Feb. 7, 2017 - The Concordia-Chicago women returned home Tuesday evening after coming away with two wins on the road this last week against Aurora and Marian. Already clinching a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference playoff spot, the Cougars had their sight set on hosting a playoff game with possibly getting a bye if everything went their way the final two weeks. Benedictine came into tonight only one game ahead of Concordia-Chicago and one game back from hosting an NACC playoff game of their own. After a slow first quarter, Benedictine showed why they are challenging to win the regular-season NACC championship.  The Eagles held a high-octane Cougars' offense to only 58 points and won by the score of 68-58. 

The first quarter was very evenly matched.  CUC's Taylor Jacobsen picked up where she left off on Saturday against Marian, scoring on four of her first five shots. Benedictine was able to match up well, dominating the glass and earning them second-chance points. Late in the quarter, CUC reeled off a 13-0 run, highlighted by threes from Miranda Rogers and Annika Rae to give the Cougars a 10-point lead. Concordia-Chicago put good defensive pressure on the Eagles to force some contested shots that led to the Cougars closing out the quarter leading 24-13.

At the start of the second quarter, both teams were struggling to find any rhythm from the floor. About midway through the quarter, the Eagles started hitting shots and getting back into the game. Benedictine's Venita Parsons single-handedly carried the Eagles, contributing eight points on the Eagles' 13-0 run that gave the visitors a two-point lead. The Cougars were able to stop the Eagles run eventually, but Benedictine was able to tie the game 38-38 at halftime.

Benedictine started off the third quarter clicking on all cylinders by jumping out to an 8-2 run. The Eagles D'Asia Williams, who had a quiet first half, was starting to feel it from the floor to give Benedictine their largest lead of the game. The quarter was dominated by the Eagles as the Cougars couldn't get anything going inside the paint as Benedictine was stuffing the lane with five blocks for the game. With the Cougars only scoring six points because of Benedictine's good defense, the Eagles closed out the quarter leading 54-44. 

In the first couple minutes of the fourth, CUC jumped out to a 6-1 run with a T. Jacobsen three-point play and a Rogers' long three to cut the lead to five, forcing a Benedictine timeout.  The Eagles' timeout went for naught, as the Cougars continued their momentum to get the game tied with a Crystal Corr jumper. Midway through the fourth quarter, Benedictine jumped out to a four-point lead, but on the following possession, Lauren Orr picked a good time to hit her first triple of the game to cut the lead to one with four minutes remaining. The Cougars had multiple opportunities to grab the lead, but couldn't convert. Benedictine pulled away late, helped by a Parsons' three and multiple defensive breakdowns by the Cougars that led to easy baskets underneath for the Eagles.  Benedictine was able to close things out and win by the final score of 68-58.

The Cougars were led by T. Jacobsen who had 17 points (7-13), three rebounds and one assist, followed by Rogers who had nine points (3-5) and two rebounds. The Eagles' Parsons and Williams combined for 38 points (12-25) to help Benedictine improve to 18-4 overall and 14-3 in the NACC.

The Cougars (13-9, 12-5 NACC) return to action Saturday afternoon in a huge conference matchup as they host Wisconsin Lutheran. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.