Jan. 27, 2012 - The Concordia-Chicago women's basketball team drew one of their toughest assignments to date in the first round of the 61st annual Concordia Invitational Tournament. The Cardinals of Concordia Ann Arbor entered play with a 19-3 record and a top ten ranking in the NAIA. The Cougars hung with the Cardinals for a while, but the visitors eventually pulled away to a 76-45 win.

The Cougars fell behind 10-5 but fought back with baskets by Cristina Calabrese (Schiller Park/East Leyden) and Claire Mackey (Shelton, NE/Heartland Lutheran). But Brittany Simmons came off the bench and scored twice to keep the Cardinals in the lead. Later in the half, Catherine Herriman and Hannah Sabol hit threes to bump the lead up to 24-14.

April Broska's (New Boston, MI/Lutheran South) two free throws brought the Cougars within 28-20, but the home team would then go cold. The Cougars did not score over the final 3:50 of the half, and Ann Arbor took advantage by scoring the final seven points including a late three by Marion Rodriguez to take a commanding 35-20 lead.

The Cougars trailed by 21 points midway through the second half before making one final push. Threes by Sara Stelzer (Selden, NY/Our Savior New American), Broska and Kassy Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) had the home team within 12 points with the Geiseman Gym crowd roaring its support. But just as fast as the Cougars heated up, they went cold again. The Cardinals scored the next 18 points over a six-minute span and were never threatened again.

Broska led the Cougars with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. Bobbie May (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) and Krystyna Rickett (Sandusky, MI/H.S.)  were next in line with eight points each.

Ann Arbor was led by Simmons' 14 points. Rodriguez added 11 points and Sabol chipped in with 10.

The Cougars (7-11) will play in Saturday's consolation game against Concordia Wisconsin who came up on the short end of a 98-58 score against Concordia Nebraska.