Spartans Defeat Regents in Overtime

AURORA, Ill. February 7, 2008 - The Aurora University Spartan women’s basketball team defeated the visiting Regents of Rockford College 71-63 in overtime in Aurora’s Thornton Gymnasium.

The overtime victory saw Aurora not allow the Regents on the scoreboard en route to the eventual eight point win.

The opening half of the contest was a tightly contested affair in which saw Rockford lead for most of the half but the Spartans never allowed the Regents lead by more than six, with Rockford eventually leading 35-33 at intermission.

The Spartans were able to keep Rockford senior forward Angie Butler to four points on two-of-five shooting from the field but the Regent bench stepped up to the challenge, scoring 22 points in the first half, led by senior forward Morgan Love, senior guard Tina Kleeman and freshman forward Melissa Swazick who each tallied six points apiece.

The Spartans were led by junior guard Meagan re’s 10 points and freshman center Michelle Perry added eight points.

The second half saw much of the same style of game with Aurora controlling most of the half and actually held a six point lead (63-57) with 0:57 remaining in the contest but a Rockford surge sent the game into overtime. Rockford junior guard Kim Nielsen knocked down a three-point basket with 3.4 seconds left on the clock to knot the game at 63 and give the Regents a chance for the win in overtime.

But the overtime was not friendly to the Regents, as Aurora’s smothering defense held Rockford to zero-for-six from the field in the extra frame.

Leading the scoring for the Spartans was Re with a game-high 17 points and five steals, Perry had 16 points and seven rebounds and senior guard Kisha Miller had 13 points and four assists.

Rockford’s leader scorers were Nielsen with 15 points and 12 rebounds, senior guard Tina Kleeman had 14 points and senior forward Angie Butler had 10 points.

With the win, Aurora moves to 11-10 overall and 9-5 in Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) action, while Rockford drops to 13-6 overall and 9-4 in NAC action.