ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University women's basketball team dropped its fourth straight game on Saturday losing 69-56 to the Marian University Sabres. The Regents once again got off to a slow start in the first quarter and were never able to take the lead. Rockford did however manage to cut the Sabre lead down to just three points early in the second half. Unfortunately that would be as close as the Regents were able to get for the remainder of the game. One of the main deciding factors on Saturday was Marian's ability to knock down perimeter shots. The Sabres connected on 11 three-pointers compared to just 6 for the Regents.
The first quarter got off to a rough start for the Regents. Marian scored the game's first 8 points while opening on an 13-2 run. Rockford was never able to substantially cut into the Sabre lead, but junior Mallorie Getzelman (Byron, Ill.) hit a huge three-point basket in the closing seconds to bring her team back within 8 points.
Rockford once again started slow in the second quarter allowing the Sabres to push their lead back to double-digits. Marian opened with an 8-2 run to give the Sabres a 14-point lead, their largest of the half. Fortunately the Regents caught fire over the final five minutes of the second quarter as they outscored the Sabres 14-8. Mallorie Getzelman was once again the catalyst for the Rockford offense as she poured in 10 straight points including draining back-to-back three-pointers. Sophomore Casey Pettit (Rockford, Ill.) then gave Rockford a huge momentum boost going into the half draining a jumper as time expired to make it just a 6-point deficit at 31-25.
The Regents continued to build on that momentum, as they were able to pull within one possession in the opening moments of the second half. Senior Taylor Davis (Mundelein, Ill.) hit her first three-pointer of the game as Rockford climbed to within three points for the first time since the opening minute of the first quarter. Unfortunately the Sabres then scored on five of their next six possessions including draining four three-pointers, three of which came on three straight possessions as they took a 45-30 lead. Marian pushed its lead up to as many as 19 points before the Regents used a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to get back within 8. However, the Sabres made their free throws in the final minute of the game en route to the 69-56 win.
Junior Mallorie Getzelman had a career day for the Regents on Saturday. Getzelman scored a career-high 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting including connecting on a trio of three-pointers. She rounded out her day with 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
Casey Pettit and Taylor Davis were the other two main contributors for the Regents. Pettit played one of her best game of the season as she tallied 8 points with 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists off the bench. Taylor Davis scored 9 points going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line and had a pair of rebounds.
The RU women's basketball team returns to the court on Thursday, December 17 at home against Maranatha Baptist University. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m. in the Seaver Center.
