A Team Win In A Team Game

MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/01/20)---Basketball is classified as a "team" sport and Concordia needed their entire team to pull away from St. Mary's and record a 76-60 win in Moorhead.

The Cobbers got 30 points and 14 rebounds from a group of reserves that usually doesn't factor on the scoresheet as they picked up their third straight win at home.

Concordia is now 8-10 in all games this season. The Cobbers also up their conference record to 6-7 for the season. The victory also helps CC retain sole possession of sixth place in the league standings.  

A pair of sophomores who do their work on the interior posted career-high point totals in the 16-point win. Vanessa Kedl and Taviahna Tanin combined to provide a spark around the basket and both had their best game in maroon and gold. Kedl put up a career-high 11 points to go along with four rebounds. She also had two key offensive rebounds.

Tanin, like Kedl, had a career-high point total and made it difficult for the Cardinals' on both ends. She finished with six points and also had a career-high rebound total with five which also included two offensive boards.

Sophomore Avery Sundeen gave Concordia a trio of non-startrs who put up quality minutes. She didn't miss a shot in the game and made two key free throws to finish with four points.   

Concordia trailed 15-13 after one quarter but then used their inside game to outscore St. Mary's 23-16 in the second period and take a 36-31 lead at the break. CC held a 10-4 advantage in points in the pain in the second quarter. They were also able to find their outside shooting touch. After shooting 30.8% (4-for-13) from the floor in the opening period, the Cobbers connected on 56.3% (9-for-16) of their shots in the second 10 minutes of play.     

The Cobbers then outscored St. Mary's in each of the third and fourth quarters to push the final margin of victory to 16 points.

Concordia finished the game by shooting 54.0% (27-for-50) from the floor and 35.0% (7-for-20) from 3-point land. The Cardinals shot 32.8% (20-for-61) from the field and 31.0% (9-for-29) from outside the arc.

The biggest stat advantage came on the glass where CC held a 40-29 advantage in rebounds.

Kedl and Autumn Thompson both had a team-high 11 points in the game. Thompson was 2-for-6 from distance and posted her sixth straight game with a double-digit point total. She also came away with four rebounds.

Starters Mary Sem and Rachel Hoernemann had 10 points each. Sem was 6-for-8 from the free throw line and added four rebounds and two assists. Hoernemann didn't miss a shot in the game as she went -for-4 from the floor and 2-for-2 from 3 range. Like Sem, she collected four rebounds.

Elizabeth Birkemeyer and Bailee Larson led all players with six rebounds each. Birkemeyer also put up seven points and three assists. Larson had eight points.       

INSIDE STAT INFO: Concordia's 40-29 advantage in rebounds marks the fourth time this season the Cobbers have held a double-digit rebound edge over their opponent. CC is 4-0 in those games and all four have come in the friendly confines of Memorial Auditorium.
    
UP NEXT: Concordia will little time to celebrate their sixth MIAC win. The Cobbers host Hamline on Monday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. in a game that was originally schedule to be played on Jan. 18 but was postponed due to a winter storm. The Pipers are two games ahead of the Cobbers in the standings with an 8-5 league mark. HU is 13-5 overall.  

Saturday recaps sponsored by Bufffalo Wild Wings: Grab your friends and get to B-Dubs on Sunday nights for College Nights at 9 p.m. 50% off 1 food item with ID and $3 apps at the Buffalo Wild Wings located on Hwy 10 in Moorhead.