Second-Half Defensive Stand Leads To Key Road Win

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. (1/15/14)—Concordia's defense was at its best when it mattered most and keyed the Cobbers' 69-63 comeback win at St. Ben's. Concordia limited the Blazers to a mere 27.3% (9-for-33) shooting from the floor and 28.6% (2-for-9) from 3-point range in the second 20 minutes of play.

The second-half performance keeps Concordia within striking distance of the top of the MIAC. The Cobbers are now 10-3 overall and 8-2 in league play. They currently sit one game out of first place. The loss is the third in the last five games for St. Ben's and drops CSB to 7-5 in all games and 4-5 in the conference. The Blazers are currently in seventh place in the league standings.

Concordia put up almost identical field goal percentages in both periods - shooting 37.9% (11-for-29) in the first period and 37.0% (10-for-27) in the second half – but it was the play on the defensive end that sparked the victory. In the first half, the Cobbers couldn't come up with key stops and were never able to make extended runs at St. Ben's. That changed after the halftime break. CC held St. Ben's to just two field goals in the first 9:25 of the second half and by that time had erased the 32-27 deficit to take a two-point lead.

The other big defensive stand came midway through the final period after the Blazers had taken their final lead of the game at 45-44. CC then dug in and held CSB to 2-for-7 from the floor and forced a trio of turnovers. That turned a one-point deficit into a nine-point lead. The Cobbers refused to let St. Ben's get within three points for the final 3:36 of the game and finished with a six-point victory.

Senior center Kelsey Walloch was the poster player for the Cobbers' second-half comeback. Walloch had a mere two points in the first half and then exploded for 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists in the final stanza. She finished with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds to record her second collegiate double-double.

Walloch was one of four Concordia players to score in double figures. Junior guard Alley Fisher went 4-for-5 from the floor, 2-for-2 from 3-point range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line and scored a team-high 14 points. Senior guard Erika Jossart was a single rebound away from her first collegiate double-double. She put up 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Alexandra Lippert went 5-for-9 from the floor and added 10 points. She also had three blocks. Lippert now has 978 career points and needs 22 more to become the first player in Cobber history to score 1,000 points, grab 500 rebounds and block 200 shots.

Concordia's presence inside helped CC record a 46-38 advantage in rebounds. The Cobbers also scored 30 of their 69 points in the paint.

Concordia will now face league-leading St. Thomas. The Cobbers and Tommies square off on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. in St. Paul.