MIAC Playoff Clinching Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/08/12)—Concordia held St. Olaf scoreless for a nine-minute period in the first half and went on to roll over the Oles 56-47 in Moorhead on Wednesday. The win, coupled with a loss by Augsburg, clinches an MIAC playoff berth for the Cobbers.

The Cobbers have now won four straight games and seven of their last eight as they move to 15-7 overall and 13-6 in the MIAC. Concordia had been tied with St. Olaf for third place in the league standings but is now in sole possession of third after clinching their 10^th straight MIAC playoff berth. The Oles drop into fourth place in the conference standings and are now 15-7 overall and 12-7 in the league.

After giving up the first two points of the game, Concordia went on a 13-0 run that lasted from 19:06 in the first half until the 9:52 mark. The 13-point run proved to be the difference in the game. St. Olaf was able to get to within two points near the end of the first half but a layup by Emily Thesing gave CC a 23-19 lead at the break. The Cobbers then scored the first three points of the second half and pushed the lead to 12 points with 12:58 to play. Concordia then held a double-digit lead for most of the second half before claiming the nine-point win.

Concordia's defense limited St. Olaf to only 30.8% (16-for-52) shooting from the floor and 26.3% (5-for-19) from outside the arc. It is only the third time all season that the Oles have been held to under 32.0% shooting from the floor. The 47 points scored by St. Olaf is the second lowest total of the season.  It is the 11^th time all year that the Cobbers have held an opponent under 55 points.  

The Cobbers shot 34.6% (18-for-52) from the floor and only 25.0% (4-for-16) from 3-point range but were able to make three key long-range shots in the second half.

Concordia junior forward Tricia Sorensen led all players in points and rebounds. She netted 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to record her fifth double-double of the season. She was 3-for-5 from behind the arc and a perfect 5-for-5 at the free throw line. Erika Jossart had 10 points and a season-high eight rebounds. Sophomore center Kelsey Walloch had a game-high five assists to go along with six points.

St. Olaf had only one starting player score more than six points. The Oles were led by Addy Bates who came off the bench to go 4-for-9 from the floor and finish with 12 points. Erin Haglund finished with a team-high seven rebounds.

Concordia will head to St. Paul to take on league-leading St. Thomas on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m.