ST. JOSEPH, Minn. (1/11/23)---Consider it a lesson learned. Concordia took the heartache of the fourth-quarter loss on Saturday, and turned it into a triumph on Wednesday at St. Benedict.
The Cobbers were outscored 18-4 in their loss against St. Catherine, but used that experience to overrun the Bennies 29-18 in the final 10 minutes of play on their way to a 72-61 victory.
The 29 points in the fourth quarter against CSB are the most scored by Concordia in any quarter this season.
The fourth-quarter outburst gives the Cobbers four wins in the last five games. CC is now 9-3 overall and 6-3 in conference play. The win also keeps CC within one game of first place in the league standings.
St. Benedict loses for only the second time in the last nine games, and has an identical record as Concordia at 9-3 and 6-3 in the MIAC.
Neither team had more than a 6-point lead throughout the first three quarters of the game. St. Ben's led by six in the first quarter, while Concordia had a pair of 5-point leads in the second and third periods.
The game turned after the score was tied for the eighth time when Emily Beseman connected on a layup just 61-seconds into the quarter. CC then reeled off a stretch where they scored eight straight points and 11 of the next 13 points.
The Cobbers would never let CSB get closer than seven points in the final 3-minutes of play, and finished the game by scoring four of the final six points.
Concordia shot 53.8% (7-for-13) from the floor in the fourth quarter, but it was their prowess at the free throw line that sealed the game. CC didn't miss a single foul shot during the final 10 minutes, and finished the period at 15-for-15.
The Cobbers finished the game by shooting 37.5% (24-for-64) from the field, 23.8% (5-for-21) from 3-point range and a crisp 90.5% (19-for-21) from the free throw line.
Concordia is now shooting 79.7% from the free throw line for the season, which is the best percentage in the conference and second in all of Division III.
Beseman was the point person for the Cobber offense. She went 10-for-10 from the foul line and finished with 16 points. She also had seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Sophomore Makayla Anderson, the current MIAC Defensive Player of the Week, posted her fourth double-double of the season. She had 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
Symone Beld led all players with 11 boards as the Cobbers outrebounded the Bennies 48-42.
UP NEXT: Concordia will look to carry over the momentum from the fourth quarter to their game at Hamline on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m.
