A Sigh Of Relief At The Buzzer

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (12/01/12)—Concordia survived a late-game frantic rally from Augsburg and held on to beat the Auggies 61-60 in Minneapolis on Saturday. Alexandra Lippert had 16 points and six rebounds to lead the Cobbers to their second straight win to open the 2012-13 MIAC season.

Concordia (3-2/2-0 MIAC) eased their way to a nine-point lead with just over 5:00 to play in the second half after the teams went to the locker room tied at 26-26 at the break. That's when the Augsburg rally started as they scored 10 of the next 12 points.

Leading 59-58 with 1:58 to play, the Cobbers go one of the biggest baskets of the game when Emily Thesing was able to get free underneath the basket and lay the ball in to give CC a 61-58 lead. The teams then traded blocked-shot possessions before the Auggies connected on two free throws with 39-seconds to play to make the score 61-60. Concordia missed a layup attempt at the end of the shot clock on their next possession and then turned the ball over after getting to set up a dramatic last 10 seconds.

On the final possession of the game Augsburg was able to work the ball inside the pain and had a game-winning layup at the buzzer rattle off the rim as time expired.  

The difference in the game came courtesy of Concordia's frontcourt. The Cobbers held a 33-27 edge in rebounding, a 26-14 margin in points in the paint and a 15-3 mark in second chance points.

To go along with Lipperts' 16 points and six rebounds, senior forward Tricia Sorensen added 12 points, five rebounds and four steals. Reserve center Kelsey Walloch had quality minutes in both halves and matched Lippert's game-high six rebounds.

The Cobbers shot 39.6% (21-for-53) from the floor and 28.6% (4-for-14) from outside the arc. It marks the second straight game that CC has shot under 40.0% from the field and under 30.0% from 3-point range. Concordia did well at the free throw line against the Auggies. The Cobbers connected on 88.2% (15-of-17) of their foul shot attempts including 10-of-11 in the second half.

Augsburg (2-2/0-2 MIAC) shot 46% from both the floor and 3-point range for the game. The Auggies made 22 of their 27 field goal attempts and 6 of their 13 shots from outside the arc. Jill Tichy and Anne Skirba combined to score 35 of the team's 60 points.

Concordia will turn around and play at nationally-ranked St. Thomas on Monday, Dec. 3 at 5:45 p.m.