MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Rockford University women's basketball team put forth an incredible effort and nearly knocked off the top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors in the NACC Tournament Quarterfinals on Wednesday evening. The Warriors entered the night on a 15-game winning streak and had not lost since 2023. However, that did not phase the Regents in the slightest. Rockford led in three of the four quarters, including the forth, and had the ball down just two with less than a minute left. Unfortunately, the Regents were unable to tie or take the lead on multiple possessions down the stretch and fell by a final score of 48-42. Rockford was simply outstanding defensively throughout the entire game. The Regents held the Warriors to 29.8% shooting from the floor, including a paltry 13.3% from 3-point range. Rockford also forced the Warriors, who coming into tonight had turned the ball over the second fewest times in all of NCAA Division III women's basketball, into a season-high 17 turnovers and converted them into 15 points.
- After falling behind 6-0, Rockford scored the next 11 points to take its largest lead of the game. Nia Wilkerson scored six of those points off back-to-back triples, to help give the Regents their first lead of the day.
- It looked as through Rockford would take a 4-point lead into the second quarter, but WLC made a layup in the waning seconds to make it a 13-11 RU lead after one quarter of play.
- With Rockford still leading by three following a Natalie Posadas made jumper at the 8:51 mark, the Warriors scored ten straight points to take their largest lead of the game at 24-17.
- The Regents did close the half on a 6-2 spurt and got back to within three heading into the break. Jocelyn Callahan got things started with her first made three-pointer of the game and Audrina Terhune ended the period with a made jumper.
- WLC built its lead back up to five on several occasions in the third quarter, but Rockford used a 5-0 run to once again tie the game at 30. Nia Wilkerson jump-started the run with a made layup and D'Asia Washington capped it off with the final three points.
- However, it was the Warriors who scored last in the quarter and took a 34-32 lead into the fourth.
- Lexi Keating came out on fire to start the fourth quarter. Keating knocked down her first two shot attempts of the period and stole the ball on WLC's opening possession, to put the Regents back in front 36-34.
- The Warriors were able to retake the lead shortly after, but Rockford's Nia Wilkerson knocked down a jumper with 3:39 remaining to once again tie the game at 40.
- WLC jumped back out in front over the next minute, but the Regents simply refused to go away. This time it was D'Asia Washington who drained a layup at the 2:08 mark to pull Rockford back to within two at 44-42.
- Rockford had four chances over the next minute and 17 seconds to tie the game or take the lead, but unfortunately, could not get a shot to fall.
- After the Warriors made a free throw with 38 seconds left, the Regents had another chance to tie the game or get closer, but again the ball simply would not go in the basket.
- Wisconsin Lutheran then made just enough free throws over the final 18 seconds to escape with a 48-42 win.
- Nia Wilkerson finished with a team-high 10 points, 2 steals, 1 rebound, 1 block and 1 assist.
- D'Asia Washington added 8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals.
- Audrina Terhune had 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.
- Grace Vyborny tallied 4 points, a team-high 9 rebounds, a block and a steal.
