First-Half Lead Doesn't Equate To Final Victory

ST. PAUL, Minn. (12/03/12)—Concordia led No.4-ranked St. Thomas for the first 19:30 on Monday but then watched the Tommies go on a 14-3 run over a span of 8:38 in the second half and lost 65-53.

The video of the game will never be used in a "how-to" instructional series. The Cobbers and Tommies combined to shoot 34.3% from the field and connected on just 7 of 30 (23.3%) attempts from outside the arc. In the end, it was St. Thomas' pressure defense that led to 23 turnovers and a 22-14 edge in points of miscues.

The loss is the first in conference play for Concordia. CC is now 3-3 in all games and 2-1 in league contests. Nationally-ranked St. Thomas is now 5-1 in their six games to start the 2012-13 season. UST is unbeaten in MIAC play at 3-0.

Tricia Sorensen and Emily Thesing combined to score 30 of the team's 53 (56.6%) points in the game. Thesing led the way in the first half with nine points and finished with 14 while Sorensen had seven in the first period and then nine in the second to come away with a team-high 16 points. Three different players had seven rebounds each to lead an inside game that outrebounded St. Thomas 42-33. Sorensen, Erika Jossart and Olivia Johnson all had seven boards on the night. Thesing added a team-high four assists.

Concordia led for almost the entire first half and stretched their lead to as many as five points with under 5-minutes to go in the opening period. The Tommies claimed a 29-26 lead at the break by going on a 12-4 run over the final four minutes of the half.

The Cobbers tried to take control in the early part of the second half and tied the game at 32-32 with 17:40 to play but then UST went on their decisive run to come out with the win.

Concordia will try and rebound when they play at St. Kate's on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. The Cobbers will then return home to host Carleton on Tuesday, Dec. 11 in the final game of the 2012 calendar year.