(Grand Rapids, MI) – Concordia women's basketball resumed WHAC play on Saturday afternoon when they traveled to Aquinas. The Cardinals entered 10-4 overall with a 5-2 conference record while the Saints came in 8-7 overall and 4-2 in the WHAC. CUAA hung around throughout the game, but despite several Concordia rallies the Saints came away with the 58-50 victory.
Coming off her first career triple double (15 points, 10 rebs, 10 assists) on Monday night against Miami Ohio Hamilton, Katie Snow (JR/Grosse Pointe Woods, MI) posted another strong effort leading the Cardinals with 17 points.. Asaria Turman (FR/Ypsilanti, MI) recorded her first double-double with a career-high 10 points and 12 rebounds. J'May Simmons also scored 10 points in the game.
Aquinas scored first with a triple, but baskets from J'May Simmons and Asaria Turman put Concordia in front. Katie Snow scored a reverse layup and Turman added another inside basket. A layup from Aly Lenz (SO/Fenton, MI) gave the Cardinals a 10-5 lead and the team maintained their lead throughout the 1st quarter. Asaria Turman added a pair of free throws and a buzzer-beating bankshot to give CUAA a 16-11 lead after the 1st.
Katie Snow started the 2nd quarter with a triple. A layup from Aly Lenz gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the game with a 21-11 advantage. However, Aquinas fought back with a 10-0 run over the next 2:23 to tie the game. Madison Birchmeier (FR/Corunna, MI) put Concordia back ahead with a pair of free throws, but the Saints closed the half on a 9-0 run to take a 30-23 lead at halftime.
Both teams struggled offensively to begin the 3rd quarter. The first basket came when Aquinas scored at the 6:40 mark and the next points came on two Aquinas free throws with 3:37 to go. Concordia began a flurry of activity after J'May Simmons scored a basket and Katie Snow made an offensive putback off the missed free throw. The duo combined to score all 12 CUAA points in the 3rd quarter with Simmons cutting the deficit to 36-35 after a midrange jumper. Concordia trailed 37-35 after the 3rd.
Aquinas started the 4th quarter on a 5-0 run, but Katie Snow and Madison Birchmeier drilled 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 1 point again. After a pair of Aquinas baskets Katie Snow converted an old-fashioned three-point play to keep the Cardinals alive. The Saints were able to surge ahead with a 7-0 run, but Concordia continued to fight with Averi Bebble (SO/Gaylord, MI) making a pair of free throws and Asaria Turman scoring inside. However, as time ran down Aquinas was able to run out the clock with free throws and secure a 58-50 win.
Concordia will return home to host Cornerstone on Wednesday, January 8. Tip-off is set for 6pm.