Late Free Throws Lift Cobbers Past Hardin-Simmons, 67–65

ABILENE, Texas (12/29/25) — Concordia battled through four tightly contested quarters, scored three of the final four points - including a pair of game-deciding free throws by Kaitlyn Rohloff - earned the Cobbers a 67–65 victory over Hardin-Simmons on Monday night.

The win was the fifth straight for Concordia, who improve to 9-1 on the season. The last time the Cobbers won nine of their first 10 games of the year was back in the 1987-88 season when they went on to win the NCAA National Championship.  

The Cobbers set the tone early, opening the game on an 18–4 run in the first quarter, capped by a Kaia Gack 3-pointer. Hardin-Simmons responded with back-to-back three-pointers late in the period to cut the deficit to eight, and Concordia held an 18–10 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.

Concordia struck first in the second quarter as Maya Metcalf connected on a jump shot to extend the lead to 20–10. Maci Wheeldon followed with a pair of free throws and a layup to give the Cobbers a 24–14 cushion. The Cowgirls answered with a scoring run capped by a three-pointer at the 4:43 mark to pull within one and force a Concordia timeout.

Genevieve Gruba knocked down two free throws, but Hardin-Simmons responded with consecutive layups to take a 27–26 lead. Back-to-back three-pointers by the Cowgirls pushed their advantage to 33–28 before Taya Jeffrey hit a clutch three in the closing seconds to send Concordia into halftime trailing just 33–31. Hardin-Simmons outscored the Cobbers 23–13 in the quarter.

The third period remained tightly contested. A Hardin-Simmons jump shot put the Cowgirls up four early, but Wheeldon and Molly Musland answered to tie the game at 35. Following another Wheeldon layup, Concordia briefly took a 37–35 lead before the Cowgirls reclaimed the advantage with a three-pointer.

Wheeldon again responded with a layup to put the Cobbers ahead 41–40, but Hardin-Simmons answered with a layup and a three out of a timeout to build a four-point lead. Another Cowgirl three at the 4:17 mark extended the margin to 48–41.

Taylor Safranski sparked a Concordia response with a jump shot, followed by free throws from Gack and a layup from Gruba. The Cobbers closed the quarter strong and entered the final period trailing just 48–47.

Concordia delivered its strongest stretch of the night in the fourth quarter. Rohloff opened the scoring with a layup to give the Cobbers a 49–48 lead. After Hardin-Simmons hit a three, Metcalf answered immediately with a clutch three-pointer of her own.

Free throws from Olivia Hanson and another Rohloff layup extended the Cobbers' lead to 56–51 with 7:17 remaining. Gruba and Jeffrey added layups to push the advantage to 60–53, Concordia's largest lead since the first quarter.

The Cowgirls chipped away with back-to-back layups and a free throw to make it a two-point game. At the 3:15 mark, Hardin-Simmons tied the game at 60–60 following two free throws. Musland responded with a jump shot to regain the lead, and Gruba came up with a key block at the 2:26 mark to maintain the Cobbers' edge.

With 1:17 remaining, Metcalf drove to the basket for a layup to put Concordia up 64–62. Hardin-Simmons tied the game once more with a layup at the 0:48 mark, but first-year guard Rohloff came up big in the closing seconds, knocking down two free throws with 0:19 left to give the Cobbers a two-point lead.

Safranski sealed the victory at the free-throw line in the final moments, and Concordia secured a defensive stop on Hardin-Simmons' final possession to clinch the 67–65 win.

Metcalf and Wheeldon led the Cobbers with 14 points apiece, while Jeffrey added nine. Concordia's bench provided a significant boost, with Rohloff scoring eight points and Gack adding seven. Metcalf also recorded a double-double with a season-high 15 rebounds, and Safranski dished out a team-high four assists.

The Cobbers improve to 9–1 on the season and return to action on Friday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. when they face Saint Scholastica.