ROCKFORD, Ill. – Alexis Johnson (Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) tied her own previously set Lakeland University women's basketball single-game record for steals and the Muskies pulled away in the second half to defeat Rockford University 73-60 Saturday afternoon at the Seaver Center.

Johnson finished with 10 steals, equaling the school record for steals in a game she set last season against Maranatha Baptist University. The senior guard also added 18 points for an unusual double-double and Lakeland improved to 9-11 overall and 6-6 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

The Muskies received a battle on the road from the Regents (1-18 overall, 1-10 NACC), trailing for some of the first half and leading 32-30 only after Sadie Grabow (So.-Bourbonnais, Ill.) made two of three free throws with no time left on the clock after being fouled while attempting a 35-footer at the buzzer. Lakeland came out strong to start the third quarter, though, and then held off a late Rockford charge.

The Muskies opened the second half with a 17-5 run to take control of the game. Johnson scored six points, including a pair of buckets after steals, and Lakeland took a 49-35 lead when A.T. Bartlett (Sr.-Farmington Hills, Mich.) drained a three-pointer with 4:23 left in the third period.

The Regents had a run left in them, and a 16-5 stretch finished by a three-point play by Kyle Wilkerson pulled the hosts within 57-54 with 9:37 left in the game. The Muskies held Rockford to just one more field goal the rest of the way, though, and Johnson scored nine of her 18 points in the fourth quarter, including a three-point play with 3:11 remaining to give Lakeland a 66-57 lead.

The Muskies shot just 33.9% (21 of 62) for the game and had their hands full with the Regents' Te Simpson, who scored 20 points and added 12 rebounds. Lakeland made 24 of 31 free throws, though (77.4%) and also forced Rockford into 36 turnovers, double the amount of field goals the Regents made (18).

Johnson finished making 4 of 11 from the field but 10 of 11 from the free throw line. Grabow also scored a career-high 17 points, making three three-pointers plus 6 of 8 free throws, and added six rebounds and three steals. Bartlett also scored 11 points and Madelyn Abler (Fr.-Random Lake, Wis.) added eight points off the bench. In all 13 players saw action for Lakeland and 11 scored at least one point.

Simpson made 6 of 12 from the field and 8 of 11 free throws for Rockford. She scored 15 of her 20 points in the first half but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Wilkerson also added 12 points. The Regents shot 43.9% (18 of 41) but with their 36 turnovers attempted 21 less shots than the Muskies.

Lakeland is on the road again Wednesday when it travels to face Milwaukee School of Engineering at 7 p.m. in Milwaukee.