Lakeland University Muskies (5-6 overall, 2-0 NACC)
at MSOE Raiders (5-6 overall, 1-1 NACC)
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025Â Â 7 p.m.
Hotchkin Arena
Milwaukee, Wis.
Lakeland/MSOE WBB Game Notes  PDF
The Lakeland University women's basketball team returns from a long holiday break and hits the core of its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference schedule when it travels to face Milwaukee School of Engineering Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at MSOE's Hotckin Arena inside the Kern Center.
Broadcast Information:
Lakeland has mostly dominated the all-time series with Milwaukee School of Engineering, though the Raiders have had some success the last few years. MSOE won last year's game 70-56 at Lakeland Jan. 20, 2024, as Mahima Chokshi scored 20 points and the Raiders led from start-to-finish. The Muskies' last win in the series came Jan. 18, 2023, with a 68-60 win at home, while MSOE also won the last time the teams played in Milwaukee, taking a 67-53 victory one year earlier on Jan. 18, 2022. The series dates back to Feb. 9, 1987, when Lakeland won the first game 89-34 at home, and the Muskies won the first 26 meetings and 39 of the first 40 overall.
Lakeland last time out: Lost at Kalamazoo (Mich.) 75-63 Dec. 20
The Muskies have been idle for 18 days since finishing up a two-day trip to lower Michigan with a loss to the Hornets. Kalamazoo pulled away with a 19-6 run in the third quarter and Lakeland was ice-cold from the field until finally heating up in the fourth quarter. The Muskies hit 8 of 13 shots in the last 10 minutes but still finished shooting just 30.9%, which came one day after shooting 19.4% in a loss to Calvin.
Alexis Johnson scored 18 points,
A.T. Bartlett scored 16 and
Halle Boldt added 12 points plus nine rebounds, but the Hornets shot 42.9% and finished with a sizeable 51-42 rebounding advantage.
MSOE last time out: Lost at DePauw (Ind.) 69-47 Dec. 30
The Raiders also come in off a loss and are playing for the first time in the new year, though they also played more recently with a loss in the championship game of DePauw's Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament a week ago Monday. MSOE started strong and led by six points on three occasions in the second quarter, and trailed by just two at halftime. The Raiders still were within three late in the third period, but the Tigers went on a 26-0 run to seize the game. Aleah Butterbrodt and Lana Kerley scored 11 points each to lead MSOE, which defeated a solid Capital (Ohio) team 60-55 in the semifinals, handing the Comets just their second loss of the season.
About the Raiders: The Raiders enter with the same 5-6 overall record as Lakeland and have played a tough schedule that includes a win over Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent UW-Platteville. MSOE made a big move in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference last year, improving to 18-8 overall and 12-4 in conference, the program's best season since 2015-16. The Raiders returned four starters from last year's team and also have one of the top freshmen in the NACC early this season in Kerley, who is second on the team in scoring (11.1 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg).
Steals leader(s): Lakeland junior guard
Alexis Johnson enters the day leading the NACC in both steals (32) and steals per game (2.91). Johnson is one of three Muskies among the conference leaders in the two categories, with
Halle Boldt second in total steals (27) and third in steals/game (2.45) and
A.T. Bartlett fourth in steals (26) and fifth in steals/game (2.36). As a team, Lakeland over the course of its schedule so far as been one of the best in NCAA Division III in steals with its 16.5 thefts per contest seventh-best in the country. The Muskies' 27.09 turnovers forced per game also ranks eight-best of 415 teams in Division III.
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