ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University women's basketball team played a close three quarters against Marian University, but a fourth quarter controlled by the Sabres sealed a 56-49 defeat. The Regents managed to record more attempts than the Sabres 73-51 thanks to a 23-9 victory in offensive rebounds, but Rockford struggled to convert on its second opportunities. Marian shot 37.3 percent from the field, that set them apart from the 21.9 percent the Regents had, including a season low 13.8 percent from beyond the arc. Despite all of this, the Regents had a shot going into the fourth, but then experienced nearly eight minutes without a basket to start the quarter, allowing Marian to pull away and earn the conference win at the final horn.
- Marian struck first to begin the contest, hitting a pair of layups. The 4-0 lead didn't last long however, as a 10-0 Rockford run got the RU offense going. Kennedy Gaddis and Tyra Clark each recorded three to lead the run.
- The Regents held the Sabres at a distance for the remainder of the first quarter, allowing seven points but capturing six of their own with Audrina Terhune and Kyla Wilkerson tallying three points each.
- Marian University pulled themselves back into the game at the start of the second quarter, going on a 6-2 run to make the score 17-18, Rockford still in front.
- Both sides began trading points back and forth for the next 2:30 of play. Marian got its first lead of the contest at the 2:36 mark, going ahead 25-24, and went into the half with a three-point lead at 29-26.
- The second half featured a third quarter surge by Kennedy Gaddis and Tyra Clark, who put up a combined 12 points compared to Marian's 8, which allowed the Regents to once again take the lead at 38-37. Gaddis hit a three and a pair of free throws, while Clark recorded a layup, three-pointer, and a pair of free throws.
- A Sabres three and a layup by Audrina Terhune were the final baskets of the third quarter, leaving the game tied at 40-40 with ten more minutes to play.
- The Regents struggled heavily in the final quarter, going scoreless until there was only 2:13 left in the game. By this point Marian had built a 10-point lead and did not lose it before the final horn. Rockford was led on a 9-4 run by Brenna Hubbard, recording seven of those points, but the run wasn't enough, and the clock expired before the comeback could be completed.
- Tyra Clark earned a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, both team-highs. She also had 3 assists and 3 steals.
- Kennedy Gaddis hit a team-high 2 threes and finished with 8 points. She also had 3 steals and 4 rebounds.
- Brenna Hubbard scored 7 of her 9 points in the final two minutes of the game. She also had 8 rebounds.
