ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University women's basketball team (5-17, 3-14 NACC) hosted the Lakeland University Muskies (15-7, 12-5) on Wednesday night. The Muskies were winners of its past 6 games coming into the night. The Regents struggled shooting the ball on the night as the Muskies proved to be too much. LU would extend its winning streak to 7 as it topped Rockford by a final score of 82-37.
The first quarter did not go as hoped as the Regents could not penetrate the Muskies 2-3 zone. Lakeland strung together a 17-2 run coming out of the gate. It would not be until Tajanae Key (Glendale Heights, Ill.) would find Katlyn Fiorucci (Machesney Park, Ill.) as she knocked down a contested three to make the score 17-5 with 2:45 remaining in the first quarter. However, Lakeland would end the quarter on a 6-0 run to go into the second quarter up 23-5. The second quarter opened like the first as LU would not be denied from putting points on the board. Freshman Neve Yerk (Belvidere, Ill.) would attempt to spark a flame under the Regents as Katie Hart (Davis Junction, Ill.) found Yerk in the post as she registered three points the hard way completing the and-one to make the score 27-8 with 7:23 to play in the quarter. Yerk would again make her presence known in the paint as she drew a foul and connected on both of her free-throw attempts to bring the score to 35-10 with 5:21 left in the second. Lakeland could not be deterred as it went into the half up 41-14. Rockford struggled to convert offensively as the Regents shot just 16.1% from the floor in the first half compared to Lakeland's 46.2%. The Muskies dominated the post play as it scored 34 of its 41 first half points in the paint.
The third quarter would go Lakeland's way as the Regents continued to struggle to stop the Muskies. Nicole Silvers (Byron, Ill.) would attempt a three-pointer late in the quarter and get sent to the foul line; where she would convert on all three. Yerk would come down on the following possession and pull-up for a mid-range shot making the score 53-23 with just under 4 minutes remaining in the quarter. Yerk would not be done as she showed her range hitting from beyond the arc with under a minute to play in the third. Rockford could not keep up with Lakeland's high-octane attack as the Muskies continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter as it cruised to an 82-37 victory over the Regents.
Two Rockford players scored in the double-digits on Wednesday night. Nicole Silvers led the way with 11 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Neve Yerk came off the bench tallying 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Katlyn Fiorucci came off the bench as well to register 8 points.
The Rockford University women's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, February 10 as it hosts MSOE for senior day. Tip-off is set for 4:15 PM.
