Jan. 18, 2014 -In a game where the Concordia-Chicago Cougars and the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders battled closely in many aspects of the game, it was turnovers that played a decisive role. The Cougars committed nine more miscues, and the Raiders rode that advantage to a 63-48 victory at Geiseman Gymnasium this afternoon.
The Cougars grabbed an early 5-0 lead on a layup by Angelik Young (MSOE averted , IL/Crete-Monne) and a three by Kassy Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran). But the Raiders regrouped and went on a 17-7 run. The visitors received a couple of strong performances off the bench today from Corrine Sanford (9 points) and Bre'Ana Strong (10 points), and the two contributed significantly to the run.
A three by Chanel Stelmachowicz (Fredonia, WI/Living Word Lutheran) cut the Cougars' deficit to 17-15, but a series of turnovers over the next four minutes prevented the Cougars from sustaining the offense. Concordia-Chicago did get a couple of late baskets by Young to narrow the halftime margin to 29-22.
It appeared as if the game would get out of hand at the start of the second half as MSOE scored the first six points to take a 13-point lead. However, Koehler hit a pair of threes as part of a 9-0 run to pull the Cougars back within four points at 35-31.
MSOE averted any further charge by the home team as Strong hit a three from the right side. The Raiders would keep their lead in the seven to nine-point range over the next several minutes as, once again, turnovers kept the Cougars from building any consistency in the attack.
Concordia-Chicago made one more run at MSOE as baskets by Lauren Orr (O'Fallon, MO/Lutheran St. Charles) and Morgan Jahnke (Fox Lake, IL/Grant Community) made it a five-point game (44-39) with 10 minutes remaining. However, seven straight points by the Raiders opened up some distance again, and the visitors kept their lead in the teens for almost all of the remaining eight minutes.
MSOE outshot CUC 39 to 38 percent, and rebounds went to the Raiders by a slim 39-37 margin. But the turnovers told the final story as the Cougars committed 21 to the Raiders' 12.
Marly Trier led the Raiders with 15 points while Holly Denfeld, Shannon Larson and Strong all chipped in with 10. The Cougars were led by Young's career-high 21 points and 12 rebounds. Koehler followed with 11 points.
Concordia-Chicago will travel to Alverno College on Tuesday night before preparing for next weekend's Concordia Invitational Tournament.
