(Seward, NE) Concordia University Ann Arbor Women's Basketball returned to action Saturday afternoon for the Concordia Invitational Tournament (CIT) consolation game against the Falcons from Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW). The Cards controlled the game from the jump, growing the lead to as much as 20 in a commanding 67-55 win over CUW. Taylor Leatherman was named to the CIT All-Tournament Team for her performances in both games.
Samantha Dorn led the Cardinals with 22 points in the game followed by Zaria Mitchner with 15 and Taylor Leatherman with 13. Mitchner had a team and career high 13 rebounds, as Leatherman led the team with 4 assists.
Emily McCalla drew first blood for the Cardinals in just her second start of the season with a layup off of Taylor Leatherman's assist. Samantha Dorn hit all three of her shots from behind the arc in the quarter to help Ann Arbor grow a six-point lead. Dorn finished the quarter with 13 points, leading the Cards to a 12-point advantage.
Zaria Mitchner forced a steal and then took it coast-to-coast to start off the second period for CUAA. Dorn continued to stay hot from deep, sinking another two as the Cardinal lead climbed to 20. Mitchner ended the half with 11 points and 8 rebounds which played a large factor in CUAA taking an 18-point advantage into the half.
The Falcons opened up the second half with four points until Taylor Leatherman drained a triple. CUW scored 9 unanswered points late in the third quarter to bring their deficit down to 12. The Cards were outscored 19-10 in the third quarter, which made it a 9-point game with a quarter remaining.
The first half of the final quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with the CUAA lead staying around ten. Emily McCalla drew a key charge late in the quarter, after which Ann Arbor closed out the game with the Falcons resorting to fouling for clock management.
Next up for the Cardinals is a return to WHAC play with a game at Lourdes on Wednesday, February 1st. Tipoff is set for 7:30 in Sylvania, Ohio.
