(Adrian, MI) – Concordia women's basketball traveled to rival Siena Heights on Wednesday night for another key WHAC contest. The Cardinals overcame two 13-point deficits with a scrappy effort to force overtime, grinding out a 76-73 win in extra time.
Taylor Leatherman led the team with 22 points. Julia Hirt was second with 17 points. Samantha Dorn was in double figures with 10 points. Ellie Kallner, Julia Hirt and Zaria Mitchner tied for a team-high 7 rebounds.
Taylor Leatherman opened scoring with a layup. Julia Hirt drove for two baskets and Izzy Hadley made a 3-pointer as the lead shifted back and forth. Keirslynn Lawless scored inside and Taylor Leatherman added a layup. CUAA trailed 18-13 after the 1st.
Taylor Leatherman ended a 7-0 SHU run with a triple. Leatherman added a jumper and a 3-pointer to keep the Cardinal offense going, but the Saints continued to lead by double digits. Zaria Mitchner drove for a late layup and CUAA trailed 34-23 at halftime.
Julia Hirt had two free throws to start the 3rd. Izzy Viau made an offensive putback and Hirt knocked down a step-back 3-pointer to pull within single digits. Taylor Leatherman, Viau and Samantha Dorn added transition baskets to keep the game within reach. After Zaria Mitchner made a steal and layup at the buzzer, CUAA trailed 47-40.
Zaria Mitchner hit a jumpshot early in the 4th. Julia Hirt used a triple, a layup and a free throw to trim the deficit to 50-48. Izzy Viau had a layup and Hirt drained two more free throws. An "and-1" from Keirslynn Lawless finally tied the game 55-55 and Samantha Dorn hit the go-ahead jumper.
While SHU came back to lead 60-59, Taylor Leatherman scored through heavy defensive pressure to put the Cardinals back up. Both teams traded missed free throws down the stretch, but a buzzer-beater from the Saints tied the game 63-63 sending it to overtime.
Taylor Leatherman opened the extra frame with a layup. Leatherman added a jumper and baskets from Izzy Viau and Samantha Dorn kept the team ahead. Zaria Mitchner chipped in a layup for a 73-68 lead, but SHU rallied to tie the match 73-73.
With 3 seconds remaining, a quick transition feed from Mitchner to Samantha Dorn led to a successful go-ahead "and-1". The Cardinal defense held to secure the 76-73 victory.
Concordia will return home this Saturday at 1pm to host Rochester.
