RIVER FOREST, ILL. -- It's a full day of basketball tomorrow at Geiseman with the final home doubleheader of the season. Along with Senior Days for both our teams and recognition of Australian Mateship Day, it's the resumption of the River Forest Rivalry Cup as CUC takes on Dominican. A sweep by the Cougars would even the RFRC season series, now in its fourth year, with baseball, softball and men's volleyball still to be contested.
When the men battled at DU's Igini Sports Forum last month, the Cougars cruised to their biggest victory margin of the season. CUC placed seven players in double figures, and the Cougars used a 20-0 run in the first half to build a stunning 58-20 lead at the half and cruise to a 104-64 victory. Coming into play Saturday, the Cougars are looking to end a three-game skid after a heart-breaking 100-95 loss in overtime on Wednesday to Rockford.
Xeo Golding shot 11-14 from the field and struck for a career-high 32 points, and
Raushaun Amos made it 73 points in his last three games with a 25-point outing, but the Regents were on fire from three-point range all day and were able to overcome a CUC lead late in the second half.
Dominican (9-13, 5-12 NACC) snapped a seven-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 77-60 win at Marian behind Jackson Smith's 21 points and six rebounds. Smith, a 6' 4" forward, leads the Stars with 17.7 points per game, while Tyler Guest, also a 6' 4" forward, is at 11.8 points and a team-leading 8.4 rebounds.
The CUC women will take on the Stars in the "nightcap" of the doubleheader, looking to win their fourth consecutive home game and matching their Geiseman streak from last year (Dec. 29, 2018 - Jan. 16, 2019). The most recent win came on Tuesday as
Tara Hastings scored 18, followed by
Charisma Robinson and
Bailey Steinkamp with 14 each in an 81-53 rout of Rockford. The Cougars demonstrated how to begin a half, coming out of the opening tipoff with a 10-0 run and later beginning the third quarter with a 12-0 run. Hastings continues to lead the Cougars in scoring with a 13.8 average, a figure which is currently sixth in the conference.
The Dominican women (16-7, 12-6 NACC) have been arguably the surprise team of the NACC this season. The Stars have won their last two games and four of their last five, including a 78-61 takedown of Wisconsin Lutheran on Tuesday. Dominican features a starting unit that has been together a few years, led by 5' 9" forward Timiya Ray (13.7 points per game) and 5' 5" guard Alexis Hoskins (12.3). Both played significant roles in the win over WLC, with Ray scoring 23 points and Hoskins nearing a triple-double with 13 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
For those coming out for basketball tomorrow, we suggest early arrival, as we will have men's Senior Day and info about Australian Mateship prior to the men's 2:00 game. Women's Senior Day will be between games, prior to their scheduled 4:15 tipoff.
