(Mequon, WI) - The Concordia Cardinals Women's Basketball team headed across Lake Michigan for the 71st annual Concordia Invitational Tournament (CIT). The Cardinals competed in the tournament's first game as they would take on the Concordia Nebraska Bulldogs in the opening round.
Ann Arbor would come into this game with an overall record of 13-5, while Nebraska came in at 15-2 and ranked #8 in the NAIA.
FIRST QUARTER
Each team made their first basket of the game as Taylor Leatherman knocked down a 3-pointer for CUAA's first lead. Nebraska continued on a 10-2, but the Cardinals would not go quiet. Leatherman and Abby Long hit three straight shots to bring CUAA to within 3 at the midpoint of the quarter.
Back-to-back threes from Emily McCalla and Jess Andrew forced a Nebraska timeout as the Cards had a 17-14 lead. Long would finish out the quarter scoring the final 8 CUAA points as the Cards had a 25-16 lead after the first.
SECOND QUARTER
Taylor Leatherman opened the scoring with a layup. Both teams would then go scoreless until the 5-minute mark when Chloe Bisballe recorded a bucket. Nebraska would pull within five in the final couple minutes before a 5-0 run from Abby Long gave the Cards a 10-point lead at the half.
FIRST HALF LEADERS
Both Abby Long and Taylor Leatherman recorded 10 points throughout the half. Leatherman also led the team with four rebounds and two assists at the half.
THIRD QUARTER
Taylor Leatherman and Abby Long continued their hot shooting as they opened the second half with back-to-back 3's. Following a couple of CUNE baskets Emily McCalla stopped their run with a layup of her own. Julia Hirt would bring it back to a 10-point game after recording a 3 of her own.
Nebraska ended the quarter on a 13-2 run for a 53-52 lead heading into the final period.
FOURTH QUARTER
The first CUAA bucket of the quarter was a shot from Abby Long. That basket was followed by an Alexx Braddock layup to keep it a 1-point game. Long and Chloe Bisballe would give the Cards a 3-point lead with 6 minutes remaining. The Bulldogs though would go on a huge 12-0 run to take control of the game with 20 seconds left before a Julia Hirt 3-pointer.
FINAL STAT LEADERS
Abby Long led all scorers with 23 points throughout the game. Taylor Leather recorded 9 rebounds, while Long and Leatherman each had 3 assists.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will play in the consolation game tomorrow afternoon and will play the loser of the Wisconsin/Chicago game later tonight at 1:30 PM EST.
