SEWARD, NEB. – In the opening game of the 70
th Concordia University Invitational Tournament, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars defeated the Concordia University Ann Arbor Cardinals in a riveting 71-65 win.
FIRST QUARTER
After winning the tip, the Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead to start the game. With back-to-back turnovers on their first offensive possessions, the Cougars fell to a four point deficit before a jumper from
Katherine Benes (Oconomowoc, Wis.) would kick things off. A pair of free throws followed by a three from the left wing from Benes would bring the Cougars within two with five minutes still remaining in the quarter. In true Benes fashion, another three would give the Cougars their first lead of the day.
The intensity of the game beginning to pick up, both teams took advantage of their offensive possessions resulting in a back-and-forth game. A three from
Prentciss Gates (Gary, Ind.) and three free throws from
Melia Perry (Plainfield, Ill.) would extend the Cougar lead up to five before letting the Cardinals pick up two buckets within a minute to even the score again. Benes adding in four points within the last minute looked promising to even the score, but a jumper from the Cardinals was able to take the lead as the quarter closed. Benes picked up 14 of her points in the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
As Concordia-Ann Arbor got a hot start to the second quarter, back-to-back threes would drop the Cougars to an eight point deficit before Benes could find the rhythm again, knocking down her third triple of the day in the second minute of the quarter. As the physicality continued to increase, the Cougars utilized the strong freshman
Mckayley Hopkins (St. Louis, Mo.) as she made her impact known picking up her first points of the day off a tough drive into the paint. Going on a nearly two minute scoreless run, the Cougars' next points would come off another bucket in the paint from Hopkins followed closely behind with a three from Perry to cut the lead down to two.
With the size and strength of the Cardinals showing, the Cougars were out rebounded 15-10 in the second quarter. One last Benes three would bring the Cougars within three before a pair of free throws for the Cardinals extended their lead to five heading into the half.
THIRD QUARTER
The halftime break gave the Cardinals the boost they needed to come out of the half with intensity. They jumped out to a 15 point lead while going on a nine-point run before a jumper from
Jaylene Wade (Lansing, Ill.) broke the dry spell for the Cougars.
Chloe Schaafsma (Lockport, Ill.) joined in on the fun and put herself at the line after a tough drive from the left wing. Back-to-back threes from Perry cut the lead back down to six while Benes added in two free throws and her fourth triple of the day. Letting the Cardinals get in what fans thought was the last shot of the quarter, coach
Lauren Martin got the timeout call before the clock expired giving the Cougars the deadball opportunity with 1.2 seconds on the clock. The pass from Gates into the hands of "The Floor General" gave Wade the chance for the catch and shoot to score as the clock ran down, shifting the momentum entirely.
FOUTH QUARTER
Benes kicked off fourth quarter for the Cougars with an immediate three, dropping the Cardinal lead to two. After giving up a few buckets, the Cougars were within the closest margin since the beginning of the game following a three from Wade. A perfect set of free throws from Perry gave the Cougars the lead which they'd hold onto for the remainder of the game.
Alisyn MacGregor (Loves Park, Ill.) pushed the sword even further in after securing not one, but two offensive rebound put backs to extend the Cougar lead up to six.
The Cougars closed the game with the six point advantage, despite trailing by as much as 16 in the third quarter. The Cougars haven't won an opening game of CIT since 2017 where they defeated CUW before falling to CUNE in the championship game. The Cougars haven't defeated CUAA since 2015 when they fell in the first round to CUNE before going to take down the Cardinals.
"What an atmosphere. What an experience," Coach Martin noted. "Our fans! What a team win! Give credit where credit is due, and our team deserves ALL of the credit!"
The Cougars will be back in action tomorrow in the championship game against CUNE at 5:00pm. Coverage can be found at
cucougars.com/coverage.
