Jan. 28, 2015 - The defensive pressure system employed by the Concordia-Chicago women's basketball team this season has produced some interesting results but perhaps none more pronounced than in tonight's home contest versus Rockford University. Despite being outrebounded and outscored at the free throw line by huge margins, the Cougars turned 43 Regents' turnovers into 40 points and defeated Rockford by a final score of 74-61.
The Cougars took a while at the outset of the game to find their offensive rhythm. Kassy Koehler's (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) baseline jumper was CUC's only field goal for the first 6:30 until Jaela DeJean's (Houston, TX/Houston Christian) layup tied the game 6-6. Lauren Orr (O'Fallon, MO/Lutheran St. Charles) then hit the Cougars' first three of the night to put CUC in front. Continuing to force Rockford turnovers over the next several minutes, CUC gradually built its lead.
Angelik Young (Crete, IL/Crete-Monee) scored on a putback, and
Divinity Stephens (Flossmoor, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) converted a steal into a breakaway layup. Later, Young was on the receiving end of a couple pinpoint passes from
Morgan Jahnke (Fox Lake, IL/Grant Community), the latter giving the Cougars a 21-12 lead at the 8:56 mark of the half.
Rockford began to battle back, led by their center Katie Clark. The 6'0" Clark scored the visitors' next three buckets from close in before a three by Miranda Rogers (Cypress, TX/Houston Christian) ended the run. Nevertheless, Rockford continued to chip away and closed to within 30-27 by the end of the half. The first three minutes of the second half produced CUC's best stretch of the evening as they hit RU with an 18-3 run. Jahnke scored twice driving to the basket, and Koehler and Rogers each rang up threes. Rogers' basket ended the run, putting CUC up 48-32 with 16:35 remaining.
Concordia's lead hit 20 with five minutes remaining as Courtney Lofink (Orange, CA/Orange Lutheran) converted one of her team-leading seven steals into a layup. The lead then topped out at 21 when Koehler's three made the score 71-50. The Regents whittled the lead down over the final minutes with several trips to the foul line, but the Cougars had more than enough cushion to close out an important Northern Athletics Collegiate Conferenec victory. The Cougars shot 41 percent from the field on 31-76 while Rockford managed just 43 shot attempts, hitting 16 of them for 37 percent. Free throws went to the visitors as they made good on 27 of 33 (82 percent) to CUC's 7-16 (44 percent). However, the Cougars were plus-two on ball control with 17 assists (led by Lofink's five) to just 15 turnovers.
Jahnke had a fine all-around stat line with a team-leading 16 points (7-10 from the field), six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Young checked in with 12 points and seven rebounds, and Koehler finished with 10 points.
Rockford (4-15, 3-11 NACC) was led by Diamond Williams with 14 points. She was followed by Amanda Davis and Mallorie Getzelman with 12 ncordiaeach and Clark with 11. Williams and Clark each captured 13 rebounds to tie for game-high honors in that category,
Concordia (11-7, 9-6 NACC) will take a break from conference play to compete in the 64th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament (CIT) this weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Friday's first-round opponent will be Concordia University Nebraska at 1:00 (noon Chicago time).
