The Aurora University women's basketball team hosted the Muskies of Lakeland College on a rainy Saturday afternoon in a warm Thornton Gymnasium. The Spartans would come out victorious, defeating the Muskies 69-62.
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The Spartans and Muskies traded baskets for the first 10 minutes of the first half until Lakeland extended their lead to five (23-18) with 6:30 left in the first. The Muskies would extend their lead to eight (28-20) with 3:16 left in the first.
AU would chip into the Muskies lead, led by Koski who was fouled and would split the free throws to bring the Spartans within seven (28-21). A turnover from the Muskies and Koski was again at the free throw line where she hit both free throws closing the Lakeland lead to (29-24). Senior
Neely Marks and junior
Molly Rosenow would both score to end the half and going into halftime, AU was trailing Lakeland 30-28.
The Spartans would come out on fire to open the second half. Scoring in three consecutive possessions, starting with a three from Koski and ending with a three from Dorrington to pull the Spartans in front 36-30.
The Spartans would continue to build their lead and with 11:35 left in the second half they led by 12 (48-36). The Muskies pulled together a late comeback to tie the game at 60 with just over 2:00 to play in the game.
But the Spartans would score the following possession from a step back jumper from Rosenow to give the Spartans the late lead (62-60). Behind a stingy AU defense the Muskies could not find the net the rest of two minutes with their only points coming on free-throws.
AU went five of six from the free-throw line down the stretch for the 69-62 win. Marks joined Koski and Dorrington to score seven points and grabbed 11 rebounds with four blocked shots.
With the win, AU is now 4-8 overall and 4-4 in the NACC. Next action for the Spartan women's basketball team comes on
Tuesday, January 6 when they travel to Milwaukee School of Engineering. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
