RIVER FOREST, ILL. – The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) women's basketball played their home opener this evening, hosting the Maroons of the University of Chicago. CUC went out to an early lead and kept control for majority of the game, but the Maroons found their momentum in the final minutes of regulation and stole the game from the Cougars, 60-52.
Inside the Box
- Sydney Nimsakont (Glendale Heights, Ill.) scored a team high 19 points.
- Mikalah Ellis (Chicago, Ill.) recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
How it Happened
First Quarter
The Maroons downed a pair of free throws before the Cougars took control, going on a 7-0 run. Ellis answered the Maroons with six of the Cougars' points, while Nimsakont added a point off a free throw. The University of Chicago would pull up a three-pointer to close the gap, but
Nazuri Whigham (Naperville, Ill.) banked both free throws at the end of the quarter to keep the lead, 9-5.
Second Quarter
Both teams opened the second quarter with buckets from behind the arc, as Nimsakont answered the Maroons to keep a four-point lead.
Nimsakont continued to score for the Cougars and keep the lead as the teams traded points.
Alisyn MacGregor (Loves Park, Ill.) got in on the action, scoring a layup off a turnover by the Maroons to maintain the lead 16-11 with 7:14 left in the half.
The University of Chicago came back to tie the game at 18-18, but an important three-pointer from Whigham boosted the Cougars back into the lead to end the half, 21-19.
Third Quarter
Out of the break, Whigham and Nimsakont continued to lead the Cougars, increasing their lead back up to six. Ellis and Nimsakont each added baskets to keep the gap, 30-26, with 7:01 left in the quarter.
Both teams were in a draught for the next three minutes, battling for more points. The Maroons restarted the scoring with 4:10 on the clock, but Nimsakont continued to dominate on the court with another from beyond the arc and one from the line for a five-point lead heading into the final quarter, 36-31.
Fourth Quarter
A pull up jumper from
Cydnei Mitchell (Aurora, Ill.) and a three-pointer from Ellis extended the Cougars' lead to 41-31, with 6:20 remaining in the game.
The Maroons would rally in the finally few minutes, scoring five unanswered points, but Mitchell's calmness at the line and MacGregor's layup ended University of Chicago's run, and stay up eight, 44-36 with 54 seconds on the clock.
In the final minute of the game, Nimsakont and Mitchell were perfect from the line, but the Maroons were able to battle back to tie the game at 48-48 and force overtime.
Overtime
In the final five minutes of the game, Ellis plowed her way into the paint for a driving layup and Mitchell pick-pocketed the Maroons for a driving layup of her own, but the University of Chicago kept their momentum rolling from the fourth quarter and stole the game from the Cougars, 60-52.
Up Next
The Cougars next game will be Tuesday November 26 at 6:00 pm. Concordia will host the University of Hartford. Coverage can be found at cu
