ROCKFORD, Ill.- The Rockford University women's basketball team finished the 2013 year with a non-conference game against Augustana College, who came into the game with a 4-6 record. Rockford was coming off a nine day break from their last game, a 71-68 win against conference opponent Concordia University of Chicago. It was an extremely close game that took one over-time to decide the winner.

It took a little bit of time for Rockford to knock off the rust from their nine day break and found themselves in an 8-0 to begin the game. They did not score until the 13:57 mark when freshman Mallorie Getzelman (Byron, Ill./Byron) made a layup. After a couple of baskets were exchanged the score stood at 11-4 when Rockford began to make a comeback. Jessica Bjerning (Wauconda, Ill./Mundelein) made a layup and Sherrell Woods (Rockford, Ill./East) hit two free throws and made a basket to bring the Regents within three. A few possessions later Arielle Nichols (Tampa, Fla./Land O' Lakes) hit a three pointer to tie the game at 13. At the 6:17 mark Rockford took their first lead of the game after a Lindsay Lengjak (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) layup. Rockford increased their lead a short time later to four points after an Erin Ryczek (South Beloit, Ill./Hononegah) three pointer. Augustana and Rockford would go back and forth the rest of the first half but the Vikings would make the last two baskets of the half to tie the game at 28-28. Rockford's bench came up big in the first half with the Katie Clark (Rock City, Ill./Dakota) and Woods leading the way with six points each and Nichols adding in five more. The Regents shot 35% for the first half from the field, 33% from behind the line, and made six of their seven free throws.

Rockford would again start the half slow and Augustana led 38-30 four minutes into the second half. After an Augustana basket put them up 40-32 Rockford went on a run. Lengjak and Destiny Chaney (Belleville, Ill./O'Fallon Township) both made layups, Bjerning added a free throw, and then Clark and Woods made layups to bring the Regents within one with 12:16 left in the game. Rockford would tie it with a Clark layup a few minutes later and then on their next possession they would take their first lead of the half after a Callie Rezin (Rockford, Ill./Lutheran) layup, bringing the score 45-43. The Vikings would take the lead a few possessions later after a basket. Rockford would retake the lead after a Woods three pointer, but once again Augustana would tie it back up, but Woods would again hit a three to retake the lead. The Regents would increase their lead to six points after Lauren Hyser (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere) made a basket and made her free throw shot after getting fouled. The game would go back and forth the rest of the way until Augustana made a jump shot to go ahead by one with 1:27 left in the game. Clark made one of two free throws to tie the game and after a defensive stand Lengjak made a jump shot to put the Regents ahead by two with 44 seconds left in the game. But the Vikings would answer 15 seconds later to tie the game at 64 and send the game into overtime. Woods and Clark again led the Regents for the half with eight points each and Lengjak added in six.

Chaney started the Regents off quickly by drawing a foul and making both of her free throws. Augustana answered right away with a jump shot and would go ahead quickly after another basket and a free throw. Their lead stayed at three until the 2:56 mark when Lengjak made a layup and Clark tied it a short time later with a free throw. A few possessions later Lengjak hit two free throws to put Rockford up two. A minute later she again hit two free throws to put the score at 75-71. The Vikings answered with two free throws but Chaney made another layup to bring the Regents lead back to four. With 11 seconds left Augustana hit a free throw and quickly fouled Lengjak, who made another two free throws. On their next possession a Viking player was fouled attempting a three pointer and after sinking all three the score was 79-78 Rockford. Ryczek was fouled and made both free throws and after Augustana was unable to get off a last second shot the final score stood at 81-78 Rockford.  Lengjak led the Regents in scoring with 16, sinking all eight of her free throws and also grabbing seven rebounds. Woods added 14 points and seven rebounds off of the bench. Clark had 15 points on five of seven shooting and she also had six rebounds. Rockford finished the game shooting 40% from the field, 36% from behind the line, and 79% from the line.

Rockford is off until January 4th when it hosts conference opponent Concordia Wisconsin at 4:15 pm. They then play another conference opponent on January 7th at 7:00 pm.