MILWAUKEE -- Alverno College defeated Rockford College 69-60 today at Reiman Gymnasium, setting a new school record for season victories while clinching a spot in the 2010 Northern Athletics Conference tournament.

The Inferno improved to 12-9 on the season (10-5 NAC), surpassing the previous season record for wins, 11, which was set last season. Alverno also clinches one of the eight spots in the 2010 NAC Women's Basketball Tournament, making their first post-season appearance since 2006 in the former Lake Michigan Conference. Back in the LMC, all teams would qualify for the conference tournament, while in the NAC, the top four teams from each division qualify.

"This is the best 10-game offensive stretch I've ever been a part of as a coach," Alverno head coach Brad Duckworth said.

The Inferno, winners of nine of their last 10 games, have averaged 45.3 percent shooting from the field the last 10 games, and are the league's best shooting team, averaging 43.5 on the season. Today the team shot 46.6 percent (27-of-58), including 50 percent (14-of-28) in the second half.

Freshman center Rachel Diedrich (Two Rivers, Wis.) was a big part of the successful shooting, nailing 8-of-10 field goals for a game-high 18 points. Her 80 percent shooting from the floor ties the Alverno single-game record, and defensively her seven blocked shots sets a new single-game record for Alverno. Diedrich also added eight rebounds for the Inferno.

Continuing to rewrite the record book, freshman guard Kelsey Kochanowski (Oak Creek, Wis.) tied the Alverno single-game record with a game-high nine assists today while adding 10 points and four rebounds.

Shataya McComb (Kingston, N.Y.) added 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting for the Inferno, to go along with her game-high nine rebounds. McComb began the game with 10 of the Inferno's first 14 points of the afternoon.

Gabby Allen (Milwaukee, Wis./Bay View) added eight points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, while sophomore Alicia Kontowski (South Milwaukee, Wis.) chipped in eight points for the Inferno.

Megan Lawler (Pearl City, Ill.) and Melissa Swaziek (Loves Park, Ill.) each had 14 points to lead the visiting Regents (6-15, 5-9 NAC).

The Inferno, just a game back of South Division leader Wisconsin Lutheran College, are next in action on Tuesday at Dominican University. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in River Forest, Ill.