Jan. 18, 2017 - The Cougar women came into tonight's home game against Alverno College riding a six-game Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference winning streak, which ties the longest streak in CUC history set in the 2007-08 season.  A Concordia-Chicago win would also match a season best 6-0 home start, which hadn't been done since the 1985-86 season.  The Cougars looked to get revenge on Alverno from the last matchup in November as CUC blew a double-digit lead in Milwaukee.. Both teams were in need of an important win as the Cougars are in striking distance of first place in the NACC, and the Inferno are trying to hold onto the sixth spot for the conference tournament.  A back-and-forth battle all game, Alverno had enough in the end to sweep the season series over Concordia-Chicago by the final score of 63-59.

The first quarter got off to a slow start for both teams. Both teams were struggling from the floor early. Alverno was able to jump out to a 15-5 lead midway through the first quarter.  Junior guard Erin Jacobsen manage to scored the lone Cougars' points during this time.  Meanwhile,the Inferno's Gabby Hood and Katelyn Bartlett were dominating the Cougars in the paint as those two together scored the first 17 points for Alverno.  Concordia-Chicago ended the quarter on a run however, highlighted by a Crystal Corr jump shot and layup as Alverno had a 17-15 lead at the end of one.

The second quarter started in similar fashion as the first as neither team couldn't find a rhythm from the floor. Things picked up midway through the quarter as Alverno guard Mackenzie Mathies and forward Donna Zehner did the damage to extend their lead to six. The Cougars managed to fight their way back into the game led by Taylor Jacobsen scoring four quick points to cut the Alverno lead to 30-29 heading into halftime.

Both teams came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half, trading baskets and not getting stops on defense.  Alverno's Mathies continued her good game as she knocked down a triple and a mid-range jumper to extend the Inferno lead to seven midway through the third. Alverno's interior defense was fantastic as CUC couldn't get going inside the paint and having several of their shots altered. Alverno was able to extend their lead heading into the fourth quarter by the score of 50-42.

In the fourth quarter, the Cougars were able to cut the lead to four with a Lauren Orr three. With four minutes left, the Cougars cut the lead down to two as Corr was a force on both ends of the floor doing the dirty work. The Cougars' press then stiffened up as CUC took its first lead of the night  on a huge Miranda Rogers three with 3:35 to go.  But with the game tied 59-59, Gabby Hood gave the Inferno the lead under a minute to go with a huge up-and-under layup. Alverno added a basket by Bartlett with 24 seconds left, and that would be enough as the visitors notched the win over the Cougars by the final score of 63-59. 

The Cougars' leaders were T. Jacobsen who had 21 points (8-15), three rebounds and two assists, followed by Corr with 10 points (5-9) and seven rebounds.

Alverno was led by Gabby Hood who had 18 points (7-14) and eight rebounds. Zehner and Bartlett had a combined 34 points (14-21) that gave the Cougars all sorts of trouble inside.

Concordia-Chicago (9-6, 8-4 NACC) returns to action Saturday afternoon as they host Lakeland University in a huge NACC matchup. Tip off is set for 2:00 p.m.