Four On The Floor In The Fourth

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (12/09/17)---It's only fitting that Jamie Mentzer wears No.4. The junior guard single-handedly outscored Augsburg in the fourth quarter as she keyed a 19-6 run in the final period to help Concordia post a 51-43 win over the Auggies.

Mentzer scored eight of her game-high 14 points in the fourth quarter as she captained the Cobber offense which erased a 37-32 deficit to record their second straight victory.

Concordia has now won four of its last six games and is 5-3 on the year. The Cobbers move to 2-1 in conference play after dropping the MIAC opener at Macalester last Saturday.  Augsburg falls for the second straight time after posting a four-game win streak. The Auggies are 4-4 overall and 1-2 in league contests.

The Cobbers trailed by seven points entering the final period of play but then shot 63.6% (7-for-11) from the floor and knocked down four straight free throws to outscore Augsburg 19-6. Mentzer went 3-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line as she led the comeback. She also made a circus scoop shot from the right baseline as time on the shot clock was winding down in the final minute of play with CC protecting a 47-40 lead.       

Mentzer would finish off the game by making two free throws on the next possession to keep the Auggies from getting closer than six points in the final seconds. All told, Mentzer scored six of the team's final 15 points in the game.

Fellow junior Grace Wolhowe was also clutched down the stretch. She connected on a 3-point field goal from the right wing at the start of the fourth quarter that pushed the lead from one point at 38-37 to four points at 41-37. CC would never trail after the 7-minute mark of the final period of play.

Wolhowe scored nine of her 11 points in the second half to help the Cobber offensive attack overcome a seven-point deficit late in the third quarter.

Mentzer finished with 14 points and was one of three Cobber players with a game-high six rebounds.

Senior Cassidy Rahman had six boards as well as did Kirstin Simmons. Mira Ellefson finished with eight points and four rebounds.

Concordia shot only 38.3% (18-for-47) from the floor and 18.8% (3-for-16) from outside the arc but for the second straight game it was the defense that came to the rescue. The Cobbers limited the Auggies to 23.4% (15-for-64) shooting from the field and 22.2% (6-for-27) shooting from 3-point range. Augsburg's field goal percentage was a season low and their outside shooting mark was second lowest for the year.

The Cobbers held a 43-35 edge in rebounds which translated into a 22-16 advantage in points in the paint.

BIG "D", DEFENSE: Concordia held its opponent to under 50 points for the second straight game and for the third time this season. Not surprisingly, the Cobbers are 3-0 in those games. Concordia is limiting foes to 54.5 points per game this year which ranks third in the MIAC behind nationally ranked teams St. Benedict and Gustavus.     

CHAIRWOMEN OF THE BOARDS: Concordia has outrebounded their opponents in seven of their eight games this season. CC has held at least an eight-rebound advantage in five of the eight games. The Cobbers are averaging 40.8 rebounds per game which is second most in the MIAC. They are averaging 30.0 defensive rebounds per game which is tops in the conference.   

MIND THE MENTZER: Jamie Mentzer is tied for the team lead in double-digit scoring games this year. She has scored at least 10 points in six of the team's eight games and Concordia is 5-1 in those contests.     

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will finish off the conference/non-conference doubleheader weekend when they play at Wis.-River Falls on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. The Falcons are 5-2 on the year and are coming off a 68-47 win at home over Luther on Saturday.