A Tale Of Two Seconds

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/18/17) — For the second straight game Concordia outscored its opponent in the second half but couldn't overcome a double-digit second-quarter deficit and lost to one of the Top 3 teams in the MIAC. 

The Cobbers outscored the Royals 38-37 in the second half but was done in by a 26-11 deficit in the second quarter. 

Concordia now sits at 2-7 in the league and 5-11 overall while Bethel is tied for third place in the MIAC standings with a 7-2 record. BU has now won three of its last four games and is 12-4 overall. 

The game started at a slow pace with the teams combining to miss the first seven field goals of the game. The scoreless drought was broke at the 6:24 mark of the first quarter when Bethel junior guard Abby Miller sank a foul shot to put the Royals up 1-0.
|
The Cobbers' first basket didn't come until the 4:37 mark when sophomore guard Jamie Mentzer finished strong on a layup. 

Concordia finished the first quarter by making two of their final three field goal attempts to pull within three points at 12-9.

The second quarter proved to be the difference for the second straight game. On Saturday the Cobbers trailed No.4-ranked St. Thomas 26-19 after the first quarter but were then outscored by 13 points in the second 10-minute period. On Wednesday Concordia trailed 12-9 but were then outscored by 15 points.

After shooting 32.0% (8-for-25) in the first two quarters of play the Cobbers connected on 51.9% (14-for-27) in the second half.

CC excelled at the free throw line in the third quarter. The Cobbers got to the line nine times and made all nine foul shot chances. Freshman center Shelby Duckstad led Concordia by going 4-for-4 from the free throw line and scoring eight of her game-high 16 points in the third period.    

Duckstad finished the game by going 6-6 from the free throw line, 5-for-9 from the floor, grabbing five rebounds and adding one steal. 

Jenna Januschka was the only other Concordia player to score in double figures. She finished with 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Mentzer had her best game since returning to the lineup from an injury. She had nine points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal.

QUACK ATTACK: Shelby Duckstad's 16 points were as many as she had in the first 15 games of the year combined. Her previous season high point total was three points at Gustavus. Her five rebounds is also a career high.     

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will continue with its three-game home stand. The Cobbers will square off against Saint Mary's on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. The Cardinals are currently sitting fifth in the conference with a 5-3 league record and an 11-4 overall record. SMU is coming off a 77-57 loss at #4 St. Thomas on Wednesday.  

CONCORDIA vs. BETHEL HIGHLIGHTS: