Jan. 10, 2013 - On an evening when many of the shots refused to fall, the Concordia University Chicago women's basketball team found enough offense down the stretch to hold off a pesky Dominican University by a score of 60-55. The win was the Cougars' second in the last three days, putting the Northern Athletics Conference record at 4-5 in the South Division (4-11 overall).

April Broska (New Boston, MI/Lutheran South) scored five early points for the Cougars, but the hosts misfired on 10 of their first 14 shots. Meanwhile, the Stars found some offense from Allie Tapanes as Dominican's freshman guard struck for 13 first-half points. The visitors already led 20-17 when Tapanes nailed a two and a three to give the Stars an eight-point lead. Broska brought the Cougars closer just before the half as she converted a three-point play, then stole the ball and fed Angelik Young (Crete, IL/Crete-Monee) for a layup. Concordia shot just 25 percent for the half with eight field goals and yet trailed after 20 minutes by only a 25-22 margin.

Concordia appeared to get everything on track in the opening minutes of the second half. Young scored eight points during the 16-2 run, and Genke made good on a three-point lead to put the Cougars up 38-27.

The Stars rallied as they scored their next nine points via the three ball. Meanwhile, the Cougars hit another patch of rough shooting as they missed on their next seven. Tapanes' jumper tied the game at 42-42, and Katie Budz gave Dominican the lead at the 6:43 mark with two free throws.

Dominican's lead was at four points when Concordia made its stretch move. Some deft passing by Krystyna Rickett (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) set up Young and Jessica Genke (Kiel, WI/H.S.) for layups to tie the game. Young then gave Concordia the lead at the 3:40 mark when she grabbed an offensive rebound, was fouled and hit both free throws.

The Cougars continued to pound the ball inside as Genke scored six straight points after Stacy Reynolds' two free throws knotted the game for the final time at 50-50. Broska added a pair of free throws, and Kassy Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) gave the Cougars an insurance basket with a layup off an inbounds pass.

Concordia finished the game without a three-point basket, but the Cougars shot 15-29 in the second half and hit eight of 10 free throws. Genke scored 17 of her 21 points after halftime, hitting seven of 14 shots after going just 2-13 in the first half. Also in double figures for Concordia were Broska with 15 points (5-8 FG, 5-6 FT) and Young with 14 (5-7 FG, 4-4 FT). Young's 10 rebounds were high for the Cougars who came back to win the battle of the boards by a 38-35 margin.

Dominican was led by Tapanes' 18 points (7-14 FG, 4-11 on threes). Laura Knieps added 13 off the bench, and Katie Budz chipped in with 10 points and six assists.

The Cougars will go for their third consecutive win Saturday afternoon when they host Lakeland College.