Box Score Feb. 3, 2018 – After a wild 18-point comeback marked the Concordia-Chicago women's basketball team's win over Lakeland University last month, many wondered what the rematch had in store. This time, the Cougars nearly pulled off a repeat, erasing a 10-point fourth quarter deficit, However, the Muskies rewrote the ending, taking control of the overtime and defeating the Cougars by a final score of 90-85.
The Jacobsen twins helped CUC get off to a quick start.
Erin Jacobsen's three broke a 2-2 tie, and
Taylor Jacobsen followed with two scores off turnovers. The Muskies soon climbed back to within one, but back-to-back threes by
Kayla Horlacher and
Annika Rae gave CUC an 18-10, and they went on to finish the first quarter with a 22-12 advantage.
The early minutes of the second quarter saw Lakeland cut CUC's lead down to two behind the inside play of Megan Will. A left corner three by
Maddie Vojacek broke the deadlock, however, and a couple of baskets by
Sophia Leon gave CUC a 34-24 lead. But that lead did not last, as the Muskies closed out the half with a 10-0 run, Abby Nylund's three with seconds left creating a 34-34 tie at the half.
The Muskies took control of the third quarter behind an unexpected source. Amanda Majewski, held scoreless in the first half, hit three treys in the quarter, the first coming on the opening possession to give the Muskies their first lead of the day. The Cougars came back to take a 46-45 lead on Horlacher's three, but Majewski hit her third three of thew quarter in the final minute, and the muskies went to the fourth quarter holding a 56-51 lead.
Lakeland's offense in the fourth quarter went through their two centers, the 6' 3" Will and 6' 1" Maddie Doll. Senior Rachel Stankevich also came up big for the Muskies, and her three midway through the quarter gave Lakeland a 63-53 lead. However, just like last time, the Cougars battled back.
Courtney Lofink and
Crystal Corr made good on three-point plays. The Muskies clung to their lead late, but Lofink and Leon hit threes to keep it close. Leon then hit a three at the 2:01 mark to give CUC a 72-70 lead. Free throws by Will knotted the score again, and both teams split free throws in the final 30 seconds to send the game into overtime at 73-73.
The Muskies began the overtime with a 7-0 spurt before
Erin Jacobsen hit a three. Lofink then finished a fast break to make it a two-point game, but this time the Cougars would not be able to get over the hump. Lakeland closed out the game with free throws, and CUC came up short for the second time this week in conference play.
Three Lakeland players finished with double-doubles: Miranda Jacobson with 20 points and 12 rebounds, Will with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Doll with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Muskies finished with a huge 55-37 edge on the boards. Both teams finished with 31 field goals (CUC taking 10 more shots), and the Cougars had one more three-pointer than the Muskies (10-9). However, Lakeland shot 19-31 from the free-throw line to Concordia-Chicago's 13-19.
The Cougars were led by Leon with 18 points, four assists and five steals. T. Jacobsen scored 14, followed by Lofink with 13 (also seven assists and six steals) and Vojacek with 12.
Concordia-Chicago will play the MSOE Raiders at home on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.
