ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University women's basketball team took a close 76-74 loss to Benedictine University in a Wednesday night NACC game. Rockford actually slightly edged out Benedictine from the field 43.9% - 43.4%, but the Eagles led the way from three-point range by a wide margin 52% - 25%. The Regents were able to stay close with the sharpshooting Eagles with a huge 38-10 advantage in points in the paint, accounting for over half of Rockford's points. This led to a very tight matchup with 12 ties and 7 lead changes throughout the course of the game. Defensively, Benedictine was able to force 17 Regent turnovers and turn those into 20 points, while Rockford was able to force 14 turnovers and turn them into just 12 points. This ultimately led to the Eagles walking away with the 76-74 win.
- Both teams got off to a hot start, each draining two three-pointers to make it a 6-6 game after Lexi Keating hit from three-point range with 7:27 left in the first quarter.
- Benedictine found its way to a 15-12 lead until Emily Rich knocked in a three-pointer to knot up the score at 15 all with 2:31 to go in the first quarter.
- The Eagles were able to go on a slight 6-2 run to finish off the quarter and walk away with the 21-17 lead after one.
- Rockford was able to crawl its way back to within one in a 27-26 game, after a layup from Tyra Clark and then Nia Wilkerson was able to put the Regents on top with a three-point play after cleaning up at the free throw line to make it a 28-26 game.
- Rockford went on a small 8-5 run to close out the quarter and go into halftime with a 36-31 lead.
- Each team traded baskets to begin the third quarter, until Rockford started to heat things up with an 11-2 run to take a 48-37 lead with 5:15 left in the third.
- The Regents were able to hold a solid lead over the Eagles for most of the quarter, until Benedictine went on its own 11-2 run and made it a one-point 54-53 Rockford lead.
- Katie Paredes was able to nail a three-pointer with time winding in the third quarter and the Regents took a 57-53 lead with 10 minutes to go.
- The Eagles quickly tied the game with back to back layups with equalize the game at 57-57.
- Each team continued to trade blows and the game found its way to a 68-68 score with 2:20 left to go.
- Rockford was able to hang in the game with multiple clutch shots and free throws from D'Asia Washington to give her team the lead on 3 separate occasions.
- Unfortunately the Eagles were able to get to the line with 1 second left and get a huge free throw to fall to take a 76-74 win.
- Rockford had 50 points from off the bench and 3 separate scorers with double-digit figures.
- D'Asia Washington picked up her second double-double on the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
- Katie Paredes had a season-high 15 points and just missed out on a double-double with 8 rebounds, also picking up 2 assists and 2 steals.
- Nia Wilkerson had 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.
