RIVER FOREST, ILL. – For their last home game of 2023, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars hosted the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagles for a non-conference matchup, ultimately falling 95-66.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Melia Perry (Plainfield, Ill.) led the Cougars with a season-high 16 points, while adding in one rebound, steal, assist, and block.
- Nazuri Whigham (Naperville, Ill.) picked up a new career-high with 13 points, three assists, three rebounds, one steal, and one block.
- Abby Kulig (Carol Stream, Ill.) dominated defensively grabbing seven rebounds while contributing nine points, two steals, and one block. Kulig was a perfect five-for-five from the free throw line.
FIRST HALF
With the Eagles taking flight early in the game, the Cougars quickly found themselves down 8-0, forcing them to take a timeout. Fresh out of the timeout, a pair of free throws from Whigham would get the Cougars on the board. A pull up midrange jumper from
Mikalah Ellis (Chicago, Ill.) would cut the deficit down to four.
As the Cougars continued to struggle to produces offensively, buckets from Perry, Ellis, and
Alexis Desjarlait (Red Lake, Minn.) would keep them in the game.
Fresh into the second quarter, a quick three from Perry would jumpstart the Cougar offense.
Despite outscoring the Eagles in the second quarter 18-16, the Cougars trailed by 23 heading into the half.
SECOND HALF
Striking first in the second half, a three from the top of the key from Whigham combined with a three from
Lela Scott (Indianapolis, Ind.) would cut the Cougar deficit down to 19.
Needing to keep the offensive train moving, another three from Perry would do just that. Finding her way to the rim, Perry would also tack on two free throws to help keep the Cougars moving. Kulig would ride the momentum train and pull a massive offensive rebound and draw the and-one to convert for the three-point play. Falling behind by as much as 30 to start the fourth quarter, a fast break layup going coast-to-coast from Whigham would give hope to the hearty Cougar squad.
Closing baskets from
Cydnei Mitchell (Naperville, Ill.),
Kayla Jackson (Worth, Ill.),
Alina Paul (Elmwood Park, Ill.), and
Janie Ternes (Oak Lawn, Ill.) would wrap things up for the Cougars, falling 95-66.
The Cougars will be back in action on December 30
th as they take on the Division I Huskies of Northern Illinois University. Tipoff is slated for noon. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
