(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia women's basketball returned home to host Rochester on Saturday afternoon. The game was closely contested and went down to the final minute, but the Warriors claimed the 78-72 win.
Taylor Leatherman led the team with 25 points while tying Keirslynn Lawless with a team-high 11 rebounds. Samantha Dorn was second with 16 points. Julia Hirt was third with 14 points.
Ellie Kallner had the first Cardinal basket with a layup. Julia Hirt and Taylor Leatherman drove for layups and a 7-4 lead, but Rochester countered with a 7-0 run. Hirt responded with two free throws and Zaria Mitchner converted an "and-1". CUAA trailed 23-13 after the 1st.
Taylor Leatherman started a 10-0 run with a basket to start the 2nd. Keirslynn Lawless made a putback on a missed free throw, and triples from Samantha Dorn and Leatherman tied the game. Taylor Leatherman continued to pace the offense with more baskets and Emily McCalla finished an "and-1". Keirslynn Lawless scored a pair of inside baskets and CUAA trailed 41-36 at halftime.
Taylor Leatherman had the first Concordia basket in the 3rd with a 3-pointer. Samantha Dorn had a layup and a triple to tie the match 44-44. Dorn added another drive and both Taylor Leatherman and Julia Hirt drained free throws. The Cardinals kept the match close and trailed 58-55 after the 3rd.
Rochester jumped out to a 66-56 lead at the 6:42 mark of the 4th, but an 11-0 run put Concordia out in front. A 3-pointer from Izzy Hadley and two triples from Julia Hirt gave the Cardinals 9 points in just over a minute. Taylor Leatherman capped the run with a go-ahead layup.
Samantha Dorn knocked down a triple and Taylor Leatherman made free throws to keep a 72-71 lead. However, Rochester was able to pull back ahead and make their free throws in the last minute to secure a 78-72 win.
The Cardinals will travel to UNOH next Wednesday, January 18 at 5:30pm.