(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia women's basketball returned to action on Wednesday night with a non-conference matchup against Great Lakes Christian. The Cardinals entered 6-6 overall on the year while the Crusaders came in 2-10. CUAA turned in a strong offensive performance with a season high 14 3-pointers, reaching triple digits in a 102-36 victory.
The team shot 56% from the field, the highest mark in the program's last 9 years and held the Crusaders to a season lowest 28%. The 66 point scoring margin was also the highest in the last 9 years for the Cardinals.
Fourteen different Cards tallied points as McKenna Dietsch led the Cardinals with a career high 13. Grace Sandlin and Mackenzie Howe tied for second with 10 points apiece. Stephanie Abraham had a team-high and career high 7 rebounds along with 7 points.
A free throw from Keirslynn Lawless gave Concordia their first point. Alize Tripp put the Cardinals ahead 4-2 with an early 3-pointer. After a 4-4 tie, Julia Hirt began a 17-0 run with a layup. Stephanie Abraham converted an old-fashioned three-point play, Taylor Leatherman added two layups, and Mackenzie Howe scored inside and added two free throws. Ellie Kallner tacked on a triple and CUAA led 21-6 after the first quarter.
Alize Tripp opened the second quarter with a corner 3-pointer. McKenzie Maciejewski added a triple and Izzy Viau drove for a layup. The lead continued to grow as Asaria Turman converted inside and both Emily McCalla and Mckenna Dietsch scored from behind the arc. Mackenzie Howe scored twice in the paint and 3-pointers continued to fall from Taylor Leatherman, Ellie Kallner and Samantha Dorn. CUAA led 53-19 at halftime.
Alize Tripp drove for a quick layup to open the third quarter. Keirslynn Lawless scored twice inside early and Izzy Viau added a 3-pointer. Concordia continued to score inside consistently with Asaria Turman and Viau scoring layups. Stephanie Abraham notched a layup and Mackenzie Maciejewski drained two free throws. Grace Sandlin had two free throws and a 3-pointer late in the quarter and a McKenna Dietsch layup made it an 84-27 CUAA lead after the third quarter.
McKenna Dietsch continued a strong game with a triple to open the fourth quarter. Julia Hirt and Emily McCalla scored layups and Diestch added another 3-pointer. Grace Sandlin drilled a triple and a free throw from Asaria Turman got the Cardinals to 100 points. Turman closed out scoring with a late layup and CUAA earned the 102-36 win as time expired.
Concordia will remain at home tomorrow with a significant non-conference game against #3 Thomas More. Tip-off is at 5:30pm.
