University of St. Thomas Athletics
14-0, 8-0MIAC
Concordia-Moorhead
5-10,2-6MIAC
Early lead helps women's hoops to win
1/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ST. PAUL – The St. Thomas women's basketball team took a 50-30 lead into halftime and did not look back on the way to a 75-60 win over Concordia College on Saturday afternoon at Schoenecker Arena.
With the win, the Tommies improve to 14-0 overall and 8-0 in the MIAC, while the Cobbers drop to 5-10 overall and 2-6 in league play.
St. Thomas jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead that grew to as many as 10 points (24-14) thanks to a three-pointer by Gabby Zehrer with 2:11 remaining in the opening quarter. The Tommies went on to take a 26-19 lead to the second.
After the Cobbers scored the opening two points of the second quarter to cut the lead to five (26-21), the Tommies took off on a 12-2 run to open up a 38-23 lead with 5:53 to play in the first half.
From there, St. Thomas finished the half strong to take a 20-point lead (50-30) to the break. The Tommie women shot 57.9-percent (11-19) in the second quarter to outscore Concordia 24-11 in the frame.
St. Thomas came out to open up what would prove to be its largest lead of the game with 7:03 to play. The Tommies opened the third on an 8-2 run, capped by a three from Lauren Fischer to take a 58-32 lead. That lead dwindled back to 20 headed to the final quarter with a count of 67-47.
The two teams traded baskets through the first half of the final frame, which saw the score out to 72-52. Eight straight points for the Cobbers cut the lead down to 12 (72-60) in the middle of a six-minute, 19-second scoring drought for the Tommies, but they finished the game off with three free throws to stamp the game final for the 15-point win.
Concordia finished with the shooting advantage, amassing a 41.2-percent (21-51) mark from the field and 58.8-percent (10-17) rate from three, compared to 40.3-percent (25-62) and 45-percent (9-20), respectively, for the Tommies.
However, St. Thomas won the rebound (39-34), and turnover (12-21) battle, as well as outscoring the Cobbers 26-14 in the paint to secure the win.
Zehrer led the way for the Tommmies with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including a 4-of-5 mark from deep. Kaitlin Langer followed with another near double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.
The Cobbers finished with three players in double-figure scoring, led by Greta Walsh with 15 points. Cassidy Rahman followed with 11, and Grace Wolhowe rounded out the trio with 10 points and a team-high five rebounds.
St. Thomas will be back in action again on Wednesday night when it hosts Saint Mary's at 7:00 pm.
