The Dominican University women's basketball team closed out the regular season on Wednesday night with a 71-56 win over the Marian University Sabres to improve to 16-9 on the season and 12-8 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC), marking just the third winning record for the Stars in conference play since joining the NACC in 2006-2007.
 
The Stars put four in double-figures with freshman Hannah Currant leading the way with a game-high 18 points on 7-for-16 shooting.  Juniors Alexis Hoskins and Amari Stafford logged a double-double each, with Hoskins dropping in 15 points and pulling down ten boards while Stafford added 13 points and dished out ten assists while grabbing seven rebounds.  Timiya Ray, limited to just two points in four minutes after picking up two quick fouls in the first half, scored 11 points in the second half to finish with 13.
 
"We got in some early foul trouble and that did not allow us to get off to a great start," commented Amanda Parker, the Stars' first-year head coach. "However, we were able to maintain the lead by attacking the rim and get some easy buckets. We passed the ball really well and found the open person—that was good to see."
 
After the teams traded baskets over the first six minutes, the Stars closed the first quarter on a 7-2 run to open a 15-10 lead after one.  The Dominican lead continued to grow during the second quarter, eventually ballooning to 16, 34-18, at the half after Hoskins dropped in a layup in the final thirty seconds to round out a ten-point half for the Danville native.
 
In the second half, the Stars quickly built their lead up to 20, 38-18, on a pair of free throws by Stafford and then kept the Sabres at bay by controlling the boards in the second half, holding a 30-18 advantage on the glass while pulling down 13 offensive rebounds, and converting on all seven of their attempts at the foul line.
 
For the game, Dominican shot 29-for-71 from the field, converting at a .408 clip, the third highest shooting percentage on the season.
 
For the Sabres, Rachel Serchen led three in double-figures with 15 points, going 8-for-11 at the free throw line.
 
Dominican, locked into the fourth-seed in the upcoming NACC Tournament, will sit idle on Saturday, the final day of the regular season, before hosting a NACC Tournament quarterfinal game next Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.  The Stars will play host to either the Aurora University Spartans who secured their spot in the conference tournament on Wednesday night with a 56-32 win over the MSOE Raiders, or the Edgewood College Eagles who can earn their spot in the NACC Tournament on Saturday with a win at Wisconsin Lutheran.
 
"I am very proud of what this team accomplished during the regular season," said Parker, "but we are not entirely satisfied.  We are truly hoping to make some noise in the NACC tourney."