RIVER FOREST, Ill. - The Regents women's basketball team concluded its final multi-game road trip on Wednesday evening with a visit to Concordia University Chicago. The Regents and Cougars met earlier in the season with Rockford pulling out a 71-68 victory at home in the Seaver Center. However, the Cougars would turn the tables on the Regents defeating them on their home court 84-80.
The Regents got off to a hot start in the first half before cooling off. Rockford came out of the gates clicking on all cylinders and jumping out to an early 18-8 lead. Junior guard Callie Rezin (Rockford, Ill./Lutheran) helped jump start Rockford's 12-0 run by knocking down back-to-back three-pointers. Despite the early lead, the Cougars slowly chipped away and would eventually tie the game at 24-24 with 7:47 remaining. After the two schools traded baskets over the next few minutes, the Cougars used a 15-3 run to jump out to a 10-point lead, their biggest of the half. Concordia would maintain its advantage and head into the half leading 45-36.
Despite cutting the Cougar lead down to a few points on several occasions, Rockford was never quite able to get over the hump in the second half. Just under six minutes in the half, Rockford used a 8-0 to get back within two points off four points each from seniors Lindsay Lengjak (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) and Arielle Nichols (Tampa, Fla./Land O'Lakes). Following, a bit of back and forth action, Concordia Chicago eventually pushed its lead back to nine points with 2:50 remaining. However, Rockford would not go away quietly as it went on a quick 9-0 spurt over the next two minutes tying the game at 79-79. Senior Erin Ryczek (South Beloit, Ill./Hononegah) hit on two huge three-point baskets during the run including the game tying three to tie it with 51 seconds remaining. That is where the comeback would end though as the Cougars scored the next four points en route to an 84-80 win.
Rockford had five players reach double-figures on Wednesday. Lindsay Lengjak led the way with a team-high 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals. Erin Ryczek added 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Callie Rezin was the other starter in double-digits with 10 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. Arielle Nichols was the leading scorer off the bench for Rockford with 12 points on 3-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Senior Destiny Chaney (Belleville, Ill./O'Fallon Township) was the final Regent in double-figures with 10 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds.
The women's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, February 1st at home against MSOE. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. in the Seaver Center.
