(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia women's basketball hosted Rochester on Saturday afternoon for a WHAC conference matchup. The Cardinals came in 7-8 overall (4-3 WHAC) while the Warriors entered receiving votes with a 12-6 record (8-1 WHAC). CUAA used a strong third quarter to surge ahead and survived a late Rochester rally to earn an 86-79 win.
This is the Cardinals' fourth straight win against Rochester and they now lead the all-time series 10-3. The Cards have now shot 50% or better from the field in three of their last four games.
Alize Tripp led the team with 20 points, making the 20-point threshold in back to back games. Asaria Turman finished second with 18 points. Samantha Dorn came in third with 13 points. Tripp and Julia Hirt both had a career high 3 assists on the day. Izzy Viau had a team and career high 9 rebounds while adding 8 points.
After Rochester scored the first 5 points, Alize Tripp drained a pair of free throws to begin a 20-2 run for the Cardinals. Ellie Kallner hit a triple and Izzy Viau knocked down a jumpshot. Alize Tripp made a 3-pointer and both Asaria Turman and Julia Hirt added inside baskets. Izzy Viau capped the run with a triple and CUAA led 20-14 after the first quarter.
Keirslynn Lawless made a layup over a double team to open scoring in the second quarter. Alize Tripp added two free throws and Asaria Turman converted in the paint. Samantha Dorn made two free throws and Julia Hirt kept the Cardinals offense going with a 3-pointer. Concordia maintained their lead with a driving layup from Alize Tripp in the last minute and CUAA led 39-33 at halftime.
Alize Tripp started the third quarter with two strong drives to the basket. Samantha Dorn knocked down a 3-pointer and Asaria Turman scored a wide open layup after a feed from Izzy Viau. Ellie Kallner drained a triple and Julia Hirt made two free throws. Samantha Dorn stayed hot from behind the arc with two more 3-pointers in the quarter and Asaria Turman added an old-fashioned three-point play. CUAA led 67-47 after the third quarter.
Rochester opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to pull within single digits. Alize Tripp ended the run with two free throws and Asaria Turman powered through her defender for a basket. Izzy Viau and Keirslynn Lawless scored layups and Ellie Kallner made a triple, but Rochester pulled within 5 points when they cut the deficit to 82-77 with 25 seconds to play. Free throws from Alize Tripp and Izzy Viau helped to secure the lead and a block from Samantha Dorn closed out the 86-79 victory.
Concordia will play their next game on Wednesday, January 12 at Lourdes. Tip-off is at 5:30pm.
