RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Alexis Johnson (Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) scored the go-ahead hoop with 20.5 seconds left in the game and the Lakeland University women's basketball team held on for a 48-47 victory over Dominican University Saturday in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.

Johnson's bucket helped the Muskies escape after seeing a nine-point lead slip away in the final three minutes. Lakeland battled through frigid shooting to win its fourth straight game, all four on the road, and improved to 5-7 overall, 2-2 in the NACC and 5-2 in road games this season.

The Muskies led for all but just over two minutes of the game and trailed just twice, the first time at 3-2 in the game's early minutes. Lakeland held a slim lead much of the way and never led by more than nine points, but held a nine-point lead on five occasions over the second, third and fourth quarters, the last time on a layup by Jenna Shea (Jr.-Appleton, Wis.) making it 46-37 with 3:04 left in the game.

The Stars (5-6 overall, 0-4 NACC) came back with a three-point play by Allannah Jackson, two more free throws by Jackson and then a three-pointer by Aya Deiri with 52 seconds left to close within 46-45. The Muskies committed a turnover and after a timeout Lia Saunders scored with 36 seconds left to put Dominican ahead for its first lead since early in the first quarter.

Lakeland regrouped after a timeout and Johnson received the ball in the left corner, drove baseline and spun into the lane before hitting a scoop shot to put the Muskies back ahead. Johnson then had a key defensive play, stepping in as a help defender on a driving Saunders and forcing a heavily contested layup attempt that missed. Dominican had one more chance after a jump ball with six seconds left, but Kennedy Yost's three-pointer from the left corner with three seconds left was off target and A.T. Bartlett (Sr.-Farmington Hills, Mich.) chased down the loose ball rebound as time expired.

Lakeland led 14-9 after one quarter, 25-18 at halftime and 32-27 after three quarters. The Muskies held a lead virtually throughout despite shooting a season-low 26.1% for the game, making 18 of 69 field goals. Lakeland also held Dominican to 29.8% shooting (14 of 47) and attempted 22 more shots from the field than the Stars after posting a 19-5 margin in offensive rebounds and a 49-38 rebounding advantage for the game.

Johnson and Bartlett both scored 12 points each for the Muskies and Bartlett added a team-high eight rebounds. Sadie Grabow (So.-Bourbonnais, Ill.) also added five points and six rebounds off the bench and Jiaryatou Cisse (Jr.-Harrison, Mich.) also chipped in five points and five rebounds. Jackson paced Dominican with 12 points and Yost added nine points and 10 rebounds.

The Muskies are home for the first time in 2026 when they host Edgewood University Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.