(Rochester, MI) - The Concordia Cardinals Women's Basketball headed down the road to Rochester, Michigan for their first road matchup of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) season taking on the Warriors from Rochester University on Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals entered the match with an overall record of 3-2 and 1-0 in WHAC play. The Warriors would come into the Saturday matchup at 0-4 and this would be the first game of their WHAC season.
The first CUAA points would come following five straight Warriors points as Izzy Viau would tally a layup with the assist from Samantha Dorn. RU went on a 10-0 run for the 15-2 lead. The Cards would attempt to inch their way back into the game as Taylor Leatherman tallied a free throw and a tip-in and Asaria Turman recorded a layup. One point would be scored in the final four minutes of the first period as Rochester would hit a single free throw and take a 16-7 lead.
Heading to the second quarter, teams would trade baskets throughout the first three minutes. The Warriors would not be able to extend their lead much further than the 11 points that it was at as the two teams battled back and forth. Emily McCalla would hit a couple of three-point shots in the second quarter to try and spark the Cards to come back. The score at the halftime break would be 36-24 with the advantage going to Rochester.
Dorn would grab the first CUAA points of the half hitting a pair of free throws. After almost three minutes of scoreless ball, Monae Palmer would grab a free throw and Asaria Turman would make a layup for a single-digit difference. The Cardinals ended the third period on a 10-5 run with points coming from a couple of Leatherman, McCalla, and Palmer free throws followed by a Leatherman and Palmer layup.
Grabbing the first points of the final quarter was Palmer driving through the lane for a layup. Three minutes later the Cards drew within six points on a Leatherman layup. A 10-0 run from the Warriors though would be the nail in the coffin for the Cardinals, putting a 16-point deficit with under two minutes remaining.
The Cardinals will return to the Cardinal Fieldhouse to continue WHAC play against the Northwestern Ohio Racers on Wednesday, November 16 with tip-off at 5:30 PM.