RIVER FOREST, Ill. - After a suffering a heartbreaking loss at the buzzer on Saturday, the Rockford University women's basketball team hoped to return to the win column on Wednesday night when the ladies squared off against the Concordia University Chicago Cougars. While neither team shot the ball exceptionally well from the field, Rockford did hold an edge at the free throw line connecting on 27-of-33 attempts (83.3%) compared to Concordia Chicago making just 7-of-16 attempts (43.8%). However, turnovers and points off turnovers ultimately decided the game. Rockford committed 43 turnovers leading to 40 Cougar points, compared to just 16 turnovers for Concordia Chicago, which lead to only 9 Regent points.
It was a tight and highly competitive first half as the Cougars led for the majority of the period but were never quite able to pull away. Junior Diamond Williams (Carpentersville, Ill.) was once again the catalyst of the Rockford offense as she connected on her first two shots giving the Regents an early 6-4 lead. Rockford's advantage would be short lived though as the Cougars quickly tied the game and then moments later knocked down a three-pointer to take their first lead of the evening. The Cougars then built their lead up to as many as 9 points midway through the half courtesy of an 8-2 run. However, Rockford answered right back with a 6-0 run of its own as senior Katie Clark (Rock City, Ill.) knocked down a trio jumpers to pull Rockford back within 3 points. The two schools traded baskets for the remainder of the half as Concordia Chicago took a 30-27 lead into the intermission.
The second half did not go well for Rockford as the Cougars quickly pushed their lead into double-digits opening the half on a 13-3 run. Concordia Chicago continued pull away from the Regents until it led by a game-high 21 points with just over 4 minutes remaining in the second half. The Regents eventually cut the lead back down to 11 with just over a minute remaining, but it was not enough as Rockford fell 74-61.
Diamond Williams continues to be force for Rockford as she tallied her sixth double-double of the season and her fourth in the last six games. Williams poured in a team-high 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. She rounded out her evening with 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.
Katie Clark also had an excellent game for the Regents as she recorded her third double-double of the year. Clark scored 11 points and tied her season-high with 13 rebounds. She also dished out 3 assists.
Mallorie Getzelman (Byron, Ill.) and Amanda Davis (Mundelein, Ill.) were the final two Regents to hit the double-digit scoring plateau with 12 points each. Getzelman added 7 rebounds and 1 steal while Davis tallied 6 rebounds and 2 steals.
The women's basketball team will be back in action on Saturday, January 31 at MSOE. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.
