2 games, 44 boards: Record-setting rebounder has Rockford University on the rise

ROCKFORD — With Anaya Davis rebounding and scoring at a record-setting pace, the Rockford University women's basketball team is bouncing back.

It's bouncing back into the spotlight, already with more wins than in any of the past four seasons at just the midway point. And it's bouncing back into the hunt for a postseason bid.

"We're playing well in streaks, and it has us in decent shape," third-year Regents coach Taylor Stinson said. "And we definitely have some players that are playing pretty well right now, and that's why we are where we are."

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The roster is made up of one senior, and 18 freshman — although many returned from the shortened spring season that did not count against their eligibility. Not the key cog, though, which has been Davis, the true freshman who hauled in 21 rebounds during a 53-47 loss to No. 14-ranked Wisconsin Lutheran on Saturday. Then without putting much thought into the Rockford Regents school record, she went out and broke it with two more boards, 23, in a 74-59 defeat at the hands of Aurora on Tuesday.

"I've always been a post, so rebounding is just something you have to do if you want to stay there," said Davis, a 5-foot-10 center out of Belleville Althoff. "I wasn't thinking about records. My thing is to focus more on the wins and the team. I don't focus on how many rebounds I have, or double-doubles."

But they keep coming. And while not at as fast a pace, so, too, do the wins.

Eye-popping numbers

Davis has Rockford (6-6) at .500 on the season, even with four losses in the past six games. She leads NJCAA Division III with 10 double-doubles, and that's in just 12 games. She's second in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (6.4) and five in total rebounds (159).

But on Tuesday, she really set herself apart.

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Her 23-rebound performance at rival Aurora not only broke the Rockford single-game rebounds record that had stood since 1997, but it also tied the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference record, which was set back in 2016. She also became the only player in the NACC-era of the program to record back-to-back, 20-rebound games and, with 20 points in the Saturday game, she also became just the second player in the NACC-era of the program to have a 20-point, 20-rebound game.

"She's just a relentless pursuer; she attacks," Stinson said of Davis. "She just wants it. She's definitely driven and she's a very competitive person, and she has long arms and great hands. But she has incredible instincts."

It hasn't just been the past two games, either. Davis has been doing it all season.

She leads the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference in scoring (17.3) and rebounding (13.3), and is third in the league in steals (2.8). She's scored in double figures in every game so far.

"With me and rebounding, a lot of people use to tell me that because of my (height), I would have to move to guard. I took that to heart," Davis said. "I wanted to prove those people wrong. I wanted to show I belonged there.

"I think I am."

Goals within reach

For both Davis and the Regents, some lofty goals that were set at the beginning of the season are beginning to come into focus.

Rockford, which went 6-52 the past three seasons, hasn't finished .500 or above since going 13-13 in the 2010-11 season. And it hasn't made the NACC postseason tournament, which takes the top six of the 14 conference teams, in a decade.

Now the Regents are knocking on the door. They are still just 2-4 in league play and are currently in 10th place in the standings. But due to postponements and, now, makeup games, they have five conference games in the next week, and can make a strong push right here.

"This is a very big week for us," Stinson said. "It's very busy, but it could be make-or-break for us."

It starts off right away with three straight home games: they host Marian on Thursday; St. Norbert on Saturday; and Benedictine on Tuesday.

The team has built some depth, which will help as things get busy, and especially down the stretch. Point guard Audrina Terhune is the second-leading scorer on the team with an 11.7 point-per-game average, and she's tops on the squad with 36 assists. Then five other Regents players are averaging between 4-6 points per game, including former Belvidere North guard Jocelyn Callahan and former Auburn guard Kiara Stevens.

"We've really been working on our team chemistry, and just getting to know each other on the floor, and that's come so fast," Davis said. "Now it's time to build on it."

Rockford has five weeks until the NACC Tournament tips off on Feb. 23.

Jay Taft: jtaft@rrstar.com; @JayTaft

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Anaya Davis rebound record for Rockford University women's basketball