Women's Basketball Never Trails in Victory Over Concordia

(Lansing, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar women's basketball team picked up their built a lead, and never looked back, as they defeated the visiting Concordia Cardinals 64-57 Saturday evening in Lansing.  

Taedom Stein broke a two-minute scoring drought to start the game when she made a layup to give the Cougars the lead.  That lead doubled on a Samantha Hoelscher layup, and a pair of Izzy Dugal free throws helped the lead grow to five after CUAA made a free throw of their own.  Sydney McCaig knocked down a three, and the Cougar lead would grow to eight points.  The Cardinals scored a basket, but a Taedom Stein and-one gave Cleary a nine point advantage late in the first quarter.  After cutting that lead to four points, Riley Merryfield knocked in a three from way downtown at the end of the first period, and CU led 17-10.

Concordia would hang around, but every time the cut the lead to within five, the Cougars responded.  Caitlyn Rayl would hit a three, and Izzy Dugal made back to back three pointers halfway through the quarter, and the Cougars' lead grew to the largest of the game at twelve points with 5:21 to play.  The Cardinals would go on a run late, but Cleary still held a lead at the half with a 31-25 score.  

Cleary and CUAA would trade baskets for most of the third quarter, with Cleary building a double-digit lead early, but not able to pull away, and the score would be 49-40 with ten minutes to go.  The Cardinals would cut the lead to three points in less than two minutes, but a Mileisha Rodriguez layup would stop the bleeding, and give the Cougars some cushion.  The lead would cut to two with 37 seconds to play, but a defensive stop by the Cougars would force the Cardinals to foul.  Cleary would make five straight defensive stops down the stretch, and Samantha Hoelscher and Taedom Stein made their free throws to help Cleary hold on to win 64-57.

Cleary held the Cardinals scoreless for the final 2:55 of the game.

Taedom Stein led CU with 14 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals.  Samantha Hoelscher added 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals.  Izzy Dugal added 12 points off the bench to spark the Cougars.

The victory gives Cleary a 3-7 record overall, 2-2 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be back in action on Sunday afternoon when they play the NCAA D1 Detroit Mercy Titans on ESPN+ at 1:00 PM.