Rochelle can’t overcome slow start in DeKalb

Christina Williams shakes past a defender and scores in Rochelle’s 40-33 loss to DeKalb Friday. (Photo by Eric Chalus)

DEKALB — A slow start put the Lady Hubs in a hole early against DeKalb on the road, and despite a late surge Rochelle fell to the Lady Barbs 40-33 in conference play.

DeKalb started the game scoring eight unanswered points in the first 2:30 seconds of the game, forcing Rochelle to use its first time out. Coming out of the break senior forward Michelle Dobbs drew a foul and made one shot, but the hosts went on another 7-0 run to go up 15-1 with 2:30 to go in the first quarter.

DeKalb guard Brittney Patrick was lighting it up from behind the three-point arc and Rochelle had to call another timeout to stop the momentum.

Dobbs came out and scored after the timeout and junior guard Abby Gould added two more points, but Patrick hit another three-pointer and her sister, Courtney Patrick, also connected on a trey, giving the Lady Barbs a 21-5 lead. The two made five three’s in the quarter. Courtney Patrick added two more first quarter points for DeKalb after stealing the ball with :02 left and drawing the foul from well behind the three-point line. She hit two free throws and the first quarter ended with DeKalb up 23-5.