The Dominican University women's basketball team picked up their second win in as many games, topping the Marian University Sabres, 62-54, on Saturday afternoon at the Igini Sports Forum. The win marked the first back-to-back wins for the Stars since winning the first two games of the 2012 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Tournament in February 2012.
"Today was a great team win," commented head coach
Gabby Johnson following the game. "This team is coming into its own and figuring out what it takes to string a couple of games together. We had contributions from everyone and that is what we need to be successful."
Shamia Clark led the Stars who trailed 29-27 at the break before Clark sparked an 8-0 run for Dominican when she scored in the post on the Stars' first possession. When
Amari Stafford went coast to coast with 6:41 to play in the quarter, Dominican built their lead to 39-32.
The Stars continued to build on that lead, extending the lead to ten, 48-38, when
Claudia DeNigris pulled up on the fastbreak with 2:41 to go in the third. However, Marian closed the quarter on a 5-0 run to cut the lead in half.
In the fourth, Marian had trimmed the lead to four but Dominican used a quick 5-0 run, capped by a three by
Angela Evola to push the lead back to nine and then held on, holding the Sabres to just 18-percent shooting in the quarter.
Clark managed a team-high 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting, including 2-for-4 from three. DeNigris reached double-figures for second straight game and third out of the last four with 13 points while
Rhetta Bates added nine points and seven rebounds.
Dominican, now 3-11 on the season and 2-8 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC), returns to action on Wednesday, traveling to Rockford University to take on the Regents. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
"We have a big challenge ahead of us," said Johnson. "Can we come back and work for three days after an off day."
