(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia women's basketball returned home on Wednesday night to host Lourdes in WHAC conference play. The Cardinals came in 15-10 overall (11-5 WHAC) while the Gray Wolves entered 10-16 (3-13 WHAC). CUAA moved up to a tie for 3rd place in the conference and clinched a home playoff game with a 65-53 win. The Cardinals now have 10 home wins and 12 conference wins, which are both tied for the most in the past 9 years in program history.
Alize Tripp led the Cardinals with 13 points. Taylor Leatherman finished second with 10 points. Samantha Dorn came in third with 8 points. Keirslynn Lawless had a team-high 10 rebounds along with 7 points.
Taylor Leatherman had a free throw for Concordia's first point. Keirslynn Lawless and Asaria Turman scored inside and Julia Hirt made two free throws. Alize Tripp made two free throws to put the Cardinals ahead for the first time and Mackenzie Howe scored in the paint. Ellie Kallner and Zaria Mitchner got on the scoresheet with baskets and CUAA led 19-13 after the first quarter.
Keirslynn Lawless had a layup to open the second quarter. Julia Hirt knocked down a triple and Mackenzie Howe gave the Cardinals a double-digit lead with an inside basket. Alize Tripp banked in a shot to complete a 10-2 run and Keirslynn Lawless finished an "and-1" late in the quarter. CUAA led 32-24 at halftime.
Taylor Leatherman had two free throws to start the third quarter. Izzy Viau and Samantha Dorn made layups and Alize Tripp drilled a triple. Mackenzie Howe used a tricky post move to score and Zaria Mitchner drove for a basket. Stephanie Abraham made a late block on defense and CUAA led 46-31 after the third quarter.
Samantha Dorn drove around her defender and scored to start the fourth quarter. Taylor Leatherman and Alize Tripp knocked down 3-pointers down the stretch as the Cardinals stayed in front. CUAA made their free throws in the final minutes and cruised to a 65-53 win as time expired.
Concordia will head on the road this Saturday, February 12 to face Rochester at 1pm.
