FOND DU LAC, Wis. - The Rockford University Regents women's basketball team defeated the Marian University Sabres 67-58 on Saturday afternoon. The Regents have now won four of their last five games and improved their overall record to 7-7. The win also moves Rockford into sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot.
Neither team was able to take control of the game during the first half as the entire period was played within a four-point range. The two teams traded jabs throughout an opening half that featured six ties and nine lead changes. In spite of a difficult shooting half, the Regents were able to stay in the game thanks in part to their improved rebounding and excellent defense. In the first half, the Regents outrebounded the Sabres 26-20, which lead to 7-0 Rockford advantage in second chance points. The Regents were also able to force 9 Marian first half turnovers that led to a 10-2 Rockford advantage in points off turnovers. Rockford senior Erin Ryczek (South Beloit, Ill./Hononegah) was also outstanding for the Regents in the opening twenty minutes. Ryczek connected on four of her six shots to account for 10 of Rockford's 27 first half points. However despite improved play in crucial areas, the Regents entered the locker room at halftime trailing 28-27.
The second half was entirely different from the first as the Regents were in control basically from start to finish. Ryczek scored the first four points of the half to give the Regents a lead they would not relinquish. Rockford continued to build on that lead as they opened the second half on a 16-5 run to take a 43-33 advantage. However, the Sabres had one final run left in them as they slowly chipped away at the lead until it was a just 5-point game with well over eleven minutes remaining. The Regents were not about to let the game get away from them as they promptly countered with a 12-3 run of their own to give them their largest of the game at 57-43. During their run, Rockford had five different players score led by four points from center Katie Clark (Rock City, Ill./Dakota). The Regents then leaned on their smothering defense for the remainder of the game that allowed just 7 made baskets the entire second half to seal the 67-58 victory.
Rockford used a well-balanced scoring attack on Saturday that featured five Regents scoring at least 8 points. Erin Ryczek led the way for the Regents scoring a team-high 16 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Ryczek has now scoring in double-figures in four of the team's last five games. Lindsay Lengjak (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) recorded her second consecutive double-double and her fifth of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Arielle Nichols (Tampa, Fla./Land O'Lakes) had a fantastic game off the bench for Rockford, especially at the free throw line. Nichols went 9-for-11 at the charity stripe including knocking down numerous clutch free throws down the stretch. The senior finished with 14 points and 5 rebounds. Katie Clark and Callie Rezin (Rockford, Ill./Lutheran) each added 8 points and 4 rebounds off the bench.
The women's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday, January 15th at home against Edgewood College. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Seaver Center.
