Late-Game Drama But Still A Win

ST. PAUL, Minn. (1/07/17)---Concordia needed every one of its 16-point lead late in the fourth quarter as the Cobbers held on to beat Hamline 73-65 in St. Paul.

Concordia led 67-51 with 5:30 to play in the game but then watched the Pipers go on a 14-0 run to cut the lead to just two points with under 1-minute to play. The senior trio of Greta Walsh, Jenna Januschka and Crystal Amundson made six straight foul shots in the final 25 seconds to secure the eight-point victory.  

The win ends a two-game slide for Concordia. The Cobbers are now 5-8 in all games and 2-4 in the MIAC. The loss gives Hamline an identical record as the Cobbers with both teams in a three-way tie for sixth place in the league standings.

Walsh was the offensive catalyst for the Cobbers' 75-point output. Walsh had at least five points in all four quarters and finished with a game-high 27 points. She went 10-for-20 from the floor and 5-for-5 from the foul line to spark CC's offense.

The Cobbers trailed briefly midway through the first quarter but then seized control by closing out the opening period on a 10-2 run.

Leading by six at 21-15 heading into the second quarter, Concordia built the lead to double digits after Walsh scored on three straight possessions. She had nine of the team's 17 points in the period.

Concordia carried a double-digit lead through most of the third and fourth quarters and looked in complete control of the game until the waning moments of the final period.

The Cobbers shot 44.1% (26-for-59) from the floor and 47.1% (8-for-17) from outside the arc. Hamline connected on 38.1% (24-for-63) of their shots from the field and 28.6% (8-for-28) of their attempts from outside the arc.

Concordia outrebounded the Pipers 40-35 with both teams having 15 offensive boards.

The Cobbers had four of its five starters finish in double figures. Besides the 27 points from Walsh, junior Cassidy Rahman had a career-high 14 points after going 4-for-7 from outside the arc. Januschka and Grace Wolhowe both had 10 points. Januschka and Amundson led CC with five rebounds each.

1K WATCH: Greta Walsh is on the doorstep of a special career milestone. Her 27 points gives her 994 for her career. She needs only six more points to become the 28th player in program history to score 1000 points in a career.

WALSH WATCH 2: Walsh has now scored at least 20 points in four games this year and has at least 10 points in all but one contest. Walsh is averaging 16.6 points per game this year which is a career high and the fourth highest average in the MIAC this season.    

RULE OF 58 RETURNS: We hate to bring it up again but the No.58 is this year's win/loss line. The Cobbers are now 5-0 when they score more than 58 points in a game and 0-8 when they fail to reach that mark.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will look to continue its winning ways when they host Carleton on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 5:45 p.m. The Knights are 1-11 overall and 0-6 in the MIAC this season. The Cobbers swept Carleton last year.