Women's Basketball Upended at CUAA

(Ann Arbor, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar women's basketball team dug themselves into an early hole, and were never able to go on the run they needed, as they fell to the host Concordia Cardinals 71-50 Saturday afternoon.

Concordia jumped out to an early 6-1 lead before Izzy Dugal hit a jumper to wake up the Cougars.  A Taedom Stein jumper made it a one point game halfway through the first quarter.  CUAA would regain the five point advantage, and then Sydney McCaig made a layup followed by a Rylee Thomas corner three pointer to tie the game at 10-10.  The Cardinals would finish the quarter strong, scoring six unanswered points to head into the quarter break with a 16-10 advantage.  

A pair of Taedom Stein free throws and an inside the arc jumper from Amy Jackson would keep the Cougars within reach early in the second quarter.  Sydney McCaig scored another layup, followed by a Taedom Stein layup to make the score 18-21 with six minutes until halftime.  Each team would score a basket heading into the second quarter media timeout.  After the timeout, CUAA came out on fire, and built a double-digit lead that they held onto into the half, with the score 35-22.

The third quarter started off strong for Cleary, with Taedom Stein knockding down a three to keep the deficit within distance.  A Samantha Hoelscher layup would cut the deficit to ten points with six minutes to play, and after a basket by CUAA, a pair of Riley Merryfield free throws made it a nine point game.  The Cardinals would go on a run to regain their double-digit lead, and by the end of the quarter it was 57-41.  Cleary would keep the score within sixteen until the six minute mark of the game, when Concordia scored six straight points to really open the game up.  The Cougars fought to cut into the deficit, but were unable, as the Cardinals held on to win by a 71-50 score.

Taedom Stein had a team high 17 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Cougars, and was the only Cougar to reach double-figures in points.  Izzy Dugal had 8 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.

The loss now gives Cleary an 8-15 record, 7-9 within the WHAC.  The Cougars will end their six game road stand with a trip to Sylvania, Ohio on Wednesday, February 12, when they take on the Lourdes Gray Wolves for a 5:30 tip-off.