A huge third quarter pushed the Dominican University women's basketball team to a 61-54 win over the visiting Marian University Sabres (3-18, 1-15) on Saturday evening at the Igini Sports Forum.  The Stars outscored their guests 23-10 in the third quarter to balloon a 24-21 halftime lead up to 16 points before hanging on in the fourth quarter.
 
"Tonight we had some ups and downs but when we needed a few big plays, our kids answered the call," commented Gabby Johnson, Dominican's head coach, following the win. "Alexis Hoskins exploded in the third quarter and put us in a place to win this game."
 
"We have a lot of work to do in our last four games but I think our kids are up to the task."
 
Hoskins scored 11 of her team-high 21 points in the third quarter, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in the period, including a pair of threes.  Hoskins finished the game going 8-for-12 from the field, including 2-for-4 from three, and converted on all three attempts from the foul line.
 
Alisha Markley and Amari Stafford joined Hoskins in double-figures, dropping in 11 and ten points respectively.  Markley went 4-for-8 from the field, making good on two of five attempts from three, while Stafford did her damage at the charity stripe, going 7-for-10 from the foul line.
 
For the Sabres, Rachel Serchen scored a game-high 27 points, dropping in 17 in the fourth quarter.  Christina Jagiello added 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting before fouling out with three minutes to play.
 
Dominican returns to action on Wednesday, hosting the Edgewood College Eagles for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.  Both teams enter Wednesday at 7-9 in league play, tied for seventh in the NACC standings and fighting to make a push for the sixth and final spot in the 2018 NACC Tournament.