Jan. 5, 2013 - A second determined effort in three days for the Concordia-Chicago women's basketball team was not enough to capture a needed victory. A high output of turnovers and missed shots down the stretch negated an otherwise fine effort and resulted in a 73-64 loss to Edgewood College at the Todd Wehr Edgedome this afternoon in Northern Athletics Conference play.

The Eagles got off quickly as they fed Alison Tobin for three inside baskets. Tobin added a pair of free throws and Rachel Pope a three-pointer as Edgewood held an 11-4 lead after four minutes. Concordia fought its way back as Jessica Genke (Kiel, WI/H.S.) scored inside, and Krystyna Rickett (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) drilled a three from the right wing. A couple of baskets upped the Eagles' lead back up to five, but four free throws by Rickett sandwiched around a 15-foot jumper by Ashley DiCristofano (Elmwood Park, IL/H.S.) gave the Cougars their first lead at 19-18.

Angelik Young's (Crete, IL/Crete-Monee) putback extended Concordia's lead to three, but Edgewood rallied with six consecutive points before DiCristofano buried another jumper from the free throw line.

The game continued at a seesaw pace, and Rickett's three with 31 seconds left had the Cougars poised to take a halftime lead. But a bank shot by Rachel Pope and free throw by Zoey Dougherty gave the Eagles a slim 30-28 lead at the break.

Concordia received good offensive production in the half with 12 by Rickett and eight by Genke. However, Edgewood hit 12 of 16 free throws to compensate for 26 percent shooting from the field while Concordia went to the line eight times, making six. The Cougars were also guilty of 19 turnovers to the Eagles' 10.

The Cougars went to work in the opening minutes of the second half and took a 35-32 lead. But Rickett committed her fourth foul at the 17:25 mark, and the Eagles stormed back with an 8-0 run. Broska came to Concordia's immediate rescue as she hit a three followed by a driving layup to knot the game at 40-40.

Trailing 45-44, Concordia looked to take control as Young's two free throws at the 10:05 mark triggered a 6-0 run. Edgewood fought their way back into the game again, helped out by three key turnovers which prompted Rickett's return to the game. However, Rickett picked up her fifth foul moments later as Tobin made good on a three-point play, and the Eagles led 56-54.

Once again, the Cougars came back as Young's three from the left side gave the visitors a 60-59 lead with 5:23 remaining. Edgewood answered on the next possession as Melanie Walker hit two free throws following an offensive rebound, and this was the final lead change of the day. The Cougars could generate little offense over the final minutes, missing their next six shots after Young's three. Genke's layup with 13 seconds left accounted for Concordia's only field goal down the stretch.

The Cougars finished with 17-48 shooting for 35 percent, 4-12 from the outside. Concordia's free throw accuracy helped keep them in the game with 26 successful out of 31 tries (84 percent). Rebounding went to the Cougars by a 44-37 margin, although Edgewood captured 18 offensive boards which resulted in 18 second-chance points.

The Eagles shot just 34 percent from the field on 20-59 and 28 percent on threes with 5-18. Edgewood missed 11 second-half free throws for a final total of 28-43 (65 percent). However, the home team won the battle of turnovers with just 18 compared to Concordia's 32.

Genke led the Cougars with 21 points (7-12 FG, 7-10 FT), 12 rebounds, four blocks and three steals. Rickett finished with 14 pointsm and Broska chipped in with 11 and nine boards. The Eagles had four players in double figures, led by Tobin's 18 and 10 rebounds.

Concordia (2-11, 2-5 NAC) will begin a three-game homestand on Tuesday night against Aurora University.