Aurora, Ill.- Looking to build off of their 3-0 start the Concordia-Chicago Women's basketball team (4-0, 2-0 NACC) took to the floor in Thornton Gymnasium to take on the Spartans of Aurora (2-1, 1-1 NACC) tonight. In front of a hostile Spartan crowd, CUC saw a 15-point lead diminish late in the first half when Aurora went on a 19-0 run. CUC battled tough in the final 15 minutes though to pull out a gritty 74-66 NACC road win.
 
"Our girls really showed something tonight," remarked an exuberant head coach Rusty Rogers following the game. "I can't ever remember in my coaching career coming back from a 19-0 run like that. Our girls never wavered though. They continued to fight. Our energy especially on the bench I thought was key in overcoming a tough situation in a really tough environment."
 
Annika Rae finished with a career high 14 points. CUC leading scorer Taylor Jacobsen finished with 18 on 7-15 shooting while Sophia Leon had 17. Crystal Corr continued her work on the boards with nine. As a team CUC shot 43 percent from the floor including 64 percent in the fourth quarter.
 
"I just come ready every day and today the shots were falling," said Rae. "The 4-0 feeling is great. I felt good in warmups and I had the open looks and I was able to knock them down."
 
In the first quarter, CUC was hot from the floor. A jumper by Jacie Dickerson and a three by Rae pushed the Cougar lead to 12-4 just under four minutes in forcing an Aurora timeout. Aurora battled back to cut the CUC lead to just four on a Bailey Kramer three with 2:15 remaining in the quarter. Rae then heated up from the floor knocking down a tough baseline layup and a three from the top of the key to give CUC the 21-12 lead after the first.
 
Leon and Erin Jacobsen continued the run with baskets to begin the second quarter. Another Rae three and a three by senior T.Jacobsen pushed the lead to 15 midway through the quarter. The T.Jacobsen three would be the only field goal for CUC over the final 4:58 of the half which allowed Aurora to go on an 8-0 run to close the half and cut the Cougar lead to 34-31 at the break.
 
Aurora continued the run into the second half. The run reached 19-0 before Leon stopped it with a three from the wing. The Spartans answered though with another three to keep their advantage at eight. The pace picked up late in the quarter as the crowd got into it. An Allison Barry jumper brought CUC within four, then a few possessions later E.Jacobsen tied it on a pair of free-throws. A late free-throw gave Aurora a 54-53 lead heading to the fourth.
 
The Cougars continued to build momentum early in the fourth. Off of a Courtney Lofink steal, T.Jacobsen knocked down a three with 8:04 remaining that gave CUC the lead for good. The Cougars were able to get inside with layups by Corr, T.Jacobsen and Rae allowed CUC to open an eight point lead midway through the quarter, forcing an Aurora timeout. The Spartans continued to fight, but a fast break layup for the Cougars put the final touches on the 74-66 road win.

The Cougars will look to make it five straight when they head to Rockford to take on the Regents on Saturday. Opening tip is set for 4:15pm or 30 minutes following the men's game.