Cobbers Double Down On Wins At D3hoops.com Classic

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (12/30/22)---While Concordia's first game at the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas had all the drama of a TV reality show, their second game was straight out of the Hallmark channel where the outcome is highly predictable.

The Cobbers used a 13-point advantage in the second quarter to turn their their game with Salve Regina (R.I.) into an 82-42 rout.

Concordia scored more than 20 points in each of the last three quarters to post their largest margin of victory on the season. The 40-point win is the most since 2017 when the Cobbers beat Finlandia by 43 points.

The win is the third straight for Concordia who improves to 7-2 on the season. The Seahawks are now 7-3 for the year.

The Cobbers were one of two teams to win both their games at the D3hoops.com Classic. Concordia had three players receive post-tournament honors. Sophomore Makayla Anderson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Classic, while Emily Beseman and Carlee Sieben were both placed on the All-Tournament Team.

Anderson averaged 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2 assists in the team's two wins in Las Vegas.  

Concordia took the drama out of the game against Salve Regina in the second quarter when they made four 3-pointers, went 6-for-6 from the free throw line and the pressure defense forced nine Seahwak turnovers. CC entered the second quarter tied at 12-12, but went into the halftime break with a commanding 36-21 lead.

The Cobbers scored 21 points in the third, and tacked on 25 more in the fourth to post their third game of the season with at least 80 points.     

The Cobbers finished the game by shooting 38.4% (28-for-73) from the floor, 43.3% (13-for-30) from outside the arc and 92.9% (13-for-14) from the foul stripe. The 73 field goal attempts are tied for the most this season, while the 13 made shots from distance are a season best.

Concordia's defense ended the game by forcing 21 turnovers and turning those miscues into a 33-3 advantage in points off of turnovers.

Concordia had four players score in double figures. The most inspirational of that quartet was senior Kaylie Isaman who sat out all of last season with a knee injury. Isaman didn't miss a shot on Friday. She took four 3-pointers and made all four to finish with 12 points. The 12 points are a career high as are the four made shots from outside the arc.

Beseman led all players in scoring. She was 3-for-5 from long range and 4-for-4 from the foul line, and finished with 15 points. She also had another all-around game. She posted five rebounds, four assists and four steals.         

Beseman earned her All-Tournament Team honors by averaging 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.0 steals in the two wins.

Symone Beld was three boards shy of a double-double. She came away with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Beld finished the two games in Vegas by averaging 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.  
   
Sieben recorded her seventh straight game scoring in double figures. She put up 12 points and leads the team in scoring with a 15.4 ppg average.

Sieben averaged 15.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals in the two games in Las Vegas.

In all, Concordia had 11 players score against the Seahawks, and 14 players saw game action. Greta Tollefson came off the bench to score seven points.

D3HOOPS.COM CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Makayla Anderson, Concordia-Moorhead, Most Outstanding Player
Emily Beseman, Concordia-Moorhead
Carlee Sieben, Concordia-Moorhead
Reeya Patel, Amherst
Meg Nardelli, SUNY Oneonta
Pujita Shukla, Wellesley
Nickie Carter, Montclair State
Vanessa Vaughan, Southern Maine
Briana Neary, Salve Regina

UP NEXT: Concordia will return to Minnesota and head back into conference play. The Cobbers will head to Northfield to take on Carleton on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 7:15 p.m.