Aurora (Ill.) University shot 50% in the second half and made six three-pointers, rallying from a big first half deficit to defeat the Lakeland College women's basketball team 62-54 Saturday afternoon in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game.

The Muskies built a 19-point first half lead but couldn't hold on as the Spartans swept the season series between the two teams. Lakeland dropped to 6-10 overall and is now 3-8 in the NACC, while Aurora improved to 8-8 overall and 7-4 in conference play.

The Spartans took the lead for good on a three-pointer by Bethany Dorrington making it 41-38 with 13:02 to play. Aurora held on down the stretch, despite the Muskies hanging around and staying close.

Leah Eisner (Sr.-Stevens Point, Wis.) scored in the paint to cut the Spartans' lead to 52-51 with 3:48 left. Dorrington scored the game's next seven points, though, with a three-pointer, a jumper and two free throws to put the game out of reach.

The Muskies started strong, racing out to a 25-6 lead in the first 12 minutes. Eisner scored eight points early and Vashia Gordon (Sr.-Green Bay, Wis.) added seven while the Spartans faltered. Aurora missed nine of its first 11 field goals, turned it over seven times and made just one of six free throws in the early going.

The Spartans settled down, though, and finished with the final eight points of the first half to trail 31-23 at the break. Aurora continued to chip away early in the second half and went in front for the first time since an early 3-2 lead when Molly Rosenow hit a three-pointer to make it 38-36. Gordon scored to tie it back up, the last time Lakeland was tied.

Eisner finished with 16 points and seven rebounds and made 7 of 11 from the field. Gordon scored 11 and Taylor Jandrin (Sr.-Forestville, Wis.) added 10 off the bench. Lakeland shot a respectable 45.7% (21-for-46) but struggled from three-point range, making just 3 of 16 (18.8%).

Dorrington scored a game-high 20 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists. Aurora recovered to shoot 46.7% for the game (22 of 47), including 9 of 18 from three-point range.

The Muskies are on the road again Tuesday when they travel to face Wisconsin Lutheran College at 7 p.m. in Milwaukee.