Passionate Defense Leads To Playoff-Clinching Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/30/13)—Concordia's ever-improving defense held its third straight opponent under 60 points en route to a playoff-clinching win. The Cobbers stymied St. Olaf 65-58 and became the first MIAC team to clinch a conference playoff berth.

"It's a passion to play defense," said Cobber head coach Jessica Rahman. "It's all-out effort and we see that from the kids every day."



Postgame audio interview with head coach Jessica Rahman



Concordia's all-out effort limited the Oles to just 22 points in the second half and turned a six-point deficit into a seven-point victory. The Cobber defense held St. Olaf to just 23.3% (7-for-30) from the floor and 18.2% (2-for-11) from 3-point range in the final 20 minutes of play.

The win keeps the Cobbers in first place in the league standings and clinches Concordia's 11^th consecutive conference playoff spot. CC has now won 12 of their past 13 games and is now 15-4 overall and 14-2 in MIAC play. The Oles lose for the first time in the past four games and are now 10-9 in all games and 8-8 in the conference.

Concordia chased the game for the entire first half and then through the first three minutes of the second half. Trailing 38-37, the Cobbers went on a 7-0 run to grab a 44-38 lead with 12:05 left in the second period. The only time that St. Olaf would make a run would be in the final three minutes of play when they cut the lead to one point but a 3-point field goal from Tricia Sorensen and three free throws by  Emily Thesing cemented the victory. Sorensen and Thesing connected on nine of the Cobbers' final 10 points in the game.

Rahman commented on the clutch plays by Thesing and Sorensen down the stretch. "It's the leadership factor, the confidence and the willingness to take those big shots," said Rahman.

Thesing finished with a game-high 20 points while Sorensen chipped in a game-high 12 rebounds. Thesing also had six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sorensen scored nine points and added two assists and three steals.

Concordia had three other players with at least seven points in the game. Junior center Alexandra Lippert came away with eight points and seven rebounds. Guard Erika Jossart finished with nine points and five rebounds and Alley Fisher had seven points and three assists.

The Cobbers big advantage in the game came on the glass. Concordia outrebounded St. Olaf 46-34. Concordia had 21 offensive rebounds and used those hard-work boards to hold a 16-8 edge in second-chance points.

Concordia will now head on the road for four games. The Cobbers will start their extended road trip by playing at Macalester on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. and then at St. Mary's on Super Bowl Sunday at 1 p.m.