Feb. 15, 2014 - It was Senior Day this afternoon for Concordia-Chicago, but the visiting Marian University Sabres spoiled the party. The visitors unleashed a barrage of three-point shooting and defeated the Cougars by a final score of 70-50.
The first half was a three-point shootout, and the Sabres began it early. Marian scored its first 15 points on five threes with Amelia Mirsberger and Sarah Albert each knocking down a pair. Kassy Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) hit CUC's first triple of the day as the Cougars' offense began to find its rhythm. However, Mirsberger connected on two more threes later in the half, and the Cougars found themselves looking up at a 24-8 lead. A 13-0 run over the next few minutes put the Cougars back in the running. Chanel Stelmachowicz (Fredonia, WI/Living Word Lutheran), newly entered into the game, hit her first two shots from the deep corner for a quick six points. Angelik Young (Crete, IL/Crete-Monee) and Koehler scored on the fast break, and Stelmachowicz followed with her third three of the half to make the score Sabres 24, Cougars 22. Olewinski ended the Cougars' run with a basket, and the teams would match baskets over the final minutes of the half. At the end of 20 minutes, it was MArian leading by just four points at 30-26. The Sabres' lead was at six early in the second half when they took permanent control with a 14-5 run. Albert started and ended the run with threes, her second giving the visitors a 52-37 lead at the 10-minute mark.
Marian finished the game 12-26 shooting from three-point range, 23-50 overall. Concordia-Chicago was 19-54 overall and 6-18 from downtown. Albert led the Sabres with 22 points including 4-8 shooting from outside while Mirsberger was 6-10 shooting for 18 points. Young led the Cougars with 12 points and six rebounds while Stelmachowicz finished with nine points. Senior April Broska (Belleville, MI/Lutheran South) scored eight points and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds. The Cougars return to action Sunday afternoon when they host Lakeland College.
