Lakeland College

Muskies fall in NAC Quarterfinals

Athletics - posted on 2/22/2012

The Lakeland College women's basketball team suffered a tough loss in the opening round of the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament on Wednesday night, a 56-44 setback to visiting Concordia University Wisconsin.

The fourth-seeded Muskies couldn't get into a rhythm at either end of the court and had no answer on the glass.

Lakeland finishes a solid season 18-8. Fifth-seeded CUW advances to face top seed Wisconsin Lutheran in the semifinals on Friday night.

In the first half, Lakeland used an early 10-4 run to take their largest lead of the game, 14-8, nine minutes in. Following a CUW timeout, the Falcons went on a 17-3 run to take a 25-17 lead with 3:08 left in the half. Lakeland senior point guard Becca Tilleman (Green Bay, Wis.) hit a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded to cut the lead to five, 28-23, at the half.

Junior Dana Henrichs (Fall Creek, Wis.) kept Lakeland in the game, scoring 11 first-half points, including a 3-for-4 performance from behind the 3-point line. Lakeland just didn't have an answer inside as the Falcons outrebounded the Muskies 25-12 in the period and outscored Lakeland 14-8 in the paint.

Lakeland never led in the second half, getting as close as two points twice in the first four minutes of the period. The Muskies shooting went cold in the second half and the Falcons were too strong inside. CUW was also more aggressive, shooting 15 free throws in the half, compared to just three by Lakeland. The game was won on the glass though, as the Falcons once again dominated the boards, 23-14.

Lakeland outscored CUW, 14-6, in the paint in the half, but it wasn't enough. Sophomore Jessica Genke led Lakeland with six second half points and six rebounds.

Lakeland finished 18-for-57 (31.6 percent) from the field and 6-for-18 (33.3 percent) from behind the arc. CUW shot 31.6 percent (19-for-51) from the field, 40 percent (4-for-10) from the 3-point arc and 77.8 percent (14-for-18) from the free throw line. CUW outrebounded Lakeland, 48-26, and forced 14 Muskie turnovers.

Henrichs finished with a team-high 13 points and added five rebounds. Genke tallied eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.

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