The Dominican University women's basketball team led for three quarters Wednesday night in the Igini Sports Forum before a big fourth quarter for the Concordia University Chicago Cougars overcame a six-point Dominican lead in a 75-64 loss for the Stars.
 
Freshman Timiya Ray and junior Shamia Clark led the way for Dominican, combining to score 49 of the Stars' 64 points on 22-for-39 shooting from the field.  Ray poured in a season-high 26 and added a game-high ten rebounds for her third double-double of the season while rounding out the all-around effort with six blocks, two assists and a steal in 35 minutes of work.  Clark shot 9-for-15 from the field, including 2-for-4 from three, to net 23 points.
 
For the Cougars, Taylor Jacobsen led three in double-figures with a team-high 20 points on 9-for-20 shooting.  Lauren Orr and Miranda hit four three-point field goals apiece to finish with 12 points each.
 
"We played hard tonight," said Dominican University head coach Gabby Johnson, "but our inability to stop their drive really hurt our plan. When they spread you out, it is almost impossible to take everything away."
 
The Stars took their largest lead of the night midway through the third when Clark banked in a three from the left wing.  The Cougars then went on a 9-2 run to angle the Stars' lead down to three, with 3:55 to play in the quarter.  The Stars stabilized and a Clark layup in the final minute of the period pushed the lead back to six, 53-47, heading into the fourth.  Clark scored 11 of her season-high 23 in the quarter, shooting 4-for-5 from the field while connecting on a pair of free throws.
 
A 7-0 run to open the fourth gave the Cougars their first lead of the night, 54-53, with 8:10 to play.  After Clark regained the lead for Dominican with a jumper on the Stars' next possession, the Cougars went on an 11-0 run over the next 2:40 to open a 65-55 lead with 4:45 remaining.  Ray snapped a three-minute scoreless streak for the Stars, stopping the Cougars' run but Concordia answered with a three from Orr on their next possession to push the lead back to double-figures and never looked back.
 
The Stars, now 8-16 on the season and 6-13 in conference play, close out the 2016-2017 season on Saturday when the Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors visit the Igini Sports Forum for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff.
 
"We are going to get back in the gym Thursday and get ready for Saturday," Johnson said.