Chicago, Ill. - In their first home contest of 2024, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks women's basketball team hosted the Rockford University Regents to the Keating Sports Center in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) game. A slow second quarter proved to be the difference between the Hawks (2-10, 1-3) and the Regents (5-8, 1-3) as the visitors handed the Hawks a 53-49 loss. 

First Half (Rockford 25 - Illinois Tech 22)

• Rockford went ahead first, recording the first basket of the game followed by a free throw to take a 3-0 lead before Julia Bucci recorded the Hawks first basket with a three pointer to tie the game at 7:22. Kaya Jones then put the Hawks ahead with a layup off a Camden Joko assist at 6:49. The next basket wouldn't come until Allie Sillo nailed a three pointer to build the Hawks lead. With just under four minutes remaining in the quarter, the Regents hit a three of their own before Bucci went down the court to make a layup at the 3:16 mark. Here the Hawks led 10-6. By the end of the quarter, the Hawks were able to hold onto their lead as they led the Regents 14-13. 

• The Regents opened up the second quarter taking the lead with a three pointer. Bucci immediately answered for the Hawks though, making a layup to tie the contest up at 16 all with 8:58 on the clock. At 7:20 the Hawks went ahead after a Grace Goodnough layup before the game was once again tied after a Regent jumper. After a layup by the Hawks, the Regents took a 21-20 lead with a three pointer at 4:13 remaining. The contest would once again be tied, this time at 22-22 with 2:48 on the clock until halftime. With 45 seconds left, the Regents made a three pointer for the final points of the half to lead the Hawks 25-22 at halftime. 

Second Half (Rockford 28 - Illinois Tech 27)

• After halftime, the Regents went on a 11-1 between 10:00 and 5:18. With 5:04 remaining Sillo made a layup as the Hawks trailed the Regents 36-25. A jumper with 3:48 remaining marked the Regents largest lead of the game as they led the Hawks 41-25, a 16-point difference. A 7-0 run by the Hawks between 2:53 and 1:500 cut away at the Regents lead. At the end of the third quarter, the Hawks trailed by 9 as the Regents led 43-34. 

• The Hawks spent the beginning of the fourth quarter cutting away at the Regents lead as they were able to make it a four point game after two Bucci free throws and a Sillo three pointer. The two sides continued to battle as the Hawks fought to stay within reach. With 3:29 remaining, the Regents led 51-45. A scoreless streak followed as another basket wouldn't come until 36 seconds remained when Joko made a layup to cut the Regents lead to four. Two free throws, one with 18 seconds remaining and one with 5 seconds remaining, by the Regents put them up by 6 points. The Hawks would get one final basket before the final buzzer, coming up just short as the Regents secured their first conference victory by a final score of 53-49. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Julia Bucci - 12 points, 4-of-9 from the field, 1-of-3 from three, 3-of-4 from the free throw line, 7 rebounds, 1 steal

• Camden Joko - 11 points, 5-of-12 from the field, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

Regents Standouts

• Tyra Clark - 9 points, 4-of-5 from the field, 1-of-1 from three, 6 rebounds, 1 steal

• Lexi Keating - 8 points, 3-of-8 from the field, 2-of-6 from three, 5 rebounds

Inside the Box Score 

• The Hawks were 18-of-52 (43.6%) from the field, 4-of-15 (26.7%) from three, and 9-of-15 (60.0%) from the free throw line

• The Regents were 19-of-63 (30.2%) from the field, 9-of-33 (27.3%) from three, and 6-of-11 (54.5%) from the free throw line

• The Regents totaled 47 rebounds versus the Hawks 33

• 25 of the Regents points came from the bench

Up Next

The Hawks will be on the road Wednesday, January 10 as they take on the Dominican University Stars in River Forest, Ill. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM.