(Adrian, MI) – Concordia women's basketball traveled to rival #14 Siena Heights on Saturday afternoon for a critical WHAC matchup. The Cardinals came in 12-6 overall and 7-4 in the WHAC while the Saints came in 18-1 overall with a perfect 10-0 WHAC mark. CUAA stayed within striking distance throughout the entire contest, but Siena Heights came away with a 77-66 win.
Katie Snow (JR/Grosse Pointe Woods, MI) led Concordia with 17 points in the game. J'May Simmons had a double-double with 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Averi Bebble (SO/Gaylord, MI) was also in double figures with 11 points.
Stephanie Abraham (SO/Marine City, MI) made a layup for the first Concordia basket, ending a 6-0 Siena Heights run. Averi Bebble added an early bankshot, but the Saints jumped out to a 16-6 lead. J'May Simmons cut into the deficit with a 3-pointer, however Siena Heights closed the 1st quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 23-9 lead.
After Katie Snow made a steal on the floor, Averi Bebble ran nearly the length of the court and converted an old-fashioned three-point play. Samantha Dorn (FR/Brownstown, MI) drained a 3-pointer as the Cardinals looked to stay in the game. Paige Johnson (SO/Howell, MI) made a midrange jumper in the final minutes and Katie Snow drove baseline for a layup while also adding a triple. CUAA trailed 33-24 at halftime.
Averi Bebble knocked down a 3-pointer just 27 seconds into the 3rd to pull Concordia within 6 points. Paige Johnson hit a jumpshot and Bebble added another triple, but the Saints continued to stay ahead by double digits. Katie Snow continued to lead the offense with a 3-pointer and an old-fashioned three-point play, helping to keep the game within reach. Asaria Turman (FR/Ypsilanti, MI) made an impact in the paint with a layup and a free throw and CUAA trailed 54-41 after the 3rd.
Katie Snow drained a pair of free throws to open scoring in the 4th, but an 8-0 run lifted the Saints to a 62-43 lead. A basket in the paint from J'May Simmons started a 9-2 Concordia run which was capped off by a triple from Samantha Dorn. A high-arcing 3-pointer from Lindsey Ferrington (FR/Flint, MI) made it a single-digit game at the 4:04 mark with the Cardinals trailing 66-57.
CUAA got as close as 7 points after an old-fashioned three-point play by J'May Simmons at the 1:20 mark cut the deficit to 69-62. However, Siena Heights was able to make their free throws and hold on for a 77-66 win.
Concordia will now begin preparation for the 69th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament, hosted this year by Concordia-Chicago. The Cardinals will play #1-ranked Concordia-Nebraska in the first round on Friday, January 24 at 1:00pm.
