CHICAGO – Halle Boldt (Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) scored 20 points and Sadie Grabow (Fr.-Bourbonnais, Ill.) grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds as the Lakeland University women's basketball team made the plays needed down the stretch for a 73-61 victory over Illinois Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon.

The Muskies clinched the eighth and final spot in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament, ensuring their season will continue beyond the regular season finale next Saturday against Marian University. Lakeland improved to 11-12 overall and 8-6 in the NACC while ending the postseason hopes of Illinois Tech, which fell to 8-15 overall and 4-10 in conference.

The Muskies led much of the way, including by 12 points in the second quarter, but had to withstand an IIT run in the third quarter. The Scarlet Hawks came back from nine points down in the third to take the lead on two occasions, the last time and a layup by Halle Williams to make it 47-46 with 3:14 left in the third.

Lakeland had made just 2 of 12 shots in the quarter to that point, but regained control by scoring inside. Alexis Johnson (Jr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) scored on a layup to regain the lead, and Boldt followed with consecutive layups to put the Muskies up by five.

Lakeland carried a slim 52-49 lead in to the final quarter, but freshman Ariana Vaitkeviciute (Merrionette Park, Ill.) scored the Muskies' next three baskets, the last for a 58-52 lead with 7:45 remaining. Illinois Tech responded with a three-pointer but A.T. Bartlett (Jr.-Farmington Hills, Mich.) answered with a triple. The Scarlet Hawks closed within three one more time on a layup by Grace Goodnough to make it 63-60 with 4:09 left, but Boldt followed with a three-point play and a layup, and IIT scored just one more point the rest of the way.

The Muskies led for all but the first 85 seconds of the first half, scoring nine straight points after a brief a 2-0 Illinois Tech lead to start the game. Lakeland led 18-9 after one quarter and was ahead by 12 twice in the second quarter, the second time after Jenna Shea (So.-Appleton, Wis.) made a three-pointer for a 34-22 lead with 4:59 left in the half. The Scarlet Hawks rallied back to within 38-32 at halftime.

Boldt made 9 of 14 shots from the field and added five rebounds, Johnson scored 13 points off the bench and Bartlett added 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Grabow also finished with 11 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds, plus four steals, and led Lakeland to a 56-43 rebounding advantage.

The Muskies finished shooting 38.4%, making 28 of 73 shots. Lakeland also capitalized on IIT's mistakes, posting a 20-6 advantage in points off turnovers.

Julia Bucci scored 14 points and Berit Rusing added 14 points plus 11 rebounds for Illinois Tech, which shot 35.9% (23 of 64).

Lakeland plays at home for the final time this season when it hosts Aurora University Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.