The Dominican University women's basketball team edged the visiting Saint Mary's College Belles, 60-58, on Wednesday night at the Igini Sports Forum.  It was Timiya Ray's runner at the buzzer that proved to be the difference, coming just four seconds after the Belles tied the score for the ninth time in the game with a pair of free throws.

"This was a true back and forth game," said Amanda Parker, the Stars' head coach, following the victory. "We could not get in the rhythm offensively and were just unorganized on defense. We have a lot to work on before getting back to conference play on Saturday. However, I was pleased with a few players' grit towards the end and what a great shot by Timiya at the buzzer! It's nice to have a go-to player like her for moments like that."
 
Out of a timeout, Alisha Markley inbounded to Ray between the circles before driving to the right.  The junior got a runner to go off the glass from the right block for the game-winning bucket as time expired.  The play capped a night that saw Ray flirt with a triple-double, dropping in 14 points to go along with eight rebounds and eight blocks.
The Stars trailed by as many as five early in the fourth quarter before using a 10-0 run, including six straight points scored by Alisha Markley, to pull ahead 56-51 with 2:17 to play.  The Belles chipped away at the Dominican lead, eventually evening the score at 58-58 with 4.2 seconds to play on a pair of free throws by Jade Mosier.
 
After the free throws, Dominican advanced the ball into the front court with a timeout, setting up Ray's late-game heroics.
 
Alexis Hoskins led three in double-figures scoring for Dominican, pouring in 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field, including 2-for-6 from three, and converting on four of her six attempts from the foul line.  Markley finished with 16 points of her own, shooting 7-for-16 from the field.
 
For the Belles, Giavanna Paradiso scored a game-high 24 points on 12-for-22 shooting but the Stars limited the Belles' forward to just eight points in the second half after she poured in 16 in the first half.
 
With the win, the Stars improve to 4-2 on the season with a return to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) action on deck as Dominican travels to Rockford University on Saturday to meet the Regents.  Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.