RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Cougars put on some incredible performances this week, including breaking another school record and taking down Dominican University. Check out all that's happening in Concordia University Chicago (CUC) athletics.
 
Women's Basketball (10-15, 9-9)
The women's basketball team rounded out it's season this past week with matchups against Dominican and Lakeland University.
 
In the home finale, the Cougars hosted Division Street rival Dominican. In an intense game, CUC never gave up and pulled out the victory. Naveya Jackson (Sun Prairie, Wis.) tied up the game at 67-67 with a successful and-one with 30 seconds left. She then made the game winning layup 10 seconds later for a Cougar win, 69-67. Jackson led the squad with 19 points, four rebounds, a block, and a steal. Ai Yonemura (Yachiyo, Chiba-Japan) followed with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Rounding out the Cougars in double digits was Sophia Pedraza (Carol Stream, Ill.). She contributed 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Grace King (Fairland, Ind.) totaled nine points and led with 11 rebounds.
 
In a must-win situation to make it into the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) playoffs, CUC traveled to Wisconsin to take on Lakeland. The Cougars gave it their all, but came up just short, 69-58. Jackson led the game with 20 points, two rebounds, and two steals. Pedraza added 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal. King ended the day with 10 points, six rebounds, and an assist.
 
The Cougars finished the season with a record of 10-15, 9-8 NACC.
 
Men's Basketball (8-17, 7-11)
The men's basketball team also played Dominican and Lakeland.
 
The Cougars first put on a spectacular performance against Dominican, defeating their rivals, 77-69. Darrian Williams (Garland, Texas) led the squad with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Aaron Brown (Joliet, Ill.)  recorded a double-double, adding 14 points, a team-high 10 rebounds, and an assist. Honore Yangoua (Williamstown, Ky.) contributed 12 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. Matthew Guthrie (Carlyle, Ill.)  ended the night with 11 points, four rebounds, and a block.
 
Before the game vs the Stars, the Cougars honored their six seniors:  Andreas Louloudis (Thessaloniki, Greece), Kenton Pryor (Hazel Crest, Ill.), Matthew Cardwell (Cincinnati, Ohio), Tommy Zimmer (Steger, Ill.), Ragen Morrison (New River, Ariz.).
 
The men's basketball team was also in a must-win scenario against Lakeland to head to the NACC Playoffs. Despite a hot start, the Cougars fell 92-78. Ryker Johnson (Fond du Lac, Wis.) led with 16 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Williams followed with 15 points, two rebounds, three steals, and an assist. Guthrie recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, along with two blocks. Brown also added 12 points and three rebounds.
 
This Cougars finished the season with a record of 8-17, 7-11 NACC.
 
Track & Field
Both track & field teams competed at the Margaret Bradley Invitational hosted by University of Chicago.
 
On the men's side, Austin Knight (Forest Park, Ill.) took fourth in the 400m with a time of 53.03. In the 60m, Kamren Hannah (El Paso, Texas) and Julian Switzer (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) finished fourth (7.02) and sixth (7.10), respectively, with personal best times. Vincent Scarnato (Pottstown, Pa.) placed fourth in the 200m with a new season best of 23.07. Hannah followed in fifth with a time of 23.10. Brandon Montford (Fairburn, Ga.) finished top five in the shot put with a mark of 13.54m.
 
On the women's side, Noor Sammour (Berwyn, Ill.) broke the school record in the high jump with a mark of 1.58m. This broke the previous record of 1.53m, which Sammour set last season. Izzy Fairless (Royal Oak, Mich.) secured sixth with a season best time of 2:28.54 in the 800m. Aniyah Isom (Chicago, Ill.) placed seventh in the 200m with a new season best of 27.86. Lydia Vonderhaar (Apple Valley, Minn.) finished seventh in the 60m with a time of 8.36. Devynn Woywod (Berwyn, Ill.)  finished top four in shot put with a throw of 9.34m. Velda Ndang (Plainfield, Ill.) took eighth with a throw of 9.09m.
 
The Cougars' next meet will be the NACC Indoor Championships in Ripon, Wis. on February 27-28.
 
Men's Volleyball (7-4, 1-1)
The Cougars began NACC play this week, taking on Rockford University and Benedictine University.
 
CUC breezes to a 3-0 sweep over Rockford to kick off conference action. Tyler Holubek (New Lenox, Ill.) led the team with 10 kills, six digs, an assist, an ace, and a block. Tyrise Armstrong (Grayslake, Ill.)  contributed six kills, an ace, a block, and nine digs. Alexander Ford (Skokie, Ill.)  added five kills, an ace, two blocks, and two digs.
 
The Cougars then played the Eagles of Benedictine. Jackson Stella (Hoffman Estates, Ill.)  led with five kills while Leon Gudzovski (Des Plaines, Ill.)  had four. Elijah Mosher (Clayton, Ohio) contributed 17 assists and five digs. Van Gaetto (Darien, Ill.) totaled four digs.
 
Against the Vikings, the Cougars came back to take the match, 3-1. Alexander Ford (Skokie, Ill.) led the Cougars with 18.5 points, 14 kills, seven blocks, three digs, and a service ace. Tyler Holubek (New Lenox, Ill.) followed with 16.5 points, 14 kills, 12 digs, five blocks, and two assists. Jackson Stella (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) totaled 10 kills, three blocks, two digs and a service ace, while Tyrise Armstrong (Grayslake, Ill.)  also had 10 kills and added eight digs, three blocks, and two service aces.
 
CUC continues NACC play in Geiseman Gymnasium on Thursday, February 26. The Cougars host Edgewood University at 7:00 pm. Then on Saturday, February 28, the Cougars fly to Virginia to face University of Lynchburg at 3:00 pm EST and then Virginia Wesleyan University at 5:00 pm EST.
 
Men's Tennis (0-7, 0-0)
The Cougars played three matches this weekend.
 
On Saturday, the Cougars played a double header against Ripon College and University of Wisconsin-Superior. Against Ripon,  Andres Villagran (El Paso, Texas) won at No. 5 singles, winning a competitive first set 6-3, before dominating the second set 6-0.  August Barnes (Sodus, Mich.) was also victorious, taking the match 6-1, 6-0 at No. 6 singles. However, the Cougars fell 5-2. In the second match of the day, CUC fell 7-0. Villagran, Barnes, and Sam Smith (Munster, Ind.) each played to three sets but were ultimately defeated.
 
On Sunday, CUC played Lawrence University. The Cougars secured the doubles point as Barnes and Collin Dickey (Frisco, Texas) won 6-2 at No. 2 doubles and  Kevin Bullens (River Forest, Ill.) and Kyle Pelzek (Hales Corners, Wis.) won 6-3 at No. 3 doubles. The Vikings controlled the singles matches and took the match 6-1 over the Cougars.
 
The Cougars' next match will be Monday, March 2 against St. John Fisher University.
 
Esports
Esports played two matches this week.
 
Smash fell to Waynesburg University, 2-0. In game one, every Cougar did their part, but it wasn't enough as the anchor, James Bruxvoort (Holland, Mich.), fell to Waynesburg's final player. In game two, Waynesburg kept their momentum. Their Ridley player took 10 of the Cougars' 12 stocks before CUC was able to take them down. While the Cougars took some stocks, they fell 12-4 in game two to lose the overall match, 2-0. CUC is now 2-1 and will play ISU White on Tuesday, February 24 at 6:00pm.
 
Overwatch played Evansville Aces Esports and fell 3-0. The Cougars were unable to grab a single point until the third game. In game one, Control, Evansville set the pace and took momentum, not allowing the Cougars to make a comeback, Connor Lewandowski's efforts on dps going 7-0-6 with 7k damage. In game two, CUC struggled against the Aces' pressure and aggressive playstyle, falling 3-0. Oscar Buitimea (Chicago, Ill.) went 2-2-5 with 5k healing and Ephraim Fisher (Yorkville, Ill.) 3-0-5 with 6k healing in game two. In the third game, the Cougars got a point, having the game tied 1-1 at the halfway point. Unfortunately, the Aces were able to adapt and claimed the final two points to sweep the series, 3-0. Luis Cortes (Maywood, Ill.) went 25-7-5 with 11k damage dealt and 14k damage blocked on tank. CUC is now 0-2 and will play Carthage on Friday, February 27 at 7:00 pm.
 
Baseball (0-3, 0-0)
The CUC baseball team opened its season down in Tennessee this weekend, playing three games.
 
On Friday, the Cougars played Rhodes College. While CUC took an early lead in the first, the team ultimately fell 11-7.  Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) went three-for-four at the plate while collecting two runs, along with two RBIs. Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) went two-for-four at the plate and collected one run, along with five RBIs and his first home run of the season. Cam Buckley (New Lenox, Ill.) went one-for-four at the place, grabbing two runs.
 
On Saturday, the Cougars held a tight battle with the University of Chicago. CUC tied the game up in the bottom of the eighth, but the Maroons were able to take the game 5-3. B. Mahler led at the plate, going three-for-four with two RBIs. Buckley went two-for-three with two stolen bases and one run. Ryan Renella (Bartlett, Ill.) went one-for-one while scoring a run. Four arms came into play for the Cougars as Dylan Scott (Bartlett, Ill.) went four innings while only allowing two hits with Jack Linko (New Lenox, Ill.), Blake Hickey (Chicago, Ill.), and Kyle Connelly (New Lenox, Ill.) all coming in relief.
 
To round out the trip, CUC faced Franklin College. The Cougars had a massive six-run inning in the ninth, but fell in a heartbreaker, 13-12. J. Mahler went three-for-five at the plate while collecting two runs and one RBI. Xavier Zagerman (Chandler, Ariz.) went two-for-three at the plate, accumulating three runs and two RBIs. Renella went two-for-five at the plate, getting one run and two RBIs.
 
The Cougars continue to travel the country, heading to Florida for Spring Break. This weekend, they play Grove City College on Saturday February 28 at 11:00 am EST. Then on March 1, they play Bluffton University at 10:30 am EST.
 
Dance
The Cougar dance team hosted the Winter Cougar Collegiate Dance Invite and finished second of seven teams. Ella Cook (Cicero, N.Y.) placed first overall in solos. The squad also took second in the Pom category.
 
The Cougars' next competition will be the Spring Cougar Collegiate Dance Invite on Saturday March 14, in Geiseman Gymnasium.
 
You can keep up with all things CUC Athletics on Twitter @CUChicagoSports, watch all the action at cucougars.com/coverage, and view all photos from the seasons here.