Nov. 29, 2014 - The Concordia-Chicago women's basketball season is just four games old, but the optimism around the team remains high - not to mention, the offensive production. Behind 32 points by freshman Jaela DeJean (Houston, TX/Houston Christian), the Cougars ran past Lakeland College 85-66. The Cougars improved to 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. In addition, the team stayed perfect against NCAA Division III competition with the Cougars' only loss coming against Division II Illinois-Springfield.
Concordia-Chicago set the tone early as they scored the first eight points of the game. DeJean and fellow freshman Courtney Lofink (Orange, CA/Orange Lutheran) established themselves right off the bat as the Muskies' main antagonists. Lakeland won the opening tip, but Lofink's steal just 10 seconds in led to DeJean's fast-break basket for the first points. Lofink then hit a three, and DeJean followed with a three-point play for an 8-0 lead before some of the fans had found their seats. The Muskies broke the ice on a three-pointer by Kayla Clark, but the Cougars remained in an offensive rhythm. Kassy Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) and Miranda Rogers (Cypress, TX/Houston Christian) soon connected from downtown, Rogers' three giving the Cougars a 20-7 lead at the 13:58 mark. Midway through the half, the Muskies closed to within six before the Cougars kicked the offense into high gear again.
Angelik Young (Crete, IL/Crete-Monee) scored twice around a three-point play by DeJean. A steal and layup by DeJean followed, and Lofink then buried a three to make it a 17-point lead for the home team. The lead would eventually reach 19 before the Muskies narrowed the gap slightly to make the halftime score CUC 45, Lakeland 31. DeJean finished the first half with 19 points on the strength of 8-12 shooting from the field. "Jaela has really helped us get off to some great starts in these last two games," said CUC head coach Rusty Rogers, referring in part to DeJean's 20-point half in Wednesday's win over Concordia Wisconsin. "When she gets on a roll, it's very hard for our opponents to keep up with her."
The Muskies got within 13 points in the early minutes of the half, but DeJean scored eight of CUC's next nine points as the home team pushed its lead into the twenties. Lakeland had one more push in them as Trista Barron knocked down consecutive threes, but a three-point play by Shania Kiser (Fremont, OH/Fremont Ross) triggered a 10-point run that put the Cougars' third win of the season safely in the bank. DeJean's 32-point effort came on 12-20 shooting (2-5 threes) and 6-8 from the foul line. Lofink hit 4-6 from long range as part of a 16-point effort and added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Kiser notched a season-high 10 points (4-6 shooting) and added five rebounds.
Lakeland (0-3, 0-1 NACC) was led by Barron's 12 points while Clark and Bailey Grayvold each tallied 11.
The Cougars will close out their season-opening five-game homestand on Wednesday night when they tangle with Alverno College.
