The Muskies are on a winning streak in the series with the Cougars, winning the last four games, including a close 54-50 win at home at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium just over a year ago on Jan. 4, 2024. Lakeland also swept two games from Concordia the year before, including a 70-57 win on the road in River Forest Feb. 15, 2023.  CUC's most recent win in the series came in the 2022 regular season finale, also at Lakeland, a 54-44 victory to spoil the Muskies' Senior Night. Nearly all of the history between the two teams dates back to the two joining the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference in 2006, with the only meeting before that coming Nov. 17, 2001, with Lakeland rolling to a 90-46 win at home.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at MSOE 66-51 Wednesday
A bad third quarter spoiled the bunch for the Muskies in Milwaukee as they lost in NACC play for the first time this season. The Raiders outscored Lakeland 21-4 in the third quarter, including a 15-0 run out of halftime while the Muskies went scoreless for more than 7 1/2 minutes. Lakeland led for almost all of the first half and outscored MSOE 47-45 over the final three quarters, but the Muskies finished shooting just 27.3% from the field and made just 18 of 31 free throw attempts. A.T. Bartlett scored 11 points to lead Lakeland, Halle Boldt posted eight points and Lauryn Johnson added seven points and seven rebounds.

Lakeland was playing for the first time in 2025 and the first time since Dec. 20. The Muskies had their third straight bitter cold shooting night, and have hit just 25.9% of their shots over the last three games, as well as just 5 of 42 from three-point range. The offensive struggles also have been displayed in the team's assist total: just 11 assists over the last three games.

Concordia last time out: Lost at Benedictine 92-42 Wednesday
The Cougars had a long night on the road as the Eagles dominated throughout to keep CUC winless in the NACC. Benedictine shot nearly 60% over the first three quarters and 54.8% for the game with six players scoring in double figures. Concordia hit just 28.6% of its shots, and after Khaliah Reid's 23 points the rest of the team combined for just 19 points. The Eagles led by 25 at halftime and continued building the lead right to the end.

About the Cougars: Concordia Chicago has struggled almost all season, with its lone win coming over the University of Hartford (Conn.), a former NCAA Division I member completing its transition to Division III. The Cougars have struggled offensively, scoring  less than 50 points seven times. CUC finished 8-17 overall last year and 5-11 in the NACC, and is led by coach Lauren Martin, one of the veteran coaches in the conference now in her seventh year.