Riechers has career game to lead Women's Basketball past Rockford

ROCKFORD, Ill. – Tori Riechers scored a career-high 29 points to lead Concordia University Wisconsin past Rockford University, 69-56, on Saturday afternoon inside the Seaver Center. The Falcons remained atop the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference with the victory.

Riechers (Cedarburg, Wis.) continues to impress during her rookie campaign, as she finished 11-of-17 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. She also pulled down 13 rebounds, seven offensive, for her second career double-double.

CUW exploded during the first half and led by a game-best 20 points, 29-9, with eight minutes to play before the intermission. At one point in the opening period, Riechers was outscoring the Regents after she drained a pair of free throws for her ninth and 10th points, which gave the Falcons a 20-7 lead.

RU (5-7, 2-5 NACC) would make the game interesting just prior to halftime after Mallorie Getzelman drained a 3-pointer to cap a 16-6 scoring run and cut CUW's lead to 35-26 at the intermission.

The single-digit lead hovered for the majority of the second half until the Falcons returned to form with a 12-3 scoring run over during a four-minute stretch that shifted the momentum. Ultimately, the difference was CUW's 21 offensive rebounds that were converted into 23 points.

Their 21 offensive rebounds were a season-high and the most since pulling down 24 on Jan. 7, 2012.

Sophomore Megan Coenen (Green Bay, Wis.) ended with 12 points and 10 rebounds for her third career double-double. She also assisted on two field goals and stole two passes. Senior Camille Parsons (Urbana, Ill.) ended with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

CUW finished with a decisive advantage in turnovers, as it forced 23 while committing just 12, and outrebounded RU by a 48-38 margin.

Erin Ryczek was the lone Regent to score in double-figures, as she finished with 14 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Jessica Bjerning netted eight points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench.

CUW (10-1, 7-1 NACC) returns to action on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. NACC matchup inside the R. John Buuck Field House against Concordia University Chicago.