Cobbers Drop MIAC Opener

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/23/19)---Concordia outscored unbeaten Augsburg in the first and fourth quarters but it wasn't enough as the Cobbers lost 61-51 in the conference opener for both teams.

The loss is the third straight for the Cobbers who opened the year with a win over Minn.-Morris. Concordia is now 1-3 overall. Augsburg, who was picked to finish second in the MIAC preseason coachers' poll, is now 4-0 on the year.

The Cobbers battled the Auggies throughout the first quarter and took a 13-12 lead late when Taviahna Tanin drained her first 3-pointer of the season. Augsburg would counter with a layup in the final seconds to take a 14-13 lead into the second quarter.

The decisive stretch of the game came at the start of the second quarter when Augsburg scored six straight points to take a 20-13 lead. Concordia would stay close and the margin was six points at the halftime break.

The Auggies then outscored the Cobbers 16-10 in the third quarter to pull away to a 44-32 lead. Concordia was able to cut the lead to single digits when Bailee Larson made a pair of free throws with just over 4-minutes to play but Augsburg was able to hold on by making four straight free throws in the final minutes of play.

Concordia shot 29.4% (15-for-51) from the floor and 24.0% (6-for-25) of their shots from outside the arc while Augsburg shot 31.5% (23-for-73) from the field but just 14.3% (4-for-28) from long range.

The Cobbers outrebounded the Auggies 48-43 which marks the third time in the first four games this season that CC has outrebounded their opponent.

Junior Elizabeth Birkemeyer led Concordia with 14 points and also had seven rebounds. Guard Autumn Thompson was the only other CC player in double figures in points. She had 10 points.

Freshman Vanessa Kedl had a team-high 10 rebounds and Rachel Hoernemann posted four assists.          

UP NEXT: Concordia finishes off the pre-Thanksgiving portion of their schedule when they play at Gustavus on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7:15 p.m.  

Saturday recaps sponsored by Bufffalo Wild Wings: Grab your friends and get to B-Dubs on Sunday nights for College Nights at 9 p.m. 50% off 1 food item with ID and $3 apps at the Buffalo Wild Wings located on Hwy 10 in Moorhead.