WINONA, Minn. — A nail-biting game ended in disappointment for the Saint Mary's women's basketball team Saturday afternoon
Despite a tight battle, the Cobbers grabbed an early lead and never relinquished it in dealing the Cardinals a 67-61 setback in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup at the Saint Mary's Gym.
The Cardinals kept pace with the Cobbers, matching them basket-for-basket during the game's opening minutes. However, consecutive field goals by CC's Greta Tollefson jump-started a late Concordia run that put the Cobbers in front 18-13 after the opening quarter.
The Cardinals climbed within one off of a basket by
Brooklyn Paulson (Holmen, Wis.) with less than six minutes to go in the second quarter. And
Graysin Hartjes (Kaukauna, Wis.) netted a 3-pointer with 38 seconds left in the half, keeping the Cardinals within one score, down 29-27 at the break.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Concordia would continue to pull further ahead in the third quarter.
Ashely Streveler (Colby, Wis.) knocked down eight consecutive points in an impressive rally for the Cardinals, but the Cobbers continued to rack up the points, leading the Cardinals by as many as 10. A basket by
Izzy Goettelman (Winona, Minn.) reduced the Cardinal's deficit to 53-45 to finish the third.
The Cardinal's were able to come within three points of the Cobbers in the fourth quarter, but that would be the closest they would get. A missed game-tying 3-pointer and a turnover — both in the final 45 seconds of the game — proved fatal to the Cardinals, as the Cobbers escaped with the six-point win.
The Cardinals went 19-for-65 from the field (29.2%), including five 3-pointers, and completing 18 free throws. Goettelman led the team with 17 points, while Paulson and Streveler also managed double-digits, with 14 and 12, respectively. Paulson also added 12 rebounds in recording her third double-double of the season.
The Cardinals (4-9 MIAC, 5-11 overall) will hit the road on Wednesday, as they travel to St. Catherine's Butler Center in St. Paul, Minn., for a 7 p.m. conference showdown.
