Dec. 28, 2010 - A 14-0 run over the final six minutes propelled the Concordia Cougars past the Lakeland Muskies 57-53 at Geiseman Gym this evening.
Lakeland jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead before Christina Calabrese (Schiller Park, IL/East Leyden) hit a three for Concordia's first field goal 6:05 into the game. The Muskies controlled the pace for much of the first half and, except for a brief 13-11 lead on Kellie Murphy's (Johnsburg, IL/Marian Central Catholic) jumper, the Cougars trailed the entire half. Lakeland benefited from 13 trips to the foul line, hitting 10 of them to hold a 30-26 lead at the half.
Concordia stayed close through the second half until a 9-0 Lakeland run appeared to put the visitors in control. Chelsea Coenen's layup at the 6:00 mark gave the visitors a 53-43 lead. However, the Muskies would not score again as they missed their final seven shots from the field and turned the ball over five times down the stretch.
Calabrese began the Cougars' comeback with a putback of Murphy's miss from the corner. Marche Smith (Oak Park, IL/Trinity) then stole the ball and converted a three-point play to bring the Cougars within 53-48 with 3:54 remaining.
Claire Mackey (Shelton, NE/Heartland Lutheran) made it a three-point game when she converted a layup off a pass by Krystyna Rickett (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) who made her Cougar debut this evening after transferring from Concordia Ann Arbor last winter. Smith then capitalized on another steal, her layup making the score 53-52 with 1:50 left.
Concordia then grabbed their first lead since the first half after Mackey rebounded a missed three by Lakeland. Smith drive the lane, was fouled and hit both free throws for a 54-53 lead with 53 seconds remaining. A turnover led to Bobbie May (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) splitting a pair of free throws. The Muskies' final shot at reclaiming the lead went errant on Erin Cepa's missed three from the left wing. Smith closed out the game with her final two free throws with nine seconds left.
Smith led all scorers with 27 points (9-24 FG, 9-10 FT), and April Broska (New Boston, MI/Lutheran South) added 10 points (4-7 FG, 2-3 3FG) in a reserve role. Murphy and Smith both corraled eight rebounds as Concordia pulled down 46 caroms to Lakeland's 30. Lakeland was led by Cepa's 12 points (4-7 3FG) and Coenen's 10.
The Cougars (4-5, 1-3 NAC) return to action on Thursday night at 7:00 when they host Concordia Wisconsin.
