MILWAUKEE -- Coming off a close three-point loss on Saturday, the Alverno College women's basketball team looks to snap its losing streak versus Concordia University Wisconsin and Rockford College in a pair of Northern Athletics Conference games this week.
The Inferno (5-14, 2-11 NAC) opens the week on Wednesday in a rematch with North Division foe Concordia Wisconsin up in Mequon. The Falcons (13-7, 12-2) took down the Inferno back on Dec. 6, 64-50, in Reiman Gymnasium led by CUW's Kendal Kerns' game-high 19 points and eight rebounds.
Concordia Wisconsin, who has already clinched a spot in the eight-team NAC Tournament, commits the fewest turnovers per game (14.2) in the conference, and makes a league-best 15.8 free throws per contest. The Falcons have won five of their last six games, and won five straight at Buuck Field House.
The Regents of Rockford will come to town on Saturday, which has been designated as the Inferno's "Play 4Kay" game. Play 4Kay, formerly known as WBCA Pink Zone, is an opportunity for Women's Basketball Coaches Association members to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for research on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.
The late Kay Yow, former N.C. State University head women's basketball coach, served as the catalyst for Play 4Kay after her third recurrence of breast cancer in 2006. Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009.
Last season the Regents (3-16, 2-10) won the only meeting against the Inferno, 74-62, down in Rockford, Ill., but the Inferno won the previous 2 years' meetings. The Inferno defense will have their hands full as the Regents' Britney Curry enters the week as the NAC's leading scorer at 18.8 points per game, and also collects the conference's fifth-best 8.3 rebounds per game average.
Rockford has lost 14-straight games, but will host 1-11 (NAC) Aurora University on Wednesday, who has lost 12 straight. The Regents lead the conference in free throws attempted per game (23.2), but are 11th in free-throw percentage (62.6).
Concordia Wisconsin remains the only team in the 6-year old NAC that Alverno has not beaten (0-14), while the Inferno is just 2-8 versus the Regents.
Both games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff and will have live coverage. Cuwfalcons.com will provide live stats and video of Wednesday's game, while athletics.alverno.edu will provide a live webcast for the Inferno's home game.
