(Lima, OH) – Concordia women's basketball resumed WHAC conference play when they traveled to the University of Northwestern Ohio on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals entered the game 6-4 overall and 4-2 in WHAC play while the Racers came in 4-8 overall and 2-3 in conference. After trading baskets early in the game, CUAA pulled ahead and maintained their lead for an 86-72 win.
J'May Simmons led Concordia with 18 points in the game. Tris'styn Williams (JR/New Baltimore, MI) tied for second with 15 points and a team-high 9-rebounds and 2 blocks. Madison Birchmeier (FR/Corunna, MI) also scored a career-best 15 points, going a perfect 5-5 from behind the arc. Aly Lenz (SO/Fenton, MI) and Katie Snow (JR/Grosse Pointe Woods, MI) were in double figures as well with 12 and 11 points respectively.
J'May Simmons knocked down a jumper for the first basket of the game. Katie Snow hit an early 3-pointer, but an 8-2 run by the Racers lifted them to a 10-7 lead. Back-to-back buckets from J'May Simmons pulled Concordia ahead again, but the Racers countered with a 5-0 run. Layups from Stephanie Abraham (SO/Marine City, MI) and Simmons tied the game 15-15 and Samantha Dorn (FR/Brownstown, MI) put the team ahead for good with a layup. A pair of triples from Aly Lenz gave CUAA a 23-17 lead after the 1st quarter.
Tris'styn Williams scored in the paint for Concordia's first basket in the 2nd quarter. The Cardinals began to heat up from behind the arc with 3-pointers from Madison Birchmeier, Aly Lenz, and Katie Snow. Birchmeier hit another triple and Paige Johnson (SO/Howell, MI) converted an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Cardinals their largest lead of the 1st half with a 42-28 advantage. However, the Racers closed the half on an 11-4 run and CUAA held a 46-39 lead at halftime.
Aly Lenz scored the Cardinals' first points in the 3rd quarter with a triple. Tris'styn Williams made an offensive rebound and a putback as Concordia began to rebuild its lead. Asaria Turman (FR/Ypsilanti, MI) drained a pair of free throws and J'May Simmons made a jumper off the glass. Madison Birchmeier knocked down another 3-pointer and both Stephanie Abraham and Tris'styn Williams converted layups. CUAA led 65-54 after the 3rd quarter.
Tris'styn Williams scored the first Concordia basket in the 4th quarter. J'May Simmons scored in the paint and Madison Birchmeier knocked down another triple. Tris'styn Williams and Katie Snow made layups as the Cardinals continued to answer the Racers' baskets. Madison Birchmeier made her fifth 3-pointer late in the game, and Samantha Dorn drained a pair of free throws in the final minute. As time expired, CUAA secured the 86-72 victory.
Concordia improves to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in WHAC play. The Cardinals will head on the road for their next game on Wednesday, December 18 when they travel to Goshen. Tip-off is set for 7pm
