ROCKFORD, Ill.- The Rockford University Regents women's basketball team faced the Concordia University Chicago Cougars Saturday afternoon at the Seaver Center. Rockford entered the game with a four game losing streak but looked to change that against an 0-7 Cougar team.
Turnovers and a fast past offense dominated the first half of the game for both teams. Rockford took an early 4-0 lead on baskets by Erin Ryczek (South Beloit, Ill./Honohegah) and Mallorie Getzelman (Byron, Ill./Byron). The Cougars answered by going on a 7-1 run. Ryczek ended that run by hitting a jumper in the lane to tie the game up at seven with 15 minutes left in the half. A short time later Jessica Bjerning (Wauconda, Ill./Mundelein) hit a pair of free throws to regain the lead for the Regents. Katie Clark (Rock City, Ill./Dakota) scored four quick points off of the bench to extend the Regents lead to six with 12 minutes left in the half. The teams traded baskets for the next seven minutes before the Cougars tied the game up at 21. With five minutes left in the half Ryczek hit a free throw to once again regain the lead for the Regents. A minute later Concordia took back the lead with a jumper but Ryczek again answered to put Rockford back up by one. The Cougars again took a one point lead after making a three pointer but Rockford quickly answered, this time by Bjerning. Concordia hit a pair of free throws to take a one point lead, 28-27, to end the first half. Ryczek and Getzelman tied for the Regents point lead with seven each. Clark added four on two of two shooting and she also had two rebounds. Rockford shot 39% from the field and made seven of their ten free throws.
Rockford took the lead 20 seconds into the second half on a Lindsay Lengjak (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) layup. Rockford extended their led to six before the Cougars came back to go ahead by one after a pair of free throws. Coming right off of the bench Clark scored on a jumper to put the Regents up 36-35. A few possessions later Clark hit two free throws to extend Rockford's lead by three. The Cougars answered immediately with a three pointer to tie things up at 38. Callie Rezin (Rockford, Ill./Lutheran) hit a big three and Bjerning made a layup right after a Cougar turnover to put the Regents up five. Rockford's lead continued to grow on their next possession as Clark hit another pair of free throws to put the game at 45-38 with 13 and a half minutes left in the game. Another Clark basket put the Regents up by nine but the Cougars hit a pair of three pointers to cut the Rockford lead back down to three with less than 12 minutes left in the game.
The Cougars battled back and after two made free throws the score stood at 53-52 with eight minutes left in the game. A few possessions later the Cougars tied the game up at 55 after a couple of free throws. The Cougars then made a basket to take a 58-57 lead with less than six minutes in the game. A long two pointer from Lengjak regained the lead for Rockford but it was short lived as the Cougars hit a couple of baskets to go up 63-59. Clark hit another pair of free throws to cut Concordia's lead back down to one with less than three minutes left in the game. After a Concordia turnover Clark made a layup after a great pass from Ryczek to put Rockford up 66-65. Rockford continued to feed Clark under the basket, this time it was Lengjak, and Rockford led 68-65 with 1:15 left in the game. Concordia hit two free throws to bring the score 68-67 Rockford with less than a minute left. With one second left on the shot clock Getzelman hit a huge three at the top of the circle to give Rockford a four point lead with 29 seconds left in the game. After a made free throw for the Cougars and a missed front end free throw for the Regents the Cougars attempted a last second three pointer that hit right of the rim, securing a 71 to 68 win for Rockford.
Clark had a huge game off of the bench, tying for the game high with 22 points on eight of ten shooting, she also had six rebounds. Ryczek was the only other Regent to score double digit points. Bjerning had ten rebounds and nine points. Getzelman finished with nine points on three of four shooting. Rockford finished the game shooting 43% from the field, 20% from behind the line and 74% from the free throw line.
Rockford takes on Augustana next on December 30th at 7 p.m. at home. Their next conference game is on January 4th when they host Concordia Wisconsin at 4:15 p.m.
