Fourth-Quarter Fire Power

MORRIS, Minn. (11/15/16)--- Concordia outscored Minn.-Morris 32-19 in the second half and beat the Cougars 59-47 in the season opener for both teams.

The Cobbers pulled away from Morris in the fourth quarter as they shot 75.0% (9-for-12) from the floor and outscored the Cougars 21-11 to earn the 12-point win.

Concordia had a quartet of one-point leads in the first half but had to chase Morris for most of the first and second quarters. The Cougars had their biggest lead of the game at 15-9 late in the first quarter but four straight points by CC to finish the period brought the score to 15-13.

The Cobber led briefly at 17-16, 23-22 and 27-26 but each time Morris responded with points in their very next possession.  The Cougars finished the half by hitting two free throws to take a 28-27 lead into the break.

Concordia fell behind by five points at the beginning of the third quarter but then a 9-2 run gave the Cobbers a 38-36 lead heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter was all Concordia. CC recorded points on their first three possessions of the quarter and grabbed a 45-41 lead less than two minutes into the period.

The game was still close at 47-43 midway through the final quarter until the Concordia defense put the clamps on the Cougars and the Cobbers outscored Morris 12-1 during a stretch of 4:14.

Concordia was consistent from the field but struggled to find the range from outside the arc. The Cobbers connected on 45.5% (20-for-44) of their field goal attempts but only 15.4% (2-for-13) of their attempts from 3-point range. CC was 17-for-23 (73.9%) from the foul line.

The Cobber defense forced Morris into 15 turnovers in the second half. The Cougars finished with 22 miscues in the game as compared to 19 for Concordia.

EVERYONE SCORES: Concordia had a balanced scoring attack as six players had at least eight points in the game. Seniors Greta Walsh and Jenna Januschka led CC with 12 points each. Sophomore center Kristin Simmons had nine points while Jamie Mentzer, Cassidy Rahman and Grace Wolhowe all added eight points each.

EVERYONE REBOUNDS: The Cobbers also had everyone chip in on the boards. CC had nine players grab at least one rebound and eight had at least two boards. Junior Cassidy Rahman led the way with five rebounds while Januschka added four. Concordia outrebounded Morris 31-28 for the game.  

SIMMERING SIMMONS: Kirstin Simmons went 3-for-4 from the floor and 3-for-3 from the free throw line to finish with nine points. That mark is a career-high. Her previous career best was four points which came last year against Buena Vista.  Simmons did most of her damage against Morris in the second quarter. She scored six of her nine points in the period.
 
WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will host its home opener on Thursday, Nov. 17 when they host NAIA opponent Jamestown. The Jimmies are already 4-2 on the year. CC will then have an away/home stretch against a pair of Lake Superior UMAC opponents. The Cobbers will travel Northeast to take on Wis.-Superior on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. and will then host St. Scholastica on Tuesday, Nov. 22  at 5 p.m.