20-2 Run Bumps Cobbers Out Of Playoffs

ST. PETER, Minn. (2/23/12)--Concordia was outscored 20-2 in a 7-minute stretch around halftime and lost 61-49 to Gustavus in the MIAC semifinals. The Cobbers trailed 24-23 with 1:00 to play in the first half but then watched as the Gusties took a 19-point lead at 44-25 at the start of the second half.
 
It marks the sixth time this season that the Cobbers were held to under 50 points and CC lost all six of those contests. Concordia ends their 2011-12 campaign with an 18-9 overall record. Gustavus is now 20-6 on the year and will play St. Thomas in the MIAC championship game on Saturday.  

The first half went back and forth with three lead changes and no team holding more than a four-point lead. The complexion of the contest changed in the final three minutes of the opening period. After Alex Lippert connected on a jumper on the block to give Concordia their biggest lead of the game at 21-18, the Gusties responded by outscoring CC 9-2 in the final three minutes of play.

During that stretch the Cobbers were 1-for-5 from the floor and committed a pair of turnovers. Concordia had 10 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play.

The Cobbers then stumbled out of the gate in the second half. Gustavus carried over the momentum into the second period and went on a 17-2 run in the first 6:41 of play to take a commanding 44-25 lead.  Concordia started the second half by missing seven of their first eight shots and committing three turnovers. The Gusties went 7-for-13 during that same period of time, did not have a miscue and grabbed four offensive rebounds.

Concordia was never able to recover from that early-half surge and never got within 11 points for the rest of the game.

The Cobbers wound up shooting 40.8% (20-for-49) from the floor and 35.7% (5-for-14) from outside the arc. Gustavus was 26-for-55 (47.3%) from the field and 3-for-9 (33.3%) from 3-point range.

The two biggest statistical advantages came around the basket and from miscues. Concordia was outrebounded 35-24 and gave up 13 offensive rebounds which led to 15 second chance for the Gusties. GAC also held a 20-12 edge in points in the paint. The Cobbers finished with 17 turnovers in the game and gave up 17 points off of those miscues.

Alley Fisher was 4-for-6 from 3-point range and led Concordia with 14 points. Lippert had 12 points and five rebounds while Tricia Sorensen ended the game with 10 points.

Gustavus forward Abby Rothenbuehler led all players with 18 points and Eli Benz added 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds.