The Dominican University women’s basketball team pulled one game closer to the program’s first Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) South Division title with a 60-40 win over the Rockford College Regents on Tuesday evening. The Stars now stand 3.0 games ahead of the Benedictine University Eagles with three games to play, meaning that with a Dominican win or a Benedictine loss when both teams return to action on Thursday and the Stars claim sole possession of the South Division crown.

In Tuesday’s win, freshman Katie Budz (Orland Park, Ill.) shared team-high honors with 12 points, scoring all in the first half as Dominican opened 28-23 lead in the opening 20 minutes. Budz went 4-for-5 from three in the opening period, finishing the night 4-for-9 from the field in 31 minutes of work. The Stars’ freshman guard’s three-pointer with 59 seconds remaining in the first half opened a six-point lead for the Stars, their largest of the first half.

The Stars continued to extend their lead in the second half, behind nine points apiece from junior Becky Christofferson (Summit, S.D.) and freshman Ashley Oliver (Bolingbrook, Ill.). Christofferson went on a five-point run with under eight minutes to play, opening a 52-31 lead for the Stars, their largest of the night.

Oliver and Christofferson logged 12 points apiece while Kayla Blom (Circle Pines, Minn.) chipped in 10 points to round out four players in double-figures for the Stars.

Dominican’s Sarah Budz (Orland Park, Ill.) grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. The Stars’ junior guard posted seven points, five steals, five assists and two blocks in the all-around effort.

Rockford was paced in the loss by Megan Lawler’s 13 points.

The win improves Dominican to 17-4 and 12-2 in the NAC.

On Thursday, the Stars travel down Division Street to take on neighborhood rival Concordia University Chicago with a chance to clinch the NAC South Division. Tipoff is scheduled at 7:00 p.m.