(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia women's basketball held their home opener on Tuesday evening when they hosted Mount Vernon Nazarene. The Cardinals entered 0-1 after nearly upsetting #15 Taylor while the Cougars came in 1-0 after a 76-52 win over WHAC member Madonna. The game featured several scoring runs by both teams, but MVNU built a wide enough margin to defeat CUAA 75-61.
J'May Simmons led Concordia in scoring with 13 points in the game. Aly Lenz (SO/Fenton, MI) finished second with 7 points in the match while Asaria Turman (FR/Ypsilanti, MI) and Jerrica Neal (SR/Gary, IN) chipped in 6 points apiece. Katie Snow (JR/Grosse Pointe Woods, MI) led the Cardinals with 10 rebounds.
After falling behind 8-0, Katie Snow drained a pair of free throws to put Concordia on the board. Jerrica Neal added a basket and Tris'styn Williams (JR/New Baltimore, MI) added two free throws near the midway point of the 1st quarter. The Cougars built a double-digit lead with a 21-8 advantage at the 2:21 mark, but the Cardinals closed the quarter on an 11-3 run. Aly Lenz scored 5 of the 11 points during the run including a triple, and CUAA trailed 24-19 after the 1st.
The Cougars went on an 11-0 run to open the 2nd quarter. Asaria Turman ended the run with a power move in the post and a layup off the high glass. J'May Simmons knocked down a midrange jumper and a 3-pointer, but Mount Vernon Nazarene stayed in the lead. Paige Johnson (SO/Howell, MI) split the defense and drained a layup at the 1:15 mark and CUAA went to the locker room trailing 45-30.
Jerrica Neal scored the first Concordia basket in the 3rd, making a steal and a layup. Katie Snow used a slick feed through the defense to feed J'May Simmons for a basket just 30 seconds later. The Cougars took their largest lead of the game with 3:30 remaining in the quarter when they went up 58-36. The Cardinals kept fighting with a triple from Madison Birchmeier (FR/Corunna, MI) and pair of free throws from Stephanie Abraham (SO/Marine City, MI). CUAA trailed 61-45 after the 3rd quarter.
Aly Lenz scored the Cardinals' first bucket in the 4th, splitting the defense to begin an 8-1 run. Asaria Turman used a power move for a bucket and J'May Simmons scored to cut the deficit to 66-55. While Concordia appeared to be starting a rally, the Cougars were able to maintain their lead and held on for a 75-61 win.
Concordia will remain at home on Friday, November 1 when the team hosts Governors State University. Tip-off is set for 7pm.