A Buzzer-Beating Layup Away From Success

ST. PAUL, Minn. (12/11/21)---It's getting closer and closer. Concordia was 1-second away from snapping its 4-game losing streak, but a buzzer-beating layup and a 10-4 burst in overtime sent the Cobbers to a 77-71 loss at Hamline.

A made free throw by senior Mary Sem gave Concordia a 67-65 lead with 6-seconds remaining in regulation. The Pipers called timeout, and then got the ball inside where a layup at the buzzer found the basket and send the teams into an extra period.

Sophomore Jordyn Kahler scored three straight points to start the OT period and give CC a 70-67 lead with 3:29 remaining. Kahler would make one more free throw in OT and that would be the only scoring for the Cobbers as they conceded a 10-1 run and lost by six points.

Concordia is now 1-6 overall and 1-5 in the MIAC. Hamline, the surprise team in the conference this year, wins for the fifth straight game and is 6-2 in all games and 5-1 in league play.     

The Cobbers did a good job of controlling play around the basket against Hamline. Concordia held a 44-33 edge in rebounding and a 15-8 advantage in second-chance points.

CC was done in by turnovers. The Cobbers committed a season-high 29 miscues. The Pipers were able to turn that stat into a 22-15 margin in points off of turnovers.

Concordia shot 43.1% (25-for-58) from the floor and 34.8% (8-for-23) from outside the arc. Both marks from 3-point range are season bests for the Cobbers.

Hamline had similar shooting numbers. They connected on 44.3% (27-for-61) of their shots from the field and 35.0% (7-for-20) of their attempts from distance.

The Cobbers had three players finish with double-digit point totals. Junior Emily Beseman posted a game-high 20 points, and made four of the team's eight shots from outside the arc. It is the second time this season she has scored at least 20 points in a game.

Beseman also tied Makayla Anderson for the team lead in rebounds with six.

Sem was 7-for-12 (58.3%) from the floor and had 17 points for the second straight game.

Kahler came off the bench to play 22 minutes and scored a career-high 12 points. She went 4-for-5 from the field and 2-for-3 from 3-point range.  
   
UP NEXT: Concordia will hope a trip to the desert will bring success. The Cobbers will fly to Las Vegas, Nev. to compete in the South Point D3 Invitational on Dec. 28-30. CC will play Whitter (Calif.) on Dec. 28-30. CC will play its first of two games in Vegas on Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. (cst) against Occidental.