RIVER FOREST, ILL. — As Cougar Athletics rings in the new year, there has been some action on the court for both men's and women's basketball.

Women's basketball traveled to North Central on Monday, December 19th for a non-conference holiday break matchup. The Cougars fell to the Cardinals with a score of 83-74 after a second half surge of points for Concordia University Chicago (CUC). Four Cougars scored in double-digits with Katherine Benes (Oconomowoc, Wis.), Jaylene Wade (Lansing, Ill.), Mikalah Ellis (Chicago, Ill.), and Jada Dixon (Gary, Ind.). Benes had 22 points on the night, this marked her eighth game of getting 20 points or higher. She continues to hold her place as the number one points per game leader in the nation with an average of 25.8 points per game. Looking ahead, the Cougars play Wednesday against Dominican for the Division Street Rivalry held in Geiseman Gymnasium, scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff. 

Taking a trip to California, men's basketball found their first two losses of the season against some non-conference competition. Falling 79-61 to California Lutheran, Jacob Collicott (Lafayette, Ind.) led the way for the Cougar offense with 14 points and eight rebounds. Moving into their second game on their trip, they fell to Whittier College with a score of 87-83. This close game was capitalized by five Cougars that scored in double digits: Collicott, William Bishop-Green (Chicago, Ill.), Emanuel Wilson (Wheaton, Ill.), Kieran Heller (Whitefish Bay, Wis.), and Barcus Jackson Jr. (Belleville, Ill.). Collicott led the offense again with 19 points and eight rebounds on the night. With the new year beginning, the Cougars stay on the road and travel to Lakeland on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Men's and women's track and field will also be back to action this weekend as they travel to University of Chicago for the Phoenix Invitational.