By Jami Sponaugle 

Chicago, Ill. - On Saturday, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks women's basketball team welcomed the Lakeland University Muskies to the Keating Sports Center for a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) contest. The Hawks (3-8, 1-4) fought hard, but ultimately fell to the Muskies (6-7, 4-2) by a final score of 70-86. 

First Half (Lakeland 44 - Illinois Tech 31)

• The Hawks and Muskies battled through the first quarter. The Muskies quickly got on the board from the opening tip, but Camden Joko quickly answered for the Hawks with a 3-pointer at 9:21 to put the Hawks up. The Hawks lead didn't last long as the Muskies went down the court and put in a three of their own. For most of the quarter, the Muskies led the way, but the Hawks kept things close, and eventually tied the game up. With 1:13 left in the quarter, the Hawks tied the game at 16-16 after a Chloe Churilla layup. The Hawks found themselves ahead for a moment after a Kaya Jones free throw, but the Muskies were able to put in two baskets before the buzzer. At the end of the first quarter, the Muskies led the Hawks 21-17. 

• In the second quarter at 8:52 on the clock, the Hawks came within 4 after a Catherine Klemp jump shot made the score 23-19 in favor of the Muskies. From there, the Muskies slowly built a lead. The Hawks fought back towards the end to cut the Muskies lead to 13 points. At halftime, the Muskies led the Hawks 44-31.

Second Half (Lakeland 42- Illinois Tech 39)

• The Muskies controlled the game offensively once again in the third quarter, picking up 25 points and holding the Hawks to 14 points. At the end of the quarter, the Muskies led the Hawks 69-45

• The Hawks opened the fourth quarter with Jones making a layup and Julia Bucci draining back-to-back three's. In the final quarter, the Hawks controlled the game offensively. The Hawks were able to cut the game to 14 points with 5:23 remaining after a Churilla layup. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the Muskies lead proved to be too much to come back from as they fell to the visitors by a final score of 86-70.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Churilla led the Hawks with 23 points and tied for the lead in rebounds with 6.

• Kaya Jones recorded a career high of 15 points during the contest. Jones finished with 5 rebounds and 1 assist.

• Bucci ended the game with 13 points and tied for the lead with 6 rebounds.

• Joko picked up 11 points, 2 rebounds, and led the team with 5 assists.  

Muskie Standouts

• Lauren Downs led with 15 points. Downs finished with 4 rebounds and 1 assist.

• Kaceu Gardner followed with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists.

• Mackenzie Miller recorded a double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds. 

Inside the Box Score 

• The Hawks finished 27-of-72 (37.5%) from the field, 5-of-18 (27.8%) from three, and made 11-of-21 (52.4%) free throw attempts. The Muskies finished 35-of-59 (59.3%), 4-of-13 (30.8%), and 12-of-21 (57.1%) respectively.

• The Hawks forced the Muskies into 23 turnovers and picked up 19 points. 

• The Muskies outrebounded the Hawks 46-36.

• Both sides committed 19 fouls. 

• 44 of the Muskies' points came off the bench. 

Up Next

On Wednesday, the Hawks will be on the road in River Forest, Ill. to take on Dominican University. The NACC contest will tip-off at 7:00p.m.