FOND DU LAC, Wis. –
Mackenzie Miller (
Fr.-Schoolcraft, Mich.) scored the game-winning basket with 2.4 seconds left and the Lakeland University women's basketball team completed a comeback from a double-digit deficit for a thrilling 77-75 victory over Marian University Wednesday night at Sadoff Gymnasium.
The Muskies rallied from 13 points down in the second half to take the lead, but then needed a clutch shot in the final seconds to win their second straight game on the road. Lakeland also stayed in control of its postseason destiny in the chase for a berth in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament, improving to 12-10 overall and 10-5 in the NACC with three regular season games to play.
The Sabres (6-16 overall, 5-10 NACC) staged a rally of their own in the final three minutes, coming back from seven points down to tie it at 75-75 on a knifing drive and layup by Kiara Williams with 8.8 seconds left. Lakeland had a final possession in its frontcourt after a timeout, and with time winding down
Kerstin Sauerbrei (
Jr.-Ripon, Wis.) drove the left baseline before dropping a pass to Miller in the middle of the lane.
Miller collected the pass with her back to the basket after it was nearly knocked away. The freshman had just had a layup go in and out with 26 seconds left that would've given Lakeland a four-point lead, but this time she spun and with the right hand scooped a layup off the glass out of the reach of Williams for the go-ahead hoop. Marian inbounded and had a final shot from past halfcourt that was well off, preserving the Muskies' second win over the Sabres in 15 days.
Lakeland came back for the win after receiving Marian's best shot for much of the game, as the hosts took the lead with a run to end the first quarter and were in control for the second and third quarters.
The Muskies trailed 44-33 at halftime after the Sabres shot 48.5% over the opening 20 minutes, and things didn't look much better early in the third quarter when Paris Harris and Chelsea King made back-to-back three-pointers, the latter putting Marian ahead 50-37 with 8:35 left in the period.
King split two free throws 90 seconds later to keep the Sabres up 12 at 53-41, but from there Lakeland went to work chipping at the deficit. The Muskies pounded the ball inside with Miller and
Ellie Felsinger (
Sr.-Cedar Grove, Wis.) combining for 17 points in the third quarter, and a layup by Miller cut the deficit to 53-47. Sauerbrei hit a three-pointer with 3:23 left in the period to trim Marian's lead to 57-53, and Lakeland finished the quarter with the final five points, including a three-pointer by Sauerbrei in the final seconds to get the Muskies within 60-59.
Lakeland then took the lead on its first possession of the fourth quarter with another three from
Lauren Downs (
Sr.-West Bend, Wis.), its first lead since 13-12 in the first period. The Muskies would pull out to a seven-point lead on two occasions, the last time at 72-65 on a short jumper by
Sydney Walker (
Jr.-Flint, Mich.) with 3:25 left in the game, and appeared the have the answers down the stretch too, including a corner three-pointer from
Alexa Yost (
Jr.-Menasha, Wis.) with 2:10 left to go back up six at 75-69 after the Sabres had closed within three.
Marian would continue to come back, though. Williams continued a 27-point, 11-rebound performance with six points late, and Lexi Brakebush made two free throws with 1:50 left, then two more to make it 75-73 after a questionable foul call with 53 seconds left.
Lakeland had dominated the teams' first meeting just two weeks earlier in a 76-51 win at home, but the Sabres were a different team playing at home. The Muskies held a lead in the early minutes, but Marian closed the first quarter on a 12-0 run, making six of seven shots at one point in taking a 21-13 lead.
The hosts also held the lead through the second quarter, though Lakeland cut a nine-point deficit to two late in the quarter. The Sabres finished the half scoring the final nine points, though, including a three-pointer by Rylee Loehr, a reserve guard averaging 1.7 points per game with seven three-pointers on the season who hit three triples and scored 11 points in the first half.
The Muskies got back in the game by going to work on the glass, outrebounding Marian 30-13 in the second half. Lakeland also cut its turnovers, committing just four after halftime after eight in the first half, and the Muskies also held the Sabres to 35.7% shooting in the final 20 minutes.
Sauerbrei finished with 18 points, hitting six three-pointers. Miller scored 16 points off the bench, Felsinger scored 15 and added eight rebounds and
Brianna Jones (
Sr.-Indianapolis, Ind.) added 10 points plus eight rebounds and five assists.
Kacey Gardner (
Sr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) also added six points plus 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Lakeland shot 38.7% (29 of 75), including 9 of 22 from three-point range (40.9%). The Muskies also finished with a 48-32 rebounding advantage.
Williams made 10 of 19 shots plus all seven free throws to lead Marian, which finished shooting 42.6% (26 of 61). King added 15 points.
Lakeland is back home Saturday when it hosts Benedictine University at 4:15 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium. A packed day will include the Muskies 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.
