After five straight road games, the Dominican University women's basketball team returned home to the Igini Sports Forum on Saturday, falling to the MSOE Raiders, 58-52, in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) league play.
 
Claudia DeNigris carried the Stars through the first half, scoring nine of her 15 in the first half, including seven points in the second quarter, as the Stars trailed at the break 31-26.
 
After a near four-minute scoreless drought for both teams to open the second half, a jumper by DeNigris followed by a Shamia Clark three evened the score at 31-31 midway through the third quarter.
 
The Raiders broke their scoreless drought on their next possession when Lizzy Hilby powered through contact for an and-one to put MSOE back ahead by three.
 
MSOE's lead remained at three after three quarters but a five-minute scoreless drought for Dominican to open the fourth quarter allowed the Raiders to build their lead all the way to ten, 47-37, with just under four minutes to play and MSOE was able to hold off the Stars despite a couple of late threes by Clark and Amari Stafford.
 
"We have been dedicated to defense for the first time in a long time," commented Gabby Johnson, the Stars' head coach, following the loss. "When we defend we give ourselves a chance to win. Part of that process of learning to win is to learn to play in close games. Once this group learns how to do that, we will be a tougher team."
 
Holly Denfeld led three in double-figures for the Raiders with a game-high 20 points on 9-for-19 shooting from the field.  Hilby added 16 points while Jamie Spanbauer came off the Raiders' bench to add ten points.
 
For the Stars, Dominican shot 37.7-percent from the field, paced by Clark who finished with a team-high 16 and DeNigris who added 15 on 7-for-13 shooting from the field.
 
Dominican, now 1-6 on the year and 0-3 in the NACC, will return to action next Saturday with a trip down Division Street to reopen play in the Division Street Rivalry Series at Concordia University Chicago. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.