With final exams taking place this week, the Benedictine University women's basketball team will play just one game between now and Sunday. On Saturday, the Eagles will host Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opponent Lakeland College at 6:00 p.m. in the Dan and Ada Rice Center.
 
BenU (3-5, 3-0) has played very well to begin conference play, winning three straight games and scoring an average of 68.3 points per game. Vincenza Ranallo has continued her strong senior season, as she is now fifth in the NACC in scoring (17.0 points per game) and ninth in three-point shooting (40.5%). Also, junior post Nicole Botich has shot 77.8% over the past four games, raising her field goal percentage to 59.0% (third in the NACC) while also averaging 8.4 rebounds per game (tied for fourth in the NACC).
  
On Saturday, the Muskies of Lakeland College visit Benedictine and come in on a two-game winning streak. After dropping the conference opener to Concordia University Chicago 85-66 on November 29, Lakeland upset NACC favorite Wisconsin Lutheran College at home 69-67 on December 3. Last Saturday, the Muskies followed up the WLC win with a convincing victory over Dominican University 72-42. Before taking on the Eagles, Lakeland will oppose Concordia University Wisconsin on Tuesday night in the last of three straight home games.
 
Lakeland's offense has propelled the team during conference play, as the Muskies are fourth in scoring at 69.0 points per game in the three contests. BenU, however, is not far off, coming in fifth at 68.3 points per game. While both teams have been able to score, Lakeland has been able to do so via the three-pointer, as the team has taken 20.4 threes per game (compared to 12.9 for BenU) and has shot 34.3% from beyond the arc this season (third in the NACC).
 
The Eagles have defeated Lakeland in four of the last five matchups, with Lakeland's last win in the last series coming back in 2011-2012. Last season, BenU took both games, winning 64-50 at Lakeland and 64-54 in Lisle. In the victory at home over Lakeland, Alanna Ferry had one of her best games as an Eagle, scoring 18 points with three rebounds, three assists, and three steals. In addition, Vincenza Ranallo averaged 13 points and five rebounds against the Muskies last season, while Briana Hamilton averaged 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals.