The Aurora University women's basketball team hosted Lakeland University in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match-up. The Spartans outscored the Muskies 23-11 in the third quarter, controlling the game in the fourth and winning 71-61.


FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 71, Lakeland University 61
LOCATION: Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois  
RECORDS: Aurora University 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the NACC; Lakeland University 6-3 overall and 0-1 in the NACC


 - AU got off to a strong start with a Jaylah Mays layup and Eliot Dojutrek drained a midrange jumper with 7:52 left in the first half-quarter for a 5-2 lead.
- Dojutrek pushed the AU lead to 10-7 with a three 2:14 later.
- A Lakeland 10-0 run put the Spartans down 17-10 with just over four minutes in the opening quarter.
- A Gabby Moore three-pointer stopped the Muskie run as AU trailed 17-13.
- The Spartans would trail 23-15 after one.
-  A 12-4 AU run fueled by three's from Dojutrek and Macy Kocen tied the game 27-27 with three minutes to play.
- AU trailed 37-33 heading to the halftime intermission.
- Crystal Rios hit a jumper to tie the game at 41-41 with 5:51 left in the third quarter.
- Consecutive threes from Kamryn Bullock and Sam Barrett gave the Spartans a 49-48 lead with 2:07 remaining in the third quarter.
- AU turned up the pressure on defense and Moore knocked down a three-pointer to extend the Spartans lead 54-48.
- To end the third quarter, Sam Barrett muscles up for the rebound and makes the layup at the buzzer. The Spartans led 56-48 heading to the fourth.
- Lakeland cut the AU lead to four at 58-54 with 6:35 to play.
- A three from Bullock started an 11-0 AU run that put the game away.
- A three-point play (and one lay-up) and two more free-throws from Jaylah Mays gave AU a 15-point lead with 3:38 to go.
- AU controlled the tempo in the final minutes for a key NACC home win.
- The Spartans would win 71-61.


Points: Eliot Dojutrek (13), Jaylah Mays (12), Kamryn Bullock (9) and Gabby Moore (8)
Assists: Eliot Dojutrek (5)
Rebounds: Selena Vargas (14)
Steals: Gabby Moore and Selena Vargas (3)
 

Next action for the Spartan women's basketball team comes on Wednesday, December 14 when they host Eureka College. Opening tip-off is slated for 3:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium.