Outkicked In The End
Concordia battled second-place Hamline through the first 35 minutes, but were outkicked in the final five minutes and lost 66-61.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (02/05/22)---If Concordia's game with Hamline was a long-distance race, the Cobbers would have been outkicked in the final 500 meters. If it was a tennis match, CC would have dropped the last two games to lose a 5-set thriller.
On Saturday, Concordia battled second-place Hamline through the first 35 minutes before a 7-2 run by the Pipers with 5-minutes to play in regulation with the scored tied at 55-55 proved to be the knockout punch in a 66-61 win.
The Cobbers had a chance to tie the game with 20-seconds to play. The Cobbers trailed 64-61 and set up for an inbounds play in the frontcourt. CC got an open look at a game-tying 3-point shot, but the attempt was off the mark and HU was able to make two straight free throws to seal the win.
The loss is only the second at home for Concordia, and first since the end of November. CC is now 7-10 in all games and 7-8 in conference play. Hamline wins for the fourth straight game and sixth time in the last seven outings. They are now 15-4 overall and 13-3 in the MIAC. The Pipers are .5 games ahead of Gustavus for second place in the league standings.
The Cobbers led for 18:25 of the 20-minutes in the first half, and led by as many as 12 points, before the Pipers went on a 9-1 streak in the final 4-minutes of the second quarter to bring the score to 30-29 at the halftime break.
The game between the Cobbers and Pipers featured six tie scores with multiple momentum swings. Concordia led by eight points at 55-47 with 8:45 to play in the fourth quarter, but then HU went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 55-55. They would then extend that string to 15-2 to post the final momentum grabber of the game.
Both teams posted similar shooting percentages from the floor and from outside the arc, but it was Hamline's ability to get to the line that was one of the differences. Concordia was 4-for-5 from the foul line in the 40 minutes of play, while the Pipers were 12-for-18. Hamline also held a 36-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Junior Emily Beseman made a team-best three shots from distance and led the Cobbers with 18 points. She also grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists.
Makayla Anderson was two boards shy of her second straight double-double. She went 7-for-10 from the floor, finished with 14 points and had a team-high eight rebounds.
Jordyn Kahler made a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the game and gave Concordia three players in double figures in scoring. She had 10 points and five rebounds.
UP NEXT: Concordia have a pair of opportunities to get back to their winning ways at home in the first three days of the upcoming week. CC will host Bethel on Monday, Feb. 7, and then face Gustavus at home on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Both games are slated for a 5:45 p.m. start time.