Maranatha's First-Half Run Drops Cougar Women

Dec. 15, 2012 - Leading midway through the first half of Saturday's Northern Athletics Conference women's game, the Concordia-Chicago women's basketball team was hit with a 21-2 run by Maranatha Baptist Bible College. The Cougars would never fully recover as they lost 61-54 in Watertown, Wisconsin.

The Cougars fell behind 7-4 in the early minutes, but a rebound basket by Ariel Duell-Duran (Haiku, HI/Seabury Hall) started the team on the way back. Ashlet DiCristofano (Elmwood Park, IL/H.S.) then provided a spark off the bench with a baseline jumper and a three from the right wing. The Cougars then completed the 8-1 run as Krystyna Rickett (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) drove hard to the basket, was fouled and hit both free throws for a 13-8 lead.

Just as quickly as the Cougars had seized the momentum, the Crusaders turned things around with a 14-0 run over the next four minutes. Maranatha scored a couple of baskets off of picking up loose balls, and Autumn Poetter capped the run with a three to give the hosts a 22-13 lead.

Dazmine Chaney (Aurora, IL/West Aurora) answered with a pair of free throws, but the Crusaders responded with the next seven points, five by Poetter. Rickett came back to hit a pair of threes, but Peotter closed the half with her fourth three to keep the Crusaders' lead in double digits at 32-21.

Rickett opened the second half with a three, and Jessica Genke (Kiel, WI/H.S.) scored 11 of her 13 points in the final 20 minutes. However, the Cougars were never able to make a sustained charge at the Crusaders. Most notably, the Cougars got within 45-38 with 8:15 to go, but the Crusaders scored 10 of the next 12 points. Peotter made the final two of her six three-pointers in the run.

Peotter finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to lead the Crusaders (6-1, 4-1 NAC). Laci Peterson scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half, and Kristin Morrison finished with 11. Rickett led the Cougars (2-6, 2-2 NAC) with 17 points including five three-pointers.

Concordia will return to action Tuesday night in Milwaukee when they take on Wisconsin Lutheran College.