MEQUON, Wis. – A 12-0 run in the fourth quarter for Concordia University Wisconsin proved to be the difference and too much to overcome for the Lakeland University women's basketball team as it was defeated 70-62 Saturday afternoon at Concordia's R. John Buuck Fieldhouse.
The Muskies went cold for nearly six minutes in the fourth quarter and saw their hopes for a spot in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament down but not out after falling to 10-14 overall and 7-9 in the NACC. Lakeland is considered at 8-9 for conference record purposes including an awarded forfeit after Alverno College canceled its season, and the Muskies are one-half game behind Concordia University Chicago with the Cougars playing Dominican University on Wednesday before Lakeland and Concordia Chicago face off in the regular season finale next Saturday.
The Muskies and Falcons were close the entire day with nine ties and 10 lead changes throughout the contest. Concordia Wisconsin (8-15 overall, 7-8 NACC) held a slim lead a good portion of the way, including a 37-33 halftime lead, but Lakeland did not go away and tied the score for the eighth time in the game when
Sadie Grabow (
So.-Bourbonnais, Ill.) hit a three-pointer to make it 49-49 with 8:53 left in the fourth quarter.
The Muskies then took the lead their next time down when
Meghan MacPhee (
Jr.-Marquette, Mich.) scored inside to make it 51-49 with 8:02 left. Concordia would score on its next four trips down the court, though, including a layup by Jayden Ross to tie it, two free throws by Isabela Gunderson putting CUW ahead 53-51, and then a three-pointer by Gracie McNabb and a three-point play by Andrea Butterbrodt, the latter coming after an offensive rebound and making it 59-51 with 5:40 left, the largest lead of the game to that point for either team.
Concordia added a layup by Kristin Wentling with 2:36 left to push the lead to 61-51, and the Muskies were held scoreless for 5:56 until
A.T. Bartlett (
Sr.-Farmington Hills, Mich.) made a three-pointer to end the run. Lakeland closed back within five when
Jiaryatou Cisse (Jr.-Harrison, Mich.) hit two free throws to make it 67-62 with 16 seconds left, but got no closer.
The Muskies finished shooting 33.3% (24 of 72) but outrebounded the Falcons 41-28, including 17 offensive rebounds. Bartlett scored 16 points and added seven rebounds and four steals and Cisse added 12 points plus a game-high 11 rebounds. The two also led Lakeland to a 37-9 margin in bench points.
Gunderson led Concordia with 15 points and was one of four Falcons in double figures. CUW shot 43.4% (23 of 53) and made 18 of 23 free throws (78.3%), including seven of 10 in the game's final 50 seconds.
Lakeland closes out its regular season this coming Saturday when it hosts Concordia University Chicago for Senior Day at 1 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
