Improved Inside Game Can't Overcome #2 Tommies

MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/14/15)— Concordia made several runs at No.2-ranked St. Thomas but was never able to get out in front and lost 62-50.

The loss is only the second in the last five games for the Cobbers. Concordia falls to 13-10 overall and 9-7 in conference play and falls into a two-way tie for fourth place in the league standings. The Tommies are now 23-0 in all games and 16-0 in the MIAC.

The biggest statistical in the game came from turnovers where St. Thomas' pressure defense was able to force 20 Cobber miscues. UST was able to turn those 20 turnovers into a 24-12 advantage in points scored off of turnovers.

Both teams were off their game when it came to shooting the ball. Concordia and St. Thomas both shot in the 30-percent range from the floor and in the 20's from outside the arc. The Cobbers connected on 39.0% (16-for-41) of their shots from the field as compared to 38.9% (21-for-54) for the Tommies. CC was 3-for-15 (20.0%) from 3-point range while UST was 5-for-17 (29.4%). Both teams made 15 free throws for the game.

Concordia's inside game was able to stay with the Tommies. CC was outrebounded by 17 in the first game between the two teams and St. Thomas had a 40-14 advantage in points in the paint in that game. On Saturday the Cobbers were only outrebounded by four (33-29) and there was only a four-point separation (26-22) in points in the paint.

The Cobbers had a pair of players in double figures for the game in scoring. Seniors Alley Fisher and Erin Januschka both had at least 10 points. Fisher made all three of Concordia's shots from outside the arc and finished with a team-high 13 points. With the three made 3-pointers, Fisher now has 172 for her career and needs three more to break the school record for most 3-pointers in a career. Januschka was 4-for-6 from the field and had 10 points. She now has scored in double figures in six of the past eight games.

Olivia Johnson had six points and a team-high six rebounds.

Concordia has two games left in the regular season. They will play at St. Olaf on Wednesday, Feb. 18 and then host Augsburg on Saturday, Feb. 21. If the Cobbers win both games they will secure the No.4 seed in the MIAC playoffs and host a conference quarterfinal game.