AURORA, Ill. - The Rockford University women's basketball team fell 81-73 on the road Saturday afternoon to the Aurora University Spartans. It was a very unusual game, as Rockford took 29 more shot attempts, made four more shots and connected on three more three-pointers. The Regents also convincing won the turnover battle 27-13 and points off turnovers 26-16. However, the difference in the game was that the Spartans shot an astounding 38 free throws, compared to only 18 for the Regents. Aurora went 30-of-38 at the free throw line, while Rockford was 11-of-18 at the charity stripe. Despite the huge free throw disparity, Rockford led in the fourth quarter and played its best game against Aurora since the 2016-17 season.
- Rockford opened the game on an 8-2 run, capped off by back-to-back Audrina Terhune triples, to grab an early six-point lead.
- Aurora methodically chipped away at the Regent advantage, with Kylie Fischbach connecting on a layup at the 2:53 mark, to give Aurora its first lead of the day at 14-13.
- The Spartans led by as many as four, but Audrina Terhune drained a jumper with three seconds left, to make it a 22-20 Spartan lead heading into the second.
- With Aurora now leading 28-25 midway through the second, the Spartans scored the next seven points to take the largest lead thus far for either team.
- The Spartan advantage hovered around ten for the remainder of the half, but Katie Paredes made a layup in the closing seconds, to pull Rockford back to within eight (43-35) heading into the intermission.
- Rockford came roaring out of the gates to open the third quarter. The Regents used a 22-9 run to begin the period and retake the lead at 57-52. A plethora of Regents scored over that span, led by six points from Emily Rich and five from Audrina Terhune.
- However, the Spartans were able to chop the Regent lead back down to two heading into the fourth, thanks to a perfect 6-for-6 effort at the free throw line over the final 1 minute and 36 seconds of the period.
- Aurora then scored the first seven points in the fourth quarter to retake the lead at 67-60 with 6:24 remaining.
- The Spartans would extend their lead up to as many as 12, before Rockford made one final push down the stretch.
- Rockford used a 7-0 spurt to make it a 75-70 game with 53 seconds remaining. The Regents were a perfect 2-of-2 from the floor over that span, led by 3 points from Nia Wilkerson.
- Unfortunately, Aurora made six straight free throws to close out the game and secure the 81-73 victory.
- Emily Rich finished with a season-high 21 points, 6 made three-pointers and 1 steal off the bench.
- Audrina Terhune tallied 19 points, 4 steals, 1 rebound and 1 assist.
- Katie Paredes added 10 points and 1 rebound off the bench.
- Nia Wilkerson chipped in 8 points, 6 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds.
