Turnovers and Fouls Cancel Out Smith's Huge Game
Dec. 4. 2010 - The Concordia Cougar women's basketball team dropped their fourth straight game this afternoon after a season-opening win over Mount Mary College. Marche Smith (Oak Park, IL/Trinity) did her best to carry the Cougars to victory past Edgewood College, but a foul-laden defense and 35 turnovers were too much for Concordia to overcome. The final score at the Todd Wehr Edgedome was Edgewood 70, Concordia 49.
The Cougars' offense got off to a sluggish start in missing six of their first eight shots, but steals on four consecutive possessions allowed the visitors to go in front by an 8-6 score. Smith attacked the interior of the Eagles' defense in scoring all of Concordia's first 16 points.
Leading 14-11, Concordia's offense hit a dry spell, going scoreless for nearly five minutes while Edgewood ran off 10 straight points. Smith's two free throws ended the run, and April Broska (New Boston, MI/Lutheran South) added a free throw and three-pointer shortly after as the Cougars stayed within five points, 29-24 at the half.
Smith finished a monster of a half with 20 points on 7-10 from the field and 6-6 at the line. However, the Cougars were just 8-24 from the field and, more problematic, were guilty of 18 turnovers. Edgewood, led by Danielle Dixon's seven points, shot 10-28 from the field and committed 13 turnovers.
Edgewood grabbed their biggest lead at the outset of the second half as two baskets by Allison Tobin triggered a 7-2 run that gave the Eagles a 36-26 advantage. The lead continued to climb as the Cougars fell into foul trouble, and Shae Beckwith's three from the right corner made it a 16-point lead, 47-31 at the 12:19 mark. The Cougars trimmed the deficit to 12 at 49-37, but Amber Hemp's three halted the Cougars' brief burst of momentum, and the fouls and turnovers down the stretch spelled the end of any further comebacks for Concordia.
Smith led all scorers with 10-16 shooting and 7-9 from the stripe for 27 points. The Cougars pulled down 47 rebounds to the Eagles' 36, led by Katie Leitermann's (Milwaukee, WI/Martin Luther) 12 and Smith's 11.
Edgewood was led by Hemp's 15 points and Sadie Ewing's 12. The Eagles shot 22-57 for 39 percent and 22-35 (63 percent) from the line while committing 21 turnovers.
The Cougars (1-4, 0-3 NAC) will have a week off before returning to action next Saturday at Mount Mary College.
