Snowy Split In Michigan

STORY LINE: Concordia survived a winter storm on their way to Hancock, Mich. and then split their first two games of the year at Finlandia. The Cobbers fell 70-68 on Saturday in the season opener against Calvin (Mich.) and then beat host Finlandia on Sunday 63-42.

DOWN TO THE WIRE: Concordia's opener against Calvin went down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter. The Cobbers took a 68-61 lead on an Autumn Thompson 3-pointer with 3:59 to play but then the Knights went on a 9-0 run to finish off the contest. Concordia held a 68-67 lead with just over 30-seconds remaining before Calvin scored on a layup and then got a rebound on the next CC possession. The Knights took a 69-68 lead on the next trip down the floor and added a free throw in the final 10 seconds of play. Concordia had a chance to tie the game in the waning seconds but a missed jump shot fell off the rim.

SECOND QUARTER SUCCESS: The Cobbers used a huge second quarter to pull away from Finlandia on Sunday. Concordia led by only four points after the first period of play but then outscored the Lions 19-7 to take a 36-20 lead into the halftime break. The Cobbers allowed Finlandia to close the gap to 15 points after the third quarter but then put the game away by posting a 17-11 margin in the fourth period.

DOUBLE DIGIT POINT PATROL: Senior guard Grace Wolhowe led the Cobbers in scoring on the weekend as she scored at least 17 points in both games. She put up 18 points on Saturday and then rallied to score 17 points against Finlandia. Junior forward Mira Ellefson was one point shy of her career best point total in a single game on Sunday as she finished with 16 points. Ellefson had six points on Saturday to come away with an 11.0 ppg average.

RIPPIN' THE REBOUNDS: Senior Kirstin Simmons had a team-best 19 rebounds on the weekend. She grabbed eight against Calvin and then had 11 vs. Finlandia. Grace Wolhow also did well on the glass as she average 6.5 boards in the two games.

RIPPIN' THE REBOUNDS 2: Concordia held a 49-24 edge in rebounds on Sunday against the Lions. The 49 rebounds are more than they had in a single game in all of last season and the most since they also grabbed 49 against Hamline at the end of the 2016-17 season.  

FEW FOULS: Concordia only committed nine fouls in the game against Finlandia. The Cobbers only had three total fouls in the first half and then had three each in the third and fourth quarters. The nine fouls ties last year's season low when they had nine at home vs. Macalester.  

UP NEXT: Concordia will return to Moorhead to host their home opener on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. against Valley City State. The Vikings are 2-3 on the season and are coming off a 68-56 loss at St. Cloud State on Saturday.