Chicago, Ill. – In their final home game of the 2024-2025 season, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks women's basketball team hosted the Lakeland University Muskies in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) competition. On the day in which the Hawks celebrated their three seniors, they looked to pick up a win to keep their hopes alive in reaching the NACC post-season tournament. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the game did not go as planned, as the Muskies. (11-12, 8-6) fought until the end and went home with a 73-61 victory over the Hawks (8-15, 4-10) 

Before the contest, the Hawks honored their three seniors for their contribution to Illinois Tech both on and off the court: Kaya Jones, Julia Bucci, and Allie Sillo. 

Although the Hawks recorded the first basket off a Kaya Jones layup, the Muskies jumped out to an early 9-2 lead at the 7:21 mark in the first quarter. Over the course of three minutes, the Hawks would fight to come within one when Berit Rusing made a free throw to make the score 10-9 in favor of the Muskies. During the final minutes of the first quarter, the Muskies went on an 8-0 run to lead 18-9. In the second quarter, when the game seemed to go more in favor of the Muskies, the Hawks hung around to stay within reach. After the Muskies built up to a 12-point, 34-22 lead with 3:21 remaining in the quarter, the Hawks were able to cut into the deficit before the buzzer went off. At the halftime buzzer, the Hawks trailed the Muskies 38-32.  

Third quarter action saw the Hawks come back and tie the contest. The first tie came at 43-43 with 5:23 remaining when Rusing made a free throw. From there, a Rusing layup gave the Hawks their first lead since the opening basket. The game would then go back-and-forth, with the Muskies eventually taking a 52-49 lead at the end of the quarter. For the final quarter of action, the Hawks fought to stay within reach, but the Muskies were able to hold them off just enough. A Julia Bucci three made it a three-point contest with 6:05 remaining, but that was the closest the Hawks would get for the remainder of the game. At the final buzzer, the Muskies would leave Chicago with a 73-61 victory over the Hawks.  

SCARLET HAWK STANDOUTS 

Julia Bucci finished with 14 points after going 5-of-11 from the field and 4-of-8 from three. Bucci added on four rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal 

Berit Rusing tallied 14 points after going 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-8 from the free throw line. Rusing finished with her second double-double of the season when she recorded 11 rebounds. She also added on four assists and three steals 

Halle Williams recorded 10 points after going 4-of-9 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. Williams also had eight rebounds, one assist, and one block 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Illinois Tech went 23-of-64 (35.9%) from the field, 6-of-19 (31.6%) from three, and 9-of-16 (56.3%) from the free throw line 

• Lakeland went 28-of-73 (38.4%) from the field, 5-of-20 (25.0%) from three, and 12-of-26 (46.2%) from the free throw line 

• 30 of the Hawks' points came in the paint and 28 points came off the bench 

• 44 of the Muskies' points came in the paint and 29 points came off the bench 

UP NEXT 

The Hawks are on the road for their final two games of the season. They will be back in action on Wednesday, February 19th when they head over to River Forest, Ill. to take on the Concordia University Chicago Cougars at 7:00 PM in NACC action.