(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia women's basketball hosted Mount Vernon Nazarene for their home opener on Wednesday night. The game featured multiple lead changes and went right down to the wire, but the Cardinals fell by a score of 59-55.

Taylor Leatherman's double-double led the team with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Abby Long and Alexx Braddock were in double figures with 10 points apiece.

Taylor Leatherman made a free throw for Concordia's first point. Julia Hirt knocked down a triple and Jess Andrew drove for a go-ahead layup. MVNU countered with an 8-0 run to go up 12-6, but the Cardinals fought back with baskets from Hannah Vallier and Alexx Braddock. CUAA trailed 16-10 after the first quarter.

Taylor Leatherman ended a 5-0 MVNU run with a layup. Alexx Braddock drove for a pair of baskets and Leatherman paced the team with a drive and a 3-pointer. A late basket by Braddock trimmed CUAA's deficit to 28-25 at halftime.

Abby Long tied the game with a triple 13 seconds into the third quarter. Alexx Braddock converted free throws to take a 30-28 lead and the lead continued to shift with Long hitting another triple. Taylor Leatherman and Long drove for layups and Maren McCallister knocked down a jumper, but CUAA trailed 46-39 after the third quarter.

Brooke Brauher converted a reverse layup and added two free throws to start the 4th quarter. A Julia Hirt free throw and an Ellery Baker layup tied the game 46-46 with 7:02 to play. The lead continued to shift with Taylor Leatherman and Baker leading the offense.

Trailing 54-53 in the last minute, Abby Long made a slick feed over the defense to Taylor Leatherman for a go-ahead layup. However, MVNU was able to hit a 3-pointer on their next possession and held on to take a 59-55 win.

Concordia will travel to Lawrence Tech on Saturday, November 11 at 1pm.