Jan. 25, 2014 - The consolation round of the 63rd annual Concordia Invitational Tournament brought with it a third matchup this season between the Cougars of Concordia University Chicago and the Falcons of Concordia University Wisconsin. The Falcons figured to be a prohibitive favorite after blowing out the Cougars less than three weeks ago on the same floor of the Buuck Field House. However, the Cougars gave a grand effort this afternoon and pushed the Falcons to the limit before CUW finally prevailed by a score of 64-59.
The Cougars got off to an early lead behind sophomore Hannah Rummel (Fenton, MI/Lake Fenton). Rummel went inside for two of CUC's first three baskets and then drilled a three from the right side to put the Cougars up 9-4. Concordia Wisconsin recovered to take a 13-12 lead, but the Cougars retook the lead with a nice defensive play. Chanel Stelmachowicz (Fredonia, WI/Living Word Lutheran) swiped the ball away from a Falcon player and fed April Broska (Belleville, MI/Lutheran South) breaking toward the other basket. Broska beat her defender, laid the ball in and was fouled. She hit the free throw to complete the three-point play for a 15-13 lead. Later in the half, the Cougars matched their largest lead at five as Kassy Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) knocked down a three. But the Falcons made good on some threes down the stretch and took a slim 30-28 lead at the half. The Cougars put themselves in a deeper hole to start the second half. Two misses and two turnovers kept the Cougars off the board for over three minutes while the Falcons scored the first eight points. Rummel's two free throws got CUC on the board but it took until the 13:40 mark for the first field goal. Broska's layup made it 40-32, but Katie Luethe hit a three from the key for an 11-point lead.
Just when it seemed like CUC was in deep trouble, they revived with a solid run based once again on good defense. Morgan Jahnke (Fox Lake, IL/Grant Commnity) and Koehler scored to get the Cougars within six. The Falcons broke the run momentarily with a free throw, but the Cougars kept coming. Broska scored five consecutive points for CUC, and Rummel came through with a layup at the 8:08 mark to even the score at 44-44. Concordia Wisconsin's Camille Parsons stepped up over the next few minutes to kept the Falcons in control by a thread. First, Parsons scored on a banker to let the Falcons reclaim the lead. After Jahnke split a pair of free throws, Parsons then nailed a three-pointer from the left corner while she was fouled. Parsons hit the free throw to complete the rare four-point play and make it a five-point lead for the home team.
The Cougars would creep back to within two points but would be unable to get over the hump. Twice down the stretch, they turned the ball over trailing by only two points. Forced to foul, they sent the Falcons to the free throw line eight times in the final minutes. The home team cashed in on seven of them to hold off a determined effort.
Broska led the Cougars with 19 points including 9-11 shooting from the foul line, and Rummel scored a career-high 13 points (5-8 from the field with one three, 2-4 FT). Young ripped down 12 rebounds for the Cougars, nine in the second half.
Parsons led the Falcons with 16 points including three key three-pointers. Anna Butler and Madelyn Landgraf chipped in with 13 points apiece.
The Cougars will return to action on Wednesday night at home when they host Rockford University.
