Second-Half Surge Delivers First Road Win

ST. PAUL, Minn. (01/26/22)---Concordia was able to wear down Macalester in the second half, and overcame a torrid first-half shooting display by the Scots to post a 67-58 win in St. Paul.

The Cobbers outscored Macalester 34-19 in the second after watching the Scots shoot 71.4% from distance and 60.7% from the floor in the first half to take a 39-33 lead into the break.

The win is the third straight and fifth in the last six games for Concordia. The five victories in six games is the best 6-game stretch for CC since the 2016 season when they won six straight at the end of January.

The victory in St. Paul is also the first road win of the year for the Cobbers and turns the tables on the first game between the teams in Moorhead where Macalester outscored Concordia 33-22 in the second half and won 58-46.

CC is now 6-8 overall and 6-6 in league play. The victory also gives Concordia sole possession of sixth place in the MIAC – one game ahead of the Scots. Macalester is now 8-9 in all games and 6-8 in the conference.

The turning point of the game came at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth period. The Cobbers outscored the Scots 7-0 in the final 3-minutes of the third to take a 46-45 lead into the final stanza of play. CC would the outscore Macalester 10-0 in a span of 2:55 around the midway point of the fourth to seize control and grab an 11-point lead at 58-47.

Concordia's second-half surge didn't come via the long ball, instead CC relied on scoring points around the basket. The Cobbers made seven more field goals than the Scots in the final two quarters of play and held a 20-4 advantage in points in the paint.

The Cobbers shot 45.2% (28-for-62) from the floor for the game and 20.8% (4-for-13) from outside the arc. Macalester shot just 21.9% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range to finish the game with a 40.0% (24-for-60) shooting percentage from the floor and a 37.5% (9-for-24) mark from distance.

Concordia was 7-for-11 from the foul line, while the Scots only shot two free throws (1-for-2) for the entire game. The two attempted free throws is the fewest by a CC opponent all season.

The Cobbers had two players finish in double figures in scoring. Emily Beseman came away with 14 points and four rebounds, while Jennie Sem had 13 points and a similar four boards.

Freshman Symone Beld led CC on the glass. She grabbed six boards and added five points.

Another key factor in the game was the Cobbers' overall depth. CC used 12 players in the game, with 10 scoring at least two points. Macalester used seven players with six adding to the score total.  

UP NEXT: Concordia will look to continue its recent success when it hosts St. Benedict in a Saturday matinee game on Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. The Bennies are 11-5 overall and 8-5 in the MIAC – and like the Cobbers, have won three straight.