MOORHEAD, Minn. — Saint Mary's University women's basketball coach
Mandy Pearson knew that if her Cardinals were going to be able to keep pace with Concordia Saturday afternoon, they were going to have to get off to a good start.
Mission accomplished.
The Cardinals shot 53 percent from the field in the game's opening 20 minutes and trailed the high-powered Cobbers by just two points, 29-27, at the break.
SMU then went out and smothered the Concordia offensive attack, holding the Cobbers to just 19 second-half points.
Unfortunately for Pearson, while the Cardinal defense was doing its part, the SMU offense couldn't keep up its torrid first-half pace, managing just 16 points over the final 20 minutes in falling to the Cobbers 46-43 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest.
Jess Miller (Carver, Minn.), who was held to just five points in SMU's 62-53 win over St. Olaf on Wednesday, tossed in a game-high 19 points vs. the Cobbers, while
Cherie Kulig (Independence, Wis.) chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Cobbers (8-2 MIAC, 9-4 Overall) also boasted two players in double figures, as Erica Nord tossed in 15 points and Maggie Bauemfeind finished with 11.
SMU got off to that much-needed flying start, jumping out to an 11-4 advantage, while also leading 15-7 with 11 minutes remaining in the opening half. The Cobbers, however, clawed their way back, taking their first lead, 23-22 on a 3-pointer by Nord with 5:18 on the clock. Concordia would scored six of the next 11 points to take its two-point, 29-27, advantage into the break.
The Cardinals held Concordia to just 6 of 25 shooting from the field in the second half, but could not get their own offense on track, also managing just six second-half field goals in falling to 3-7 in conference play and 4-9 overall.
SMU is back in action on Monday, returing home for a 5:45 p.m. conference contest against Augsburg.
