Middle Quarters Prove Decisive In Opening Game of 2022

RIVER FALLS, Wis. (01/02/22)---The middle two quarters proved to be the deciding factor in Concordia's first game of 2022. The Cobbers were outscored 43-29 in the second and third frames of play and lost 73-61 at Wis.-River Falls.

Concordia held a 32-30 edge in the first and fourth quarters of play but scoring runs by the Falcons in the middle part of the contest, coupled with a cold shooting touch from the outside, sent CC to its sixth straight loss.

The Cobbers are now 1-7 for the season, while River Falls wins for the third straight game and improves to 7-4.

Concordia shot 27.3% (3-for-11) from outside the arc compared to 34.8% (8-for-23) for River Falls. The Falcons were also able to pull away in the second and third quarters by making 51.6% (16-for-31) of their attempts from the floor and going 6-for-8 from the foul line.

One of the other big differences in the game came from the play of Falcon's guard Macy Nelson who went 10-for-19 from the floor, 4-for-7 from distance and finished with a career-high 29 points.

The Cobbers controlled the paint area for the entire game. CC had a 33-31 advantage in rebounding, and outscored the Falcons 32-24 in points in the paint.

Senior Mary Sem had a season-high 18 points, which included 12 in the second half. She went 8-for-14 from the floor and also grabbed four rebounds.

Sem has now scored in double figures in four straight games and six of the past seven. She is currently second on the Cobbers in scoring with a 12.4 ppg average.   

Symone Beld, Jordyn Kahler and Emily Beseman had eight points each. Beld led the team in rebounding with six, while Kahler was 2-for-2 from outside the arc and Beseman was held to a season-low six field goal attempts. The eight points and six rebounds are a season-high for Beld.

Senior Taviahna Tanin recorded season-high totals in points and rebounds with five in each statistical category.

UP NEXT: Concordia will host its 2022 conference opener when they square off against St. Olaf on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 5 p.m. The Oles are 3-6 overall and 2-4 in MIAC play, but haven't played a game in 2022.