(Cedarville, OH) – Concordia women's basketball competed in the first round of the NCCAA Midwest Regional against Grace. Both teams met back in December with CUAA claiming a 74-64 win on the road. Concordia fought hard with multiple comeback efforts throughout the game, but the team was unable to overcome an early deficit in a 77-58 loss.

Katie Snow (JR/Grosse Pointe Woods, MI) and Madison Birchmeier (FR/Corunna, MI) tied for the team lead with 14 points apiece. Snow and Paige Johnson (SO/Howell, MI) tied for the team high with 7 rebounds each.

After Grace started the game on a 5-0 run, J'May Simmons used a soft jumper to put Concordia on the board. Madison Birchmeier scored on a steal and a layup, but the Lancers jumped out to an 18-4 lead at the 2:20 mark. Lindsey Ferrington (FR/Flint, MI) ended the run with a shot-fake and a drive and Madison Birchmeier tacked on a triple. CUAA trailed 22-9 after the 1^st.

Jade Finfera (FR/Delta, OH) banked in a 3-pointer and Katie Snow added a triple to cut CUAA's deficit to 25-15. Stephanie Abraham (SO/Marine City, MI) converted an old-fashioned three-point play as the Cardinals continued to battle on offense. However, Grace continued to drain shots from behind the arc as they maintained a double-digit advantage. Madison Birchmeier and Lindsey Ferrington knocked down 3-point shots in the final minute, but Grace led 38-26 at halftime.

Tris'styn Williams (JR/New Baltimore, MI) made a free throw and a layup to start the Concordia offense in the 3^rd, pulling the team within 10 points with a 39-29 score. Katie Snow scored a layup and Jerrica Neal (SR/Gary, IN) knocked down a 3-pointer, but the Cardinals trailed 55-35 after the 3^rd.

Shelbea James (SR/Dexter, MI) drained a pair of free throws for Concordia's first points in the 4^th. Averi Bebble (SO/Gaylord, MI) added a scoop shot, beginning a 17-4 CUAA run in a last-ditch comeback effort. Katie Snow drilled a 3-pointer and Madison Birchmeier added back-to-back triples during the run, pulling the Cardinals within 14 points with a 64-50 Grace lead.

Paige Johnson knocked down a 3-pointer as well, but the Lancers were able to rebuild their advantage. Jerrica Neal and Shelbea James added late free throws, but Grace claimed the win by a score of 77-58.