MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Rockford University women's basketball team entered Saturday's game against the Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors looking to snap its recent slide. However, the Regents knew it would be a tall task to knock off the Warriors as they have only lost one home NACC game since the 2010-2011 season. Rockford played well for much of the day but ultimately fell to Wisconsin Lutheran by a final of 60-45.
Rockford got on the board first to take an early advantage before Wisconsin Lutheran took the lead and never surrendered it. Senior Lindsay Lengjak (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) scored the game's opening basket and fellow senior Sherrell Woods (Rockford, Ill./East) knocked down a three-pointer to give the Regents a quick 5-3 advantage. The Warriors then built their the lead up to 13 points before Rockford went on a 10-0 run fueled by 6 points from Erin Ryczek (South Beloit, Ill./Hononegah) and 4 point from Lindsay Lengjak to cut the lead down to 26-23 with 2:31 remaining in the first half. Wisconsin Lutheran was able to score the final 4 points of the half to take a 30-23 lead into the break.
The Regents once again started out the second half strong before the Warriors eventually took control of the game. Just 92 seconds into the second half, Rockford once again made it a one-possession game when Sherrell Woods connected on a pair of free throw attempts chopping the Warrior lead down to 30-27. Wisconsin Lutheran quickly answered and pushed its lead back up to 8 before the Regents sliced it back down to just 5 points with 11:42 left in the game. However, the ladies were never quiet able to get over the hump and regain the lead as the Warriors went on a 13-3 run to secure the win.
Rockford had two players score a team-high 9 points on Saturday. Lindsay Lengjak led the Regents in scoring and rebounding with 9 points and 15 rebounds. Senior Jessica Bjerning (Wauconda, Ill./Mundelein) also scored 9 points while adding 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
Erin Ryczek was Rockford's next leading scorer with 7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
The women's basketball team is back in action on Wednesday, December 18th at Cornell College. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.
