Nov. 28, 2012 - Down 12 points in the second half, the Concordia-Chicago women's basketball team put together an excellent effort down the stretch to defeat Benedictine University 64-61 in the Northern Athletics Conference opener at Geiseman Gymnasium.

Jessica Genke (Kiel, WI/H.S.) was key for the Cougars in the early going as she scored Concordia's first seven points. However, Michelle Gaede found the range on two three-point shots as Benedictine claimed an 11-7 lead. The Eagles led for much of the half, but Kassy Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) kept the home team in the hunt as she hit all three of her three-pointers en route to an 11-point half.

Fouls became a concern for Concordia late in the half as Benedictine widened its lead. The Cougars were whistled for 15 infractions, and the Eagles capitalized by hitting 18 of their 23 tosses from the line. Sierra Dunner led the way in hitting all eight of her free throws, and she added a layup in the final minute to give Benedictine a 40-30 lead at the half.

Benedictine extended their edge to 12 on two occasions early in the second half before Concordia began to chip into the lead. April Broska (New Boston, MI/Lutheran South) triggered a 10-0 run with two free throws and a layup while drawing a couple of fouls from the Eagles' defenders. The visitors were whistled for five fouls in the first 3:15, and the Cougars stepped up the pressure inside. Genke scored twice on putbacks, and Krystyna Rickett (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) added a layup to bring the Cougars within a deuce at 44-42.

Three points by Kam Haifleigh and a three-pointer by Lauren Burish let the Eagles counter with a 6-0 run, but the Cougars regrouped and made another charge. A basket by Genke and a three by Rickett made it a three-point game. Broska and Ariel Duell-Duran (Haiku, HI/Seabury Hall) then played a two-man game with Broska setting up Duell-Duran for a layup. Broska then came off of the 6'1" center's pick and drove in for a layup while being fouled. Broska finished off the three-point play as Concordia took a 52-50 lead with 7:47 remaining.

The Eagles came back to tie the score twice over the next few minutes, but two free throws by Rickett gave Concordia the lead for good at the 5:44 mark. After a turnover, Rickett fed Dazmine Chaney (Aurora, IL/West Aurora) for a baseline jumper and a four-point lead.

A three-point play by Alexis Joseph brought the Eagles back within a point. A Cougar turnover then set up an opportunity for the visitors to regain the lead. But the Eagles were turned away on three shots, one of them blocked by Genke who then came down and scored on a layup for a 60-57 lead.

Benedictine answered on Katie Hunzinger's layup, but Genke came to Concordia's rescue again. The 5'11" junior drove to the lane and hit a short jumper with 1:09 left to put Concordia back up by three. But a basket by Hunzinger and a missed three by Broska gave the Eagles a chance to go in front in the final 30 seconds.

Genke would come up big one last time as the ball was poked away from Gaede. Genke came up with the loose ball, and the Cougars were able to kill a few seconds before Broska was fouled with eight seconds left. Broska calmly nailed her sixth and seventh free throws without a miss to put the Cougars up three. The Eagles' final chance went by the wayside as Michelle Batty's three from the left wing hit the rim and settled in Genke's hands as the horn sounded.

Concordia's defense held Benedictine to just 25 percent shooting in the second half on 7-28. Meanwhile, the Cougars shot 13-30 (43 percent) from the field and 7-8 (88 percent) at the line over the final 20 minutes. Genke led both teams with 21 points (9-14 FG, 3-5 FT) and 13 rebounds, seven on the offensive glass. Broska added 13 points (3-7 FG, 7-7 FT) and three assists, and Koehler finished with 11 points. Dunner and Hunzinger led the Eagles (0-5, 0-1 NAC) with 12 points each while Hunzinger also pulled down 10 rebounds, seven on the offensive end.

The Cougars (1-4, 1-0 NAC) will go for two in a row on Saturday afternoon when they host Concordia University Wisconsin.