Size + Quickness = 90-56 Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (12/14/13)—Concordia led for 39:30 of the 40 minutes, connected on 33 free throws and rolled to a decisive 90-56 win over Hamline.

The Cobbers used their height advantage and perimeter quickness to outscore the Pipers 40-18 in points in the paint and come away with a 47-33 edge in rebounding. Concordia grabbed 17 offensive rebounds which led to 20 second chance points. The 90 points scored by the Cobbers is a season high and the most since the 2009-10 season.

The victory caps the 2013 calendar year for Concordia. The Cobbers are now 6-2 in all games and 4-1 in the MIAC. CC will enter 2014 in third place I the league standings. Hamline remains winless on the season and moves to 0-6 in all games and 0-5 against league opponents.

All season long Concordia has had different players step up and lead the offensive attack. That was once again the against the Pipers where the Cobbers had a pair of bench players score 14 points each and were led by sophomore forward Erin Januschka who scored a career-high 15 points.

The free throw advantage for Concordia was caused by the new rules to prevent defenders from hand checking and contacting the offensive player with ball as well as the Cobbers' quickness to beat the initial defender and attack the basket. CC connected on 33 of their 38 free throw attempts in the game as compared to 20-of-28 for Hamline. The 33 made free throws and 38 free throw attempts are the most since the 2008-09 season.

Concordia won the game during the run of play midway through the first half when the Cobbers went on 11-2 run to turn a two-point game into an 11-point lead at 26-15 with 7:13 left in the opening period. CC then stretched that lead to a 21-point gap by scoring 15 of the next 20 points.     

The Cobbers never allowed Hamline to get to within 16 points in the second half. Concordia finished off the deal with a 19-1 run midway through the second half and went on to win by 34 points.

Januschka was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line in earning her career high in points. Greta Walsh was 4-for-4 from the foul stripe, 4-for-6 from the field and finished with 14 points. Senior center Kelsey Walloch was 5-for-8 from the field and also had 14 points. She had six rebounds and led a group of seven CC players who all had at least four boards in the game. Katie Rosenfeldt also collected six rebounds and was one of six Concordia players to not miss at the free throw line and one of three to go 4-for-4. Freshman Emma Peterson was also 4-for-4 from the free throw line.    

Concordia will have a three-week break before returning to action against St. Mary's on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 1 p.m.