ROCKFORD, ILL. – In the season finale, the Concordia University Chicago women's basketball team faced a rematch with the Rockford University Regents, pulling the season-ending victory. Both teams were already excluded from the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Tournament, leaving both teams fighting to end the season on a high-note. Despite the tight battle, the Cougars would pull the victory and end the season with a win.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Sydney Nimsakont (Glendale Heights, Ill.) led the charge with 12 points and five rebounds – the only Cougar to score in double-digits.
- Linley Southern (Decatur, Ill.) led the defensive charge with seven rebounds and three steals while adding two points.
- Courtneye Schneider (Plainfield, Ill.) picked up eight points while shooting 100% from three.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
Abby Kulig (Carol Stream, Ill.) gave the team an early 2-0 lead with a layup and free throw, followed by a strong tip-in from Southern to put the Cougars ahead 5-0. Despite their efforts, the Cougars faced constant pressure from the Regents and fell behind quickly. After a few more missed shots and fouls, success at the hands of Schneider who would drain her first three of the day to cut their deficit down to five.
Despite these bursts from CUC, the Regents would continue to outscore them and close the first ten minutes with a 19-12 disadvantage.
SECOND QUARTER
In the second stretch of the first half, CUC continued to battle with several player contributing key plays. After a few missed attempts from beyond the arc, the Cougars found success with another triple from Schneider to cut the Cougar deficit to 19-15. The CUC defense also stepped up with steals from
Khaliah Reid (Naperville, Ill.) and
Emma Nickerson (Mich.) and they worked to bring the game back within reach. A midrange specialty jumper from
Mikalah Ellis (Chicago, Ill.) would bring the score to 19-17. A fastbreak jumper from Nickerson would level the score at 21, while a tough jumper from Reid would give the Cougars the lead back.
The Cougars would jump out to a 25-21 lead off a bucket from Nimsakont, but the Regents would quickly respond and level things up at 25 apiece to close the half.
THIRD QUARTER
Fresh into the second half, the Cougars struggled to get going offensively, but held strong on the defensive end. Nimsakont would break things open for the Cougars with a three, but the quick exchange of points between the two teams would keep things a one possession game.
The Regents would take the lead late in the quarter, jumping ahead 31-29. With another three from Nimsakont putting the Cougars back ahead, the Regents would steal momentum right back with a few hit shots and forced turnovers. Despite some defensive rebounds and attempts to close the gap, the score remained in favor of Rockford as the time wound down in the quarter, and CUC headed into the final ten minutes down 37-32.
FOURTH QUARTER
With time officially running down, the Cougars needed to get things rolling and looked to some fresh legs to do so.
Alina Paul (Elmwood Park, Ill.) leveled the game at 37 after two quick buckets. Ellis remained active on the floor for CUC and picked up a block as well as a handful of rebounds and kept the Cougars moving late in the quarter. Nimsakont would put the Cougars back ahead by one after a layup and free throw, but the Regents would once again regain the lead.
Free throws would become a key component late in the game while the game-tying point would come off a free throw from Reid. In the final moments of the game, Reid would find her way back to the charity stripe and give the Cougars a 48-47 lead with less than ten seconds on the clock. After Rockford was able to get shot off, the rebound and hold from Reid would secure the one point victory.
This concludes the 2024-25 CUC women's basketball season as the Cougars missed the NACC tournament with a final record of 5-20 and a conference record of 4-12. Keep up with all things CUCWBB in the offseason by following @CUCWBBall on X and Instagram while updates, such as rosters and schedules, can be found at cucougars.com.
