ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University women's basketball team returned to the court Thursday night for a makeup game in Rockford against the Lakeland College Muskie's. Rockford was coming off a 69-56 loss to the number one team in the conference in Concordia University of Wisconsin. Lakeland, coming in with the same 5-7 (2-5 NACC) record as Rockford, was coming off a loss against Aurora University. This was a big game for Lakeland and Rockford who were both a game behind Marian for the final spot in the conference tournament. The game would not be decided until the final minutes of overtime.
Lakeland started off the game on the right foot with a three pointer on the first possession of the game and they followed that up with a layup on their next possession. Rockford stormed right back and went on an 11-0 run. Jessica Bjerning (Wauconda, Ill./Mundelein) started the run by making layups on back-to-back possessions for the Regents. Erin Ryczek (South Beloit, Ill./Hononegah) added the next three points on a layup and a made free throw shot. Lindsay Lengjak (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) joined the party with a layup and Ryczek finished the run with a jump shot. Rockford would continue to hold and slowly increase their lead the next couple of minutes and they led 22-15 at the 8:16 mark after a layup by Destiny Chaney (Belleville, Ill./O'Fallon Township). The Muskie's would cut the lead all the way down to one at the 3:54 mark after a layup. Bjerning again started a rally with two made free throws on Rockford's next possession and made another two free throws a minute later to bring Rockford's lead back to six. The Muskie's would quickly come back with a 9-0 run and led by three with 46 seconds in the half. Rockford would score the last three points of the half thanks to a Katie Clark (Rock City, Ill./Dakota) free throw and a nice twisting layup by Chaney with two seconds left in the half to tie the game at 35. Bjerning had a half high 14 points on five of six shooting and she also made all four of her free throw shots. Ryczek added ten points and Chaney had four herself along with three assists. Lengjak tied for the half lead with six rebounds and she also had six points. Rockford shot 55% from the field for the half and 77% from the line. They made 10 of 13 free throws compared to Lakeland making one out of three. They held Lakeland to 29% from behind the line on 4 of 14 shots.
The first ten minutes of the second half was a very back and forth game. Chaney started the scoring with a layup one minute into the half. Lakeland would tie it back up on their next possession. The lead would change three times over the next minute before Rockford pulled ahead after a made jumped by Sherrell Woods (Rockford, Ill./East). A few possessions later she made another layup to bring the score to 44-40 Rockford. Lakeland would make a basket and a free throw to cut the Regents down to one but Woods would again answer with a layup on a fast break. Lakeland would tie it back up a minute later only for Rockford to answer right back on a three point shot by Arielle Nichols (Tampa, Fla./Land O'Lakes). Rockford would lose the lead at the ten minute mark after a three pointer by the Muskie's. It did not last long as Ryczek would hit a three on Rockford's very next possession to go ahead by two but another Muskie three pointer gave them another one point lead. Callie Rezin (Rockford, Ill./Lutheran) would tie it up at 53 at 8:18 after making a free throw shot. The back and forth game continued as Lakeland would break the tie a minute later only for Rockford to again answer on their next possession, this time it was by Lauren Hyser (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere). After a couple of defensive stops by both teams Hyser would put Rockford up 57-55 on a nice turnaround jumper with five minutes left in the game. Lakeland would tie the game up on a layup a minute later.
Rockford and Lakeland would play solid defense over the next two minutes before Lakeland would make a layup off of an offensive rebound to take a 59-57 lead with 1:18 left in the game. Rockford would miss a shot on their next possessions but after a Lakeland turnover on a travel Rockford would tie it up on a layup by Ryczek with 40 seconds left in the game. Lakeland would again turn it over on their next possession, this time on a backcourt violation after tight defense by the Regents. Rockford would have a chance to take the lead but missed a shot. They then continued their great defensive performance and withstood three Lakeland shots in six seconds, the last one was blocked by Lengjak who came down with the rebound but slipped and turned the ball over. Lakeland had one last chance to win the game and inbounded the ball with 2.2 seconds left but missed a three point shot, sending the game into overtime.
All tied at 59 the two teams continued their great defensive play with neither team scoring in the first two plus minutes of overtime. It was not until the 2:18 mark for the first basket to fall and it was by Rockford's Nichols who hit a three pointer at the top of the circle. Rockford would then force a turnover and would drive down the court and would increase their lead to five with a Lengjak layup. Lakeland would make one of two free throws to bring the score to 64-60 with 1:31 left in overtime. Rezin would come down with a clutch rebound off a missed Lakeland three pointer and Rockford would burn the clock down to 39 seconds before Chaney found Lengjak on a layup to increase Rockford's lead to six. After a couple of missed shots and Lakeland offensive rebounds Nichols would come down with a rebound with 26 seconds left and she would be immediately fouled. She would knock down both free throws to put the Regents up 68-60. The Muskie's would make a layup and then foul Lengjak right away, who would make both free throws. Lakeland would end up making three more free throw shots before running out of time for their comeback bid, the score ending 70-63 in favor of the Regents.
Leading the way for Rockford was Ryczek who had a game high 15 points. Right behind her were Lengjak with 14 and 12 rebounds and Bjerning also with 14 points and with nine rebounds. Chaney added in seven points and dished out eight assists. Coming off of the bench was Nichols with eight points, including the huge three in overtime to give Rockford a lead they would not relinquish. The Regents would shoot 43% from the field and 73% from the line. They also made 4 out of 11 three pointers with Ryczek and Nichols each making two.
Rockford's season continues in two days when they travel to Marian to face the Sabres at 4:15 p.m. They return home on January 15th to face Edgewood College at 7:00 p.m. A win today coupled with a loss by Marian results in a tie for the final spot in the conference tournament.
