Feb. 2, 2013 - For the Cougar women's basketball team, Saturday's game at Marian University was an uphill struggle much of the way. However, the Cougars came through in the final eight minutes to wrest victory away by a final score of 62-56. The win put the Cougars at 8-6 in Northern Athletics Conference play and clinched a NAC tournament berth.
The Sabres got off to the early lead as Sarah Albert and Ashley Backes hit from downtown. The Cougars connected on just four of their first 12 shots from the field as they looked to keep the hosts from building too big of a lead. Marian's lead became nine when Albert hit a second three for a 22-13 lead midway through the half.
The Cougar offense found its rhythm as
Jessica Genke (Kiel, WI/H.S.) cashed in on a three-point play.
April Broska (New Boston, MI/Lutheran South) drew a couple of fouls attacking the basket and made good on four free throws
. Ashley DiCristofano (Elmwood Park, IL/H.S.) later rebounded a miss and turned it into a three-point play to build on the momentum.
Concordia's defense also picked up as they held Marian without a field goal over the final 5:35 of the half. Free throws by
Angelik Young (Crete, IL/Crete-Monee) and Broska closed out the half, and the Cougars found themselves trailing by only 36-33.
An early second-half run of threes by the Cougars enabled them to take their first lead of the day. After the teams traded twos, Broska's three from the left wing knotted the game at 38-38. Rissa Cerveny's jumper in the lane put the Sabres in front again but only for a few moments.
Kassy Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) lined up a three from the left side and buried it for a 41-40 lead at the 15:30 mark.
Marian recovered and went on a 12-3 run to take a 53-47 lead with 8:22 remaining. However, that would be the last score for the Sabres for nearly eight minutes.
Krystyna Rickett (Sandusky, MI/H.S.), who was held to two points over the first 32 minutes, nailed three consecutive jumpers to tie the score. Then, a putback by Genke at the 3:55 mark and a short jumper by Young after another offensive rebound put the Cougars up 57-53 at the 3:18 mark.
The Sabres' scoreless draught ended as Dani Huray nailed a three with 44 seconds remaining. On the ensuing Cougar possession, they were fouled three times, the third one finally putting Concordia into the bonus. Broska stepped to the line and calmly hit both free throws for a 59-56 lead with 24.5 seconds left.
Marian went for the quick three on their possession, but Backes' try from the top of the key missed. Genke rebounded and got the ball to Broska who was fouled again. This time, Broska split the free throws, but the Sabres were now down two possessions.
The hosts wasted their final opportunity as a traveling violation gave the ball back to Concordia. Broska was fouled with 1.5 left, and she put the final two points on the board to send the Cougars home with a much-needed victory.
Broska finished the game 11-14 from the line. and a lone three gave her high-scoring honors for Concordia with 14 points. Genke, limited by foul trouble in the second half, still finished with 13 points and eight boards. Koehler added 12 points (3-6 on threes) and five boards, and Young captured 14 rebounds to go with nine points.
Huray led Marian (4-17, 3-11 NAC) with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Albert had 13 points, all in the first half, and Backes chipped in with 11.
The Cougars will play at Dominican University on Tuesday night.
