RIVER FOREST, ILL.- The Concordia Chicago (CUC) Cougar's women's basketball team visited their Division Street Rival in Dominican University, picking up their eighth consecutive win over the Stars. After quickly gaining momentum and control of the game, the Cougars defeated the Stars with a final score of 66-55.
INSIDE THE BOX:
- Abbi Dykstra (Yale,Mich.) led today's game with 17 points and five rebounds.
- Grace King (Fairland, Ind.) came up third in points with 14 points, creating a season high leading the Cougars with 11 rebounds, picking up her first career double-double.
- Ai Yonemura (Yachiyo, Chiba-Japan) had 16 points with 4 steals.
- Sophia Pedraza (Carol Stream, Ill.) had a career high debut with five steals.
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED:
QUARTER ONE
Dominican started off by scoring a layup, but Dykstra quickly responded by tying up the score after making two free throws. The Cougars were able to gain quick momentum after King contributed two points, followed by a free throw from Naveya Jackson (Sun Prairie, Wis.) and a three-pointer from Dykstra, boosting their lead. Dominican fought back, managing to tie the score, only for the Cougars to pull ahead again, scoring five points within the next minute. King continued to add to the Cougars's score with jump shots while Yonemura made her mark on the game with back to back layups. The quarter closed out with Kira Holliday (Roselle, Ill.) making a crucial steal, passing to Hannah Lopez (Chicago, Ill.) who capitalized with a three-pointer before the quarter ended.The Cougars took the first quarter 24-15.
QUARTER TWO
The Cougars were the first to score in the quarter with Yonemura hitting a layup. Continuing to extend their lead, Pedraza scored a layup for the Cougars, creating a13 point lead. With both teams battling for possession, Pedraza was able to hit a three-pointer followed by a good jumper from Abby Kulig (Carol Stream, Ill.). With strong Cougar defense, only allowing a free throw from Dominican, the Cougars added to the scoreboard with Dykstra hitting another three-pointer, Yonemura with a layup, and Kulig with a free throw. The Cougars were able to dominate the second quarter, taking the lead 39-21 while holding the Stars to only six points in the quarter
QUARTER THREE
The Cougars continued to score in the second half, with a successful jumper from King right out of the gate. The Stars matched the Cougar energy, putting up a layup of their own, but the Cougars went on to score in four consecutive plays. King added to her rebounds with a total of eight, followed by yet another Dykstra three-pointer. With a Dominican turnover stolen by Pedraza, Yonemura added a fast break layup. Dykstra would find a way to net for another three-pointer, her fifth of the game, while putting the Cougars up with a 28 point lead. The third quarter would end with Yonemura scoring a jumper leading the Cougars to a 55-32 lead with ten minutes to play.
QUARTER FOUR
Dominican was the first to score in the final quarter, but it wouldn't last long as a jumper from Lopez would start the Cougars. Continuing to hit jumpers, both King and Linley Southern (Decatur, Ill.) put another on the scoreboard assisted by Yonemura and Pedraza, respectively. Southern added another point made by a free throw for the Cougars that would lead to a CUC timeout. Fresh off the timeout, Yonemura hit a layup totaling her points to 16. Dominican tried to close the gap, scoring off momentum before Pedraza found her way into the paint to break off the Stars's run. The game ended with Dominican giving their best efforts scoring one last three-pointer, but the Cougars would close the 40 minutes out on top, pulling the 66-55 victory.
WHAT'S NEXT
The team will hit the road to go take on Lewis University in an exhibition game on December 15th at Neil Carey Arena, Romeoville, Ill at 2:00 pm. Coverage for all things CUC women's basketball can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
