RIVER FOREST, Ill. - The Rockford University women's basketball team hit the road on Tuesday night looking for its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win of the season when the Regents squared off against the Dominican University Stars. The ladies again dug themselves an early hole scoring just 16 points in the first half. However, Rockford came out strong in the second half outscoring the Stars 57-43, but it was ultimately not enough as the Regents fell by a 76-73 final.
The game began with a highly competitive first quarter as both teams held the lead at various points. Early on the Regents seemed to find their shooting touch as Rockford hit 3 of its first 6 shot attempts to take a quick 6-2 lead. Unfortunately the Stars responded back with an 11-0 run over the next 5 minutes to pull in front 13-6. Rockford was able to narrow the gap in the closing moments as the Regents scored the final 4 points of the quarter making it just a 15-12 Dominican lead.
It was the second quarter that ultimately doomed the Regents as they were outscored 18-4. Rockford shot just 18.2% from the floor in the quarter and was outrebounded by nine as the Stars built a commanding 33-16 lead heading into halftime.
After trailing by as many as 20 points late in the third quarter, the tide began to turn as Rockford started to make its run. The Regents ended the period on a 9-0 run to get back within 11 points at 49-38. During the spurt, Rockford used a balanced scoring attack as four different Regents found the bottom of the net. Sophomore Casey Pettit (Rockford, Ill.) led the charge by scoring the first and final baskets of the run.
The fourth quarter had its up and downs as Rockford found itself trailing by as many as 16 points before mounting a fierce rally down the stretch. With the deficit sitting at 14 points and less than 5 minutes remaining, the Regents scored 8 straight points in less than a minute to pull back within 6. Mallorie Getzelman (Byron, Ill.) jumpstarted the run by connected on a pair of few throws as the Regents then made 3 of their next 5 shots making it a 64-58 game. Unfortunately the Dominican lead still remained at 8 points with less than 50 seconds remaining before the Regents made one final push. Guards Katie Hart (Davis Junction, Ill.) and Mallorie Getzelman combined to score 8 points in the final 43 seconds as the Regents trailed 75-73 with only 6 seconds remaining. Following a Rockford foul the Stars would make 1-of-2 free throws leaving Rockford two seconds and one final chance to possibly tie the game. Unfortunately the ladies was unable to get a shot off and fell by a 76-73 final.
Junior Mallorie Getzelman was the game's leading scorer as she poured in a career-high 29 points for the Regents. It is the second straight game and the third time this season she has eclipsed the 20-point scoring plateau. Getzelman also added 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists to round out her evening.
Tajanae Key (Glendale Heights, Ill.) had perhaps the best game of her collegiate career recording her first double-double in a Regents uniform. Key tallied 10 points and career-high 14 rebounds while also adding 6 steals, 2 assists and 1 block.
Guards Casey Pettit and Katie Hart each scored 9 points in the loss. Pettit also added 5 assists, 3 steals and 1 rebound; while Hart had 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
The RU women's basketball team returns to the court on Saturday, January 23 at Concordia University Wisconsin. Tip-off is set for 4:15 PM.
