ROCKFORD, Ill.- The Rockford University women's basketball team looked to continue its recent streak of strong play against the visiting Dominican University Stars on Tuesday night. The Regents entered the game winners of the previous five matchups against the Stars, including a 78-59 win earlier this season. Rockford was in complete control for most of the game, but a late second half charge put the victory for the Regents in question.
Offensively the Regents were very potent from the opening tip. Thanks to ten quick points from Amanda Davis (Mundelein, Ill.), Rockford found itself with a 14-9 lead eight minutes into the opening half. The Regents pushed their early lead all the way to 23-9 with nine minutes left in the half before Dominican ending the Rockford run with a bucket. Diamond Williams (Carpentsville, Ill.) made a couple of baskets and Mallorie Getzelman (Byron, Ill.) hit a big three-pointer during the run.
Dominican cut Rockford's lead down to seven with a 13-6 run over the next six minutes. Rockford would answer right back with a couple of made free throws and a layup on a fast break after a steal by Callie Rezin (Rockford, Ill.) to bring its lead back into double-digits. The Regents closed the half strong with baskets from Diamond Williams and Katie Clark (Rock City, Ill.) to extend the lead to 36-23 at the break.
The second half began with the two schools trading baskets during the opening minutes. After Rockford extended its lead to 15, the Stars pulled back to within 7 as they connected on a trio of three-pointers on three straight scoring possessions. However Rockford would once again answer as the Regents quickly pushed their lead back to double-figures.
With the score 56-43 in favor of Rockford, Dominican once again made it just a two possession game as the Starts put together a 7-0 run in just over a minute. Rockford's lead would hover around 6 points for the remainder of the game until freshman Casey Pettit (Rockford, Ill.) stole the ball in the closing seconds for a breakaway made a layup to seal the 80-75 victory.
Davis led Rockford with 22 points. She made 8-of-12 shots including going 4-of-5 on three-pointers. Four other Regents scored in double-digit points. Clark was next with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Getzelman added 14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
Rezin and Williams both finished with 11 points. Rezin also dished out five assists, two steals and two blocks. Williams added 13 rebounds to record her fifth double-double of the season. It was the sixth straight game, and twelfth overall, Williams has scored in double-figures.
The Regents return to the court at home on Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 p.m. against Lakeland College.
