Jan. 8, 2013 - The Concordia-Chicago women's basketball team used an outstanding performance by Jessica Genke (Kiel, WI/H.S.) as well as a season-high 12 three-pointers to end a six-game skid and defeat Aurora University 74-56 in Northern Athletics Conference play this evening at Geiseman Gymnasium.

Genke scored the Cougars' first four points, but an early barrage of threes helped the home team build an early lead. April Broska (New Boston, MI/Lutheran South) knocked down the Cougars' first triple, and Krystyna Rickett (Sandusky, MI/H.S.) followed with a pair to make the score 15-6 after just six minutes.

The lead grew as high as 22-8 before Aurora began to use the three-ball themselves to get back into the game. Ciara Marlow, Bethany Dorrington and Shannon Koski all hit from beyond the arc to pull within 25-19. The Spartans were witin five points in the final minute of the half, but Genke's two free throws and a buzzer-beating three by Ariel Duell-Duran (Haiku, HI/Seabury Hall) gave the Cougars a more comfortable 33-23 lead heading into the break.

As the second half began, Concordia threatened to run away and hide. Rickett's long three and Angelik Young's (Crete, IL/Crete-Monee) three-point play put the lead at 16. However, the Spartans received a second-half spark from forward Rachel Rivera, and her layup at the 14:24 mark cut the Cougars' lead to 45-36.

A three by Ashley DiCristofano (Elmwood Park, IL/H.S.) restored the lead to double digits. Genke then scored nine of the team's next 15 points including a three-point play at the 9:25 mark that extended the lead to 24 points. The Cougars' forward shot 5-6 from the floor in the second half, and her final stat line read 20 points (7-12 FG, 6-6 FT), 14 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and three steals.

Genke was joined in double figures by Rickett with 18 (5-12 three-point shooting) and Young with 10. The Cougars edged the Spartans 47-44 on the boards, helped out by Kassy Koehler's (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) 10. Concordia's passing also contributed to the victory with 18 assists, the second-highest total of the season. Rickett and DiCristofano were credited with four helpers while Kristen Shimko (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) added three.

Concordia's defense limited Aurora (5-9, 2-5 NAC) to 28 percent shooting (10-36) in the second half and 30 percent (18-60) for the game. The Spartans were led by Dorrington's 15 points (5-8 threes) and Marlow's 10.

The Cougars (3-11, 3-5 NAC) will continued this week's string of home games when they welcome Dominican University on Thursday night.