(Winona Lake, IN) – Concordia women's basketball faced off against the host Grace College Lancers on Wednesday afternoon in the first round of the NCCAA National Championship. The Cardinals entered as the #3 seed in the bracket while the Lancers received the #6 seed. CUAA played a solid all-around game and pulled away for a 74-55 win.
J'may Simmons led Concordia with 18 points and 8 rebounds. Stephanie Abraham had a career-high 17 points, going 3-3 from behind the arc. Averi Bebble was third with 9 points and a team-high 5 assists.
J'may Simmons had Concordia's first basket to tie the game 2-2. Simmons added an old-fashioned three-point play and Taylor Leatherman scored off an assist from Alize Tripp. Grace took a 10-7 lead, but Samantha Dorn used a jumper and a 3-pointer to tie the contest 12-12. The Cardinals used an 8-0 run to take the lead and CUAA held a 20-14 advantage after the 1st.
Averi Bebble had the first Cardinal basket in the 2nd. Paige Johnson and Stephanie Abraham scored to keep Concordia in front. Taylor Leatherman made a layup and Alize Tripp hit a corner three. A triple by J'may Simmons with 7 seconds remaining gave the Cardinals a 36-26 led heading into halftime.
Katie Snow scored the first 3rd-quarter basket after nearly three scoreless minutes. Stephanie Abraham started a solid second half with a fast break layup. J'may Simmons knocked down a jumper and Asaria Turman split a pair of free throws. Stephanie Abraham scored the last 7 CUAA points of the quarter with an offensive putback and two 3-pointers. CUAA led 51-34 after the 3rd.
Paige Johnson started the 4th quarter with a triple to extend Concordia's lead. J'may Simmons drained a pair of free throws and both Averi Bebble and Stephanie Abraham knocked down 3-pointers. Averi Bebble added a pair of running layups and Asaria Turman scored in the paint.
Eleven Cardinals scored a point with Kierslynn Lawless making a layup off the high glass and Mackenzie Howe scoring inside in the last couple of minutes. CUAA secured the 74-55 win as time expired.
Concordia advances to the second round of the winner's bracket where they play #2 seed University of Northwestern tomorrow at 1:45pm.
