The Dominican University women's basketball team suffered their first setback of the 2018-19 season, falling to the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons, 54-48, in the Stars' Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) opener.  The Stars led 42-40 after three quarters but managed to shoot just 3-for-21 in the final period, including going 0-for-7 from three.
 
"What a tough game," exclaimed Amanda Parker, the Stars' first-year head coach. "We knew it was going to come to the wire and that every possession was going to matter.  Unfortunately, we didn't capitalize on some extra possessions down the stretch."
 
"This was a great learning experience for everyone. We just have to keep plugging away and continue to improve on a daily basis—which we will. This group is truly starting to buy in and believe in each other. That's half the battle sometimes."
 
The matchup featured 12 lead changes and ten ties with neither team holding a lead larger than six points throughout the night.  Dominican had opened a six-point lead early in the second quarter when Samantha Wessel knocked down a jumper on Dominican's first possession of the period. 
 
Later in the quarter the Falcons used a 9-0 run to pull back in front but Stephenee Huggans' lay in in the final seconds of the half put Dominican on top, 25-23, at the break.
 
The teams traded baskets and lead throughout the third quarter, with Dominican's Alexis Hoskins giving Dominican another two-point, 42-40, lead heading to the fourth with a late rebound and put-back.
 
After a jumper by Timiya Ray extended the Stars' lead to 44-40 early in the fourth, the Falcons went on an 8-0 run to open a 48-44 lead.  Dominican managed to even the score at 48-48 on Alisha Markley's jumper with 2:54 to play before the Falcons scored the game's final six points, going 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final thirty seconds of play.
 
Ray led the Stars with a double-double of 12 points and ten rebounds. Hoskins added nine points and ten boards Sophia Kramer added eight points in 28 minutes off the Dominican bench.
 
For the Falcons, Clara Chambers led the way with a game-high 16 points and nine rebounds.  Ashley Solberg finished with 13 points while Emily Hafeman finished the night with 12 points.
 
The Stars held a 45-41 advantage on the boards, including pulling down 22 offensive rebounds which led to 20 second chance points for Dominican.
 
Dominican, now 2-1 on the season, return to action on Saturday, November 24, traveling to Crestview Hills, Kentucky, to play in the Julie Costello Classic at Thomas More College. The Stars will take on La Roche College on Saturday before meeting Maryville College on Sunday before returning back to River Forest.