Jan. 3, 2013 - The Concordia-Chicago women's basketball team returned to Northern Athletics Conference play this evening with a game at Alverno College in Milwaukee. The Cougars and Inferno went at it fiercely fior 40 minutes, but a late shooting slump by the Cougars and a controversial call in the final seconds added up to a 67-63 loss for Concordia.

Anna Boteva's two quick threes ignited the Inferno before Jessica Genke's (Kiel, WI/H.S.) follow-up of her own miss put the Cougars on the board. April Broska (New Boston, MI/Lutheran South) followed with a three from the top of the key. Following an exchange of baskets, a putback by Ashley DiCristofano (Elmwood Park, IL/H.S.) at the 15:00 mark gave Concordia its first lead of the game at 9-8.

Alverno answered with an 8-0 run before Krystyna Rickett's (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) long three put Concordia back within four. The Inferno upped the lead to six on a fast break before the Cougars stormed back. Baskets by Genke, Broska, Rickett and Genke again made it an 8-0 run and put the visitors in the lead again.

Concordia maintained its lead until the final minute of the half when Alverno scored the final five points to tie the game at 33 apiece. The Cougars finished the half with 5-11 from three-point range. Broska added a second three, and DiCristofano and Ariel Duell-Duran (Haiku, HI/Seabury Hall) also hit from the outside. The Inferno's three-point shooting was also hot with 6-13; Boteva knocked down four of her seven tries.

The two teams continued to play close to the vest through the second half. Alverno's tandem of Boteva and Kristen Speerschneider continued to knock down shots from behind the arc, but Genke continued to overpower the Inferno's post players in the paint.

Angelik Young's (Crete, IL/Crete-Monee) three snapped a 50-50 tie, and Dazmine Chaney (Aurora, IL/West Aurora) layup answered two Inferno baskets to give the Cougars a 55-54 lead with 8:31 remaining. But Concordia went cold after that, missing on nine of its next 10 shots. Meanwhile, Kayla Kennedy and Jamie Hoernke scored Alverno's next eight points to give the home team the lead for good.

The Cougars trailed 65-61 with a minute left when Rickett hit two free throws. DiCristofano then came up with a loose ball with 22 seconds left, and Concordia called timeout with a chance to tie or go ahead. Rickett drove the middle of the lane and drew contact as she went in for the layup. But the play was ruled an offensive foul with Alverno gaining possession. Devon Gorman was fouled on the inbounds and hit both free throws to put a bitter end to the Cougars' effort.

Rickett led the Cougars with 16 points and also added a career-high nine assists and seven rebounds. Genke chipped in with 15 points, three blocks and three steals. Broska also reached double figures with 11 points. Concordia shot 24-50 (.480) from the field, 8-21 (.381) from three-point range and 7-8 (.875) from the free throw line.

Boteva and Speerschneider combined for nine threes and 36 points for the Inferno (7-6, 4-2 NAC). Alverno shot 21-50 from the field (.420), 9-21 (.429) from threes and 16-19 (.842) from the line.

Concordia (2-10, 2-4 NAC) will travel to Edgewood College on Saturday as part of a women's/men's doubleheader.