ROCKFORD, Ill.- The Rockford University women's basketball team returned to action today against Dominican University in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference matchup. The Regents were looking to continue their playoff push and reach the NACC tournament. Unfortunately, Rockford could not earn the victory falling by the final of 78-71.
Rockford jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after Taylor May (East Moline, Ill.) hit a three-point shot and a Mallorie Getzelman (Byron, Ill.) layup with eight minutes remaining in the quarter. For the next six minutes, Dominican responded with a 10-4 run to take a 10-9 lead with just over a minute remaining in the period. The Regents were able to knot the game up 11-11 at the end of the period. Taylor May led all Rockford scorers with five points.
The Stars opened the second quarter with a 10-2 run to take the lead 21-13 with five minutes remaining. Over the next three minutes the Regents responded with a 6-0 run to narrow the deficit to 21-19. Dominican was able to expand their lead over the final two minutes to 28-23 heading into halftime. May was leading Rockford with 12 points at the half. In the first two quarters, the Regents shot 47.1% from the floor and the Stars shot 35.7%.
Both teams traded baskets for the first three minutes of the third quarter, before Nicole Silvers (Byron, Ill.) drained a three-point basket to cut the deficit down to 35-34. The Regents scored the next five points to take their largest lead of the game 39-35. Unfortunately, Dominican responded with an 8-2 run to take the lead 43-41 with just under two minutes remaining. The deficit remained at two points, 49-47, at the end of the third quarter. May was leading all scorers with 19 points for the game.
In the final period, Dominican expanded their lead to eight points, 57-49, with 7:39 remaining. Rockford narrowed the deficit to 62-59 before Dominican hit a crucial three-point basket with 3:56 left in the game to make the score 65-59. The Regents were unable to draw any closer to the Stars falling by the final of 78-71.
Leading the Regents for the game were Taylor May with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 steals. Mallorie Getzelman added 16 points with 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Casey Pettit (Rockford, Ill.) totaled 13 points with 2 assists and 2 rebounds.
The Rockford University women's basketball team returns to action Saturday, January 21 to take on Concordia University Wisconsin at the Seaver Center with a scheduled start time of 2 p.m.
