MILWAUKEE, WIS. — The Concordia University Chicago Cougar women's basketball team traveled to Milwaukee, Wis. to take on the Alverno Inferno in another Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) matchup.  The Cougars downed the Inferno 61-42 to pick up their first win of 2024.  

INSIDE THE BOX

• Jaylene Wade (Lansing, Ill.) led the squad with 20 points, five rebounds, and four assists. 
• Alisyn MacGregor (Loves Park Ill.) picked up her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 16 rebounds. 
• Cydnei Mitchell (Aurora, Ill.) added six points, four rebounds, and two assists. 

FIRST HALF

The Cougars struck first with a layup from MacGregor to kick things off, but quick back-to-back buckets from the Inferno would leave the Cougars trailing by three. Another two layups from MacGregor would put the Cougars up by one, but the fiery Inferno would find their way to the rim and take the lead back. While the two teams exchanged buckets for the remainder of the first quarter the Cougars would find themselves trailing after the first ten minutes of play. 

Second quarter action told a similar story with the two squads battling point-for-point, but an and-one from Abby Kulig (Carol Stream, Ill.) would give the Cougars the lead that they would hold onto for the remainder of the game. Buckets from Nazuri Whigham (Naperville, Ill.), Prentciss Gates (Gary, Ind.), and Wade would close the half with the Cougars leading 31-24. 

SECOND HALF 

After holding the Inferno to only seven points in the second quarter, the Cougar defense set out on a similar hunt for the start of the second quarter, holding them to a mere eight points in the third. As the Cougars found their offensive groove, buckets from Mitchell, Gates, MacGregor, and Wade would help sure the 15-point lead for the Cougars with 10 minutes to play. 

Whigham started the final ten minutes out with a big time block while MacGregor picked up the first points of the quarter. Keeping the foot on the gas, the Cougars would extend their lead to 20 with under five minutes to play after MacGregor found her way in the paint to pick up another two points. In the final four minutes of the game, the Cougars would secure the rest of their points from the free throw line, going 4-4 while shooting 12-15 overall on the night. 

The Cougars will be back at home on Wednesday as they take on Aurora University for a 7:00PM start time. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.