Posted: Mar 01, 2024
(Adrian, MI) - Concordia women's basketball traveled to rival #2 seed Siena Heights on Friday evening in the WHAC tournament. The upset-minded Cardinals pushed the Saints down to the wire but the team fell 70-64.
Abby Long led all scorers with 30 points. Julia Hirt finished second with 15 points. Taylor Leatherman was also in double figures with 11 points. Long and Leatherman tied for a team-high 7 rebounds.
Abby Long drove for a layup to open scoring. Long and Jess Andrew knocked down triples and Alexx Braddock scored inside for an early 10-6 lead. Julia Hirt made a free throw and Abby Long continued to elude defenders with back-to-back 3-pointers. Free throws from Taylor Leatherman put CUAA up 19-13 after the first quarter.
Taylor Leatherman made a floater to start the second quarter. Alexx Braddock converted a layup and Abby Long drained another triple. Siena Heights used a 10-0 run to surge ahead into the lead until Long countered with a drive to the basket. Julia Hirt hit a high-arcing triple and Abby Long had another 3-pointer in the final minute. The game was tied 34-34 at halftime.
Julia Hirt ended a 6-0 Siena Heights run by knocking down a triple. Taylor Leatherman made a jumper and Hirt added 2 free throws as the Cardinals looked to keep the game close. Abby Long had a layup and Julia Hirt made another 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 55-47 at the end of the third quarter.
Taylor Leatherman scored a quick layup to begin the fourth quarter. Abby Long continued to lead the offense with the team's next 8 points including a triple that tied the game 57-57. Taylor Leatherman and Ellery Baker made free throws as the Cardinals once again looked to answer a Siena Heights run. Julia Hirt drained another 3-pointer in the comeback effort, but CUAA fell by a final score of 70-64.
