Stretch Drive Rally = 4 Straight

STORY LINE: Concordia scored seven of the final nine points in the fourth quarter and beat Hamline 54-50. The game was tied at 24-24 at the halftime break and the Pipers held a 1-point advantage after three quarters before the Cobbers went on 7-2 streak in the final 76-seconds of the game to post their fourth straight victory.

RECORDS: With the four straight wins Concordia evens its overall record at 7-7. The Cobbers jump ahead of Hamline in the conference standings and are now 4-3 in league play. The Pipers fall to 8-6 in all games and 3-4 in the MIAC.

STRETCH DRIVE RALLY TIME: Concordia trailed by as many as six points in the fourth quarter but then tied the game at 44-44 when Grace Wolhowe connected on one of her game-high six field goals with 4:27 to play in regulation. Hamline would then score four of the next seven points to take a 48-47 lead with 1:41 to play. Wolhowe drained another field goal on the very next possession to give CC a 49-48 lead – a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Amber Lingen made a pair of free throws to push the lead to 51-48 lead and then two more foul shot makes from Autumn Thompson and one from Elizabeth Birkemeyer would finish off the scoring to give Concordia the 4-point win.

3-POINT ADVANTAGE: The biggest statistical advantage for the Cobbers in the game came from behind the arc. Hamline made on more field goal and Concordia grabbed one more rebound (40-39) but CC was able to can seven long range shots as opposed to a 4-for-18 performance from Hamline. Junior Mira Ellefson was the main 3-point threat for the Cobbers as she went 3-for-9 from outside the arc.

SECOND HALF GRACE: Senior Grace Wolhowe stepped up in the second half to lead the Cobber offense. She scored eight of her team-high 13 points in the final two quarters of play. Wolhowe finished the game by going 6-for-12 from the field. Her `3 points marked the third time in the last four games she has scored in double figures.

TEAM REBOUNDING: Concordia has turned to a team approach to rebounding now that senior Kirstin Simmons is sidelined with an injury. The Cobbers had three players with at least five boards in the game. Mira Ellefson led all players with seven rebounds while Elizabeth Birkemeyer added six and newcomer Braydn Dresser hauled down five.

UP NEXT: Concordia will continue with its 3-game home stand when they host Bethel on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. The Royals entered play on Wednesday with a 10-3 overall record and were tied for third place in the MIAC standings with a 4-2 record.