#22 Concordia defeats Mount Marty to improve to 6-0

The 22nd ranked Concordia women’s basketball team moved to 6-0 on the season with a 67-61 win over Mount Marty College on Saturday afternoon in Yankton.  It was the opening conference game for both teams.  The Bulldogs built a lead as big as 20 in the contest but had to hold on for the victory over the Lancers, who dropped to 5-4 on the year. 

Concordia took control of the game midway through the first half.  A 10-2 run put Concordia on top by the score of 25-13 with eight minutes left in the half.  The host Lancers followed with a 10-0 run to pull back within two at 25-23 with four minutes remaining.  The Bulldogs rebuilt a 7-point lead (33-26) and took a 33-29 lead into halftime. 

The Bulldogs were 12-of-28 (42.9 percent) from the field in the opening half.  The Concordia defense also forced 11 Mount Marty turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.  The Lancers were 9-of-19 from the floor for 47.4 percent. 

Concordia again used a big run to create some separation early in the second half.  The Bulldogs scored the first 13 points of the half to claim a 46-29 lead with 17 minutes remaining in regulation.  Concordia led by as many as 20 (52-32), but the Lancers started to chip away with around six minutes left in the game. 

Mount Marty trailed by just five (61-56) with two minutes to play.  However, the Bulldogs connected on 6-of-7 free throws down the stretch to secure the 67-61 win. 

For the game, Concordia was 24-of-62 from the floor for 38.7 percent, including 8-of-21 from long range for 38.1 percent.  The Bulldogs were 11-of-18 at the free throw line for 61.1 percent.  Concordia also held a slim 41-36 rebounding advantage.  The Bulldogs totaled 15 offensive rebounds on the night.  Defensively, the Bulldogs forced 26 Mount Marty turnovers in the win. 

Amber Kistler (Minatare, Neb.) scored a team-best 17 points for Concordia.  Kistler was 4-of-7 from the field (a percent 3-for-3 from deep) and 6-for 6 at the charity stripe.  Kristen Conahan (Omaha, Neb.) delivered 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field.  Conahan hit three 3-pointers and added a game-high four steals.  Lori Laboda (Parker, Colo.) chipped in with 11 points and a team-best seven boards. 

Kylie Gross scored a game-high 18 points for Mount Marty in defeat.  Gross was 6-of-10 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the foul line.  She also added eight rebounds.  Taylor Forsch scored 12, and Alexa Berg also reached double figures with 10 points on the day. 

Concordia hosts Nebraska Wesleyan on November 22.  Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Walz Human Performance Complex.