ROCKFORD, Ill.—Looking to start the 2019-20 season on a high note, the Concordia University Chicago Women's Basketball team traveled to Rockford to take on the Regents this evening. CUC used a strong first quarter, and 14 threes on the night to down the Regents 69-58.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Tara Hastings made a splash in her collegiate debut. The freshman scored 17 points and had six steals and three assists.
- Madelyn McGrath finished with nine points and seven assists in her collegiate debut.
- In total, freshmen accounted for 44 points on the night.
- 14 made threes in a game are the most since December 20, 2017 against LaVerne.
- CUC forced 24 Rockford turnovers and turned that into 24 points.
- CUC has now won six straight conference and season openers.
CUC applied pressure early and often. Hastings got the scoring started for the season by converting her steal into a layup. Rockford scored the next six points, but the Cougars settled in, tying the game at eight on another Hastings steal and score. McGrath gave CUC the lead for good with a three with 5:38 remaining in the quarter. McGrath and
Annika Rae hit threes down the stretch in the quarter, as the Cougars extended their lead to 22-12 after one.
The Cougars built on their lead early in the second.
Kaylah Koehler made it a 14 point game with a three off of the left wing. Rockford fought their way back into it however, using a 10-1 run in just under three and a half minutes of play to pull within 32-27. CUC was able to pad their lead late in the quarter, getting six straight points in the paint from
Michaela Thornton to take a 38-30 lead into the half.
In the third the two teams traded baskets early as the pace picked up. CUC then opened up their biggest lead of the day by going on a 19-5 run midway through the quarter. CUC went 5-7 from downtown during the stretch.
Bailey Steinkamp and
Tara Hastings led the charge, with Steinkamp hitting two threes. Rockford was able to close the gap slightly at the end of the quarter to make it 60-45 after three.
The Cougars quickly expanded their lead back to 20 on a McGrath three early in the fourth. Rockford slowly fought their way back, getting to within ten with 1:48 to play. The Cougars were able to take care of the ball down the stretch though, to preserve the 69-58 season opening win.
The Cougars will continue their season opening five game road swing on Friday when they head to Whitewater, Wisconsin to take on the Warhawks. Opening tip is set for 4:00pm.
