished shooting 46.6% (27 of 58) and also committed just seven turnovers. Lakeland also limited the Eagles to making 17 of 63 field goals for the game. Sara Smith led Benedictine with nine points and seven rebounds.

The Muskies are on the road for their next game Wednesday and will attempt to lock up a NACC tourney spot when they travel to face Concordia University Chicago at 7 p.m. in River Forest, Ill., before wrapping up the regular season next Saturday at home against Concordia University Wisconsin.