(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia women's basketball hosted Cornerstone on Tuesday evening as they looked to wrap up games before the Thanksgiving holiday. The Cardinals came in 3-4 overall while the Golden Eagles entered 1-7. CUAA trailed at halftime but outscored Cornerstone 50-34 in the second half for a 74-64 win.
Alize Tripp recorded career highs with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while also recording her first career double-double, going a perfect 12-12 from the free-throw line. Samantha Dorn finished second with 14 points. Mackenzie Howe was also in double figures with 12 points.
Cornerstone opened the game with 6 unanswered points, but a pair of free throws from Alize Tripp started a 6-0 CUAA run to tie the game. Izzy Viau hit a layup and Samantha Dorn tied the game with a basket. Stephanie Abraham and Taylor Leatherman converted inside and a layup from Alize Tripp put CUAA ahead 13-12 after the first quarter.
Cornerstone went on an 11-0 run to retake the lead in the second quarter. The Cardinals countered as Mackenzie Howe started a 9-0 run with a basket inside. Alize Tripp made a layup and a triple and Samantha Dorn drove for a basket to cut the deficit to 23-22. Julia Hirt added a layup as time wound down but the Cardinals trailed 30-24 at halftime.
Alize Tripp drove by her defender and scored for Concordia's first third-quarter basket. Kierslynn Lawless made a layup to spark a 10-0 CUAA run that put the team back in the lead. Zaria Mitchner recorded the go-ahead layup at the 3:15 mark to for a 36-35 advantage. Mackenzie Howe powered inside for a basket late in the quarter and Alize Tripp had two more free throws. Ellie Kallner came up with a block in the final seconds to secure a 43-41 CUAA lead after the third quarter.
Alize Tripp started an 8-2 run in the fourth quarter with a layup. Mackenzie Howe and Samantha Dorn added free throws as the Cardinals continued to pull ahead. Alize Tripp gave the team a double-digit lead with a drive to the basket and Mackenzie Howe continued to score and draw free throws inside. Mackenzie Maciejewski notched a layup in the final seconds and CUAA secured the 74-64 win.
Concordia will play their next game on Wednesday, December 1 at Madonna. Tip-off is at 5:30pm.