The Dominican University women's basketball team picked up their fifth win of the season, improving to 5-4 overall, with a 54-48 win over the Beloit College Buccaneers at the Igini Sports Forum on Wednesday night.  The Stars overcame 33-percent shooting from the field by forcing 28 Beloit turnovers, leading to 20 points off turnovers for Dominican.
 
"Tonight was not pretty," said Dominican University's Gabby Johnson, the Stars' sixth-year head coach, following the non-conference victory. "We were able to make just enough plays to come out with the win. Rhetta Bates gave us a huge lift off the bench. She made some big plays in the fourth quarter on both ends of the floor. That's what it takes at this level."
 
Dominican trailed by two at the break after going just 3-for-15 from the field in the second quarter and scoring just 23 points in the first half.
 
Out of the break, the Stars scored the first six points in the third quarter to pull in front, 29-25, setting up a back-and-forth quarter that saw four ties and three lead changes, with Stephenee Huggans scoring the quarters' final bucket, a driving lay in, that gave Dominican a 39-37 lead heading into the fourth.
 
The fourth quarter belonged to Bates as the junior scored eight of her 15 points in the period, including a stretch of four straight as Dominican opened a 50-46 lead with a minute to play.  The Stars were then able to seal the victory with a stop and a pair of free throws.
 
Timiya Ray finished with a team-high 17 points for the Stars.  As a team, Dominican finished the night shooting 19-for-57 from the field, including just 1-for-10 from three point distance, while converting on 15 of 25 attempts from the foul line.
 
For the Buccaneers, Shelby Kline led the way with 17 points of her own, shooting 5-for-17 from the field and going 5-for-7 at the free throw stripe.
 
On the glass, Beloit held a 45-35 advantage, pulling down 16 boards on the offensive end.
 
"We haven't been beat on the boards by too many teams this year," said Johnson, "and tonight was a night we didn't quite get that job done. We have to finish a defensive play with the ball in our hands starting our transitions. Thirty seconds of good defense means nothing if you cannot secure the rebound."
 
"We are excited to be 5-4 going into the break, knowing that we can continue to improve daily."
 
Dominican will host Roosevelt University on Tuesday, December 19, in an exhibition game for the Stars.  The Stars will then enjoy the holiday break before returning to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play on Saturday, December 30, against the Benedictine University Eagles.