(Winona Lake, IN) – Concordia women's basketball competed in the second round of the NCCAA National Championship on Thursday, facing #2 University of Northwestern. The #3 seeded Cardinals came in after downing #6 Grace 74-55 while the Eagles entered after a 65-30 win over #7 Columbia International. CUAA made a thrilling comeback late in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but Northwestern pulled ahead in the extra frame to win 75-69.
Katie Snow led the Cardinals with 19 points. J'may Simmons was second with 11 points. Both Snow and Simmons tied for the team-high with 9 rebounds. Taylor Leatherman finished third with 9 points.
J'may Simmons had the first basket for Concordia to end a 4-0 Northwestern run. Averi Bebble drove for a layup and Samantha Dorn made two free throws, but the Eagles still held an early 10-6 lead. J'may Simmons knocked down a triple and Averi Bebble scored on an offensive putback. Taylor Leatherman hit a 3-pointer and Katie Snow made a go-ahead old-fashioned three-point play. CUAA held a 21-18 lead after the 1st quarter.
Averi Bebble made a pair of free throws to start the 2nd quarter. J'may Simmons made an offensive putback and Taylor Leatherman added a basket. Stephanie Abraham converted an old-fashioned three-point play for a 30-22 lead at the 4:31 mark. Taylor Leatherman added a late offensive putback and CUAA led 32-28 at halftime.
Katie Snow made a pair of free throws for Concordia's first points in the 3rd. J'may Simmons knocked down a short jumper, but Northwestern jumped out to a 42-37 lead with 3:08 remaining. Allyson Hunt knocked down a triple and Katie Snow hit a deep 3-pointer as the Cardinals looked to stay in range. Snow added a late layup but CUAA trailed 51-47 after the 3rd.
J'may Simmons had Concordia's first basket in the 4th. Katie Snow scored under the basket, but the Cardinals found themselves trailing 57-51 at the 4:09 mark. Snow added an offensive putback after multiple offensive rebounds as CUAA kept battling back.
Asaria Turman was critical to the team's late comeback with a basket in the paint. Katie Snow forced a crucial turnover by jumping in front of a pass and drawing a foul. Turman scored again in the paint to cut the deficit to 58-57, and after the Eagles split a pair of free throws Turman tied the game with another inside basket. The contest headed to overtime tied 59-59.
Northwestern started the overtime on a 5-0 run, but Katie Snow ended the drought with a pair of free throws and converted an old-fashioned three-point play to tie the game 64-64. While the Cardinals forced multiple defensive stops, several promising open shots would not fall. Asaria Turman scored again inside and Samantha Dorn added a late triple, but CUAA fell 75-69.
Concordia will now play in the third-place game against #1 seed Southwestern Christian. The game will be on Saturday, March 20 at 10:00am.
