PLYMOUTH, WIS. — The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) women's basketball team rang in the new year with a conference matchup against Lakeland University. In this clutch Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) battle, the Cougars would go toe-to-toe with the Muskies for the entire game. However, they would fall just short, as the Muskies took the win 54-50.
Inside the Box Score:
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Khaliah Reid (Naperville, Ill.) came splashing into this game with 12 points and three steals
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Melia Perry (Plainfield, Ill.) was another front for the offense tonight, breaking 11 points and four rebounds
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Right behind her was Mikalah Ellis (Chicago, Ill.), who had nine points and eight boards of her own
First Half
Perry started off stellar with a three to open up the game for the Cougars 3-2. After these first points, it would not be until three minutes remaining in the first quarter for either team to score. Prentciss Gates (Gary, Ind.) would find room in the lane to drive in a bucket, before Reid drained a three for herself. This brought the score to a tie of 8-8 after the first quarter of play.
Heading into the second quarter, Alexis Desjarlait (Red Lake, Minn.) would draw a foul and make her two free throws to keep it tied at 10-10. The Muskies would take a lead of 14-10, but a jumper from Ellis and layup from Alisyn MacGregor (Loves Park, Ill.) would tie it right back up again. Lakeland would then go on a run, as they quickly connected their points together for a lead of 24-18 going into the half.
Second Half
The Cougars came out hot to start the second half, with a Desjarlait three and two Ellis layups to take the lead 25-24. The Muskies would be able to take the lead back and stay out in front for the remainder of the quarter. However, Perry would drain a three, before baskets from Reid and MacGregor to try and chip away at the 37-32 Muskie lead.
Opening the final quarter of play, Lakeland kept up their momentum and drew their lead all the way to 43-32. Gates would continue to drive the lane and made two layups, as well as another bucket from MacGregor, to 43-38 Lakeland. Perry closed the gap even more with a huge three, making it 43-41.
Perry drew a foul and made her shots before Reid made some points of her own 46-45, just barely trailing. The Muskies then began to draw fouls and were able to bunch up a lead to 51-45. Reid would make one more three and an additional basket to try and give CUC a chance to take the lead, but would just fall short. The Cougars would lose to the Muskies with a final score of 54-50.
The Cougars will be back in Geiseman Gymnasium on Saturday to take on Benedictine University at 2 p.m. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
