Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons (14-10 overall, 13-4 NACC)
at Lakeland University Muskies (14-10 overall, 12-5 NACC)
Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023Â Â 4:15 p.m.
Woltzen Gymnasium
Senior Day
Lakeland/CUW WBB Game Notes  PDF
The Lakeland University women's basketball team has played its way into a golden opportunity and will attempt to earn another home game this season when it hosts Concordia University Wisconsin for its regular season finale and Senior Day Saturday.
Broadcast Information:
Live video & live statistics:Â
http://www.lakelandmuskies.com/muskieslive
Series history:Â Lakeland and Concordia are long-time rivals dating back to when both schools began women's basketball in the 1970s. Complete series records are unavailable, but in Lakeland records dating back to 1982 the Falcons hold a 52-42 lead in 94 meetings. The teams played met earlier this season, with the Muskies scoring a 58-42 win on the road in Mequon Jan. 4, holding CUW to 32.2% shooting. The teams met once last season, with Concordia winning 68-51 at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium. The teams have split their last 12 meetings, dating back to Lakeland's 64-60 win in the 2017 NACC Tournament championship game at Concordia that clinched the Muskies their most recent NCAA Division III Tournament berth. Before that, Concordia dominated the series from 2007-17, winning 20 of 23 matchups.
Lakeland last time out: Won at Concordia Chicago 70-57 Wednesday
The Muskies wrapped up their spot in the NACC Tournament with a win on the road in River Forest, their fourth straight win and their third straight win in a road game.
Kacey Gardner scored a career-high 26 points, making 10 of 15 shots from the field and all six of her free throw attempts while also pulling down 10 rebounds and adding five assists.
Mackenzie Miller also added 20 points and eight rebounds off the bench as Lakeland clinched a winning record for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Concordia last time out: Defeated Alverno 65-47 Wednesday
The Falcons needs some time before shaking the Inferno at home but like Lakeland also extended a winning streak with their fifth straight win. CUW led 32-25 at halftime but outscored Alverno 19-8 in the third quarter to take control. The Falcons held the Inferno to 30.5% shooting and Emily Hafemann scored 15 points and Aubrey Buchholtz added 14 points off the bench, including four three-pointers. Concordia has won six straight NACC games in all, and its win streak came after losing four of five games to end January, including a pair of losses in the Concordia Invitational Tournament.
Recapping the first meeting: The Muskies got 2023 off to a good start with an impressive road win, leading almost from start to finish at Concordia.
Ellie Felsinger scored 13 points,
Brianna Jones totaled a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds and in all four players scored in double figures. Lakeland led for all but 95 seconds of the game, took a 33-20 lead into halftime and led by as many as 20 points in winning for the fourth time in the teams' last five meetings in Mequon.
Big Senior Day: Today is the final regular season game and could be the final home game for six Lakeland seniors.
Katie Bleck,
Lauren Downs,
Ellie Felsinger,
Kacey Gardner,
Brianna Jones and
Nicole Sachman all are nearing the end of their careers, but they have at least one more game left after today, and possibly back at the Woltzen Gym. The Muskies enter the day one game behind Concordia for fourth in the NACC standings, but with a win would tie the Falcons for fourth, and with a sweep of the season series would clinch the No. 4 seed and a home game in the first round of the NACC Tournament Tuesday, as well as another matchup with the Falcons. A Lakeland loss will ensure Concordia hosts a first round game Tuesday, and will make the Muskies a No. 5 or No. 6 seed, sending them on the road to either CUW, Aurora or Wisconsin Lutheran on Tuesday.
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