(Goshen, IN) – Concordia women's basketball played a non-conference game on Wednesday evening when they traveled to Goshen. The Cardinals came in 7-4 overall while the Maple Leafs entered 6-5 on the year. While both teams traded leads throughout the game, CUAA pulled ahead late in the contest and held on to secure a 70-65 win.
Katie Snow led the Concordia offense with a season high 22 points in the game along with a career high 9 steals. Tris'styn Williams finished second with 10 points in the match. Snow, Williams, and J'May Simmons also tied for a team-high 5 rebounds. Madison Birchmeier finished third with 9 points going 3-5 from behind the arc.
J'May Simmons opened scoring in the game with a 3-pointer. Katie Snow started the game with strong play, making a pair of layups in the first few minutes. Concordia maintained a narrow lead throughout most of the 1st quarter with Aly Lenz adding a basket, but Goshen pulled ahead 12-11 at the 1:46 mark. Tris'styn Williams scored with 1 second remaining to reclaim the lead for CUAA after the 1st.
After over 2 minutes of scoreless basketball, Samantha Dorn drained a pair of free throws for the first points of the 2nd quarter. Goshen pulled ahead with a 3-pointer to take a 20-17 lead at the 6:19 mark, but CUAA fought back with baskets from Stephanie Abraham and Asaria Turman. The lead continued to change hands with Katie Snow making a steal and a layup and Tris'styn Williams scoring back-to-back baskets. After a late 3-pointer from Paige Johnson and a buzzer-beating triple from Madison Birchmeier, Concordia led 33-31 at halftime.
Tris'styn Williams scored the first basket in the 3rd quarter. Goshen used a 7-2 run to briefly retake the lead, but a triple from Madison Birchmeier put the Cardinals back on top. Katie Snow converted an old-fashioned three point play and added a layup to continue pacing the Concordia offense. Baskets in the last minute from J'May Simmons and Snow led to a 51-49 CUAA lead after the 3rd.
After Goshen tied the game 20 seconds into the 4th, Tris'styn Williams scored to put Concordia ahead. Birchmeier knocked down her third 3-pointer of the game, but Goshen tied the game for the 10th time at the 5:46 mark knotting the score at 56.
The Cardinals began to take advantage of the double bonus with Aly Lenz and Katie Snow draining important free throws. Concordia held a 67-65 lead in the last minute and made a critical defensive stop on Goshen to stay ahead. Katie Snow secured the victory with 3 free throws in the final 18 seconds and CUAA claimed the 70-65 victory.
Concordia improves to 8-4 overall with the win. The Cardinals will remain on the road when they travel to (RV) Grace College on Friday, December 20. Tip-off is set for 7pm.
