Four different players scored in double figures as the Concordia University, Nebraska women's basketball team defeated Doane College, 82-73, despite a a poor performance from the charity stripe on Tuesday night in Seward Neb. Concordia (7-0, 2-0 GPAC) shot just 53.3 percent from the free throw line in the game, including a 5-for-14 performance in the first half. Doane (5-5, 1-1 GPAC) has now dropped three straight games.
The Bulldogs trailed just once, after the opening bucket, but were unable to shake the Tigers in the first half. A traditional three-point play by junior Whitney Stichka gave Concordia their biggest lead of the first half, 11, at the 11:22 mark.
Doane countered with a 13-5 run over the next five and a half minutes to pull within three on a putback by Jackie Knievel. Concordia's Libby Hirssig was left open on the wing on the next possession and drained a three to push the Bulldog lead back to six.
Trailing by nine with 2:28 left, the Tigers closed the half strong, getting back-to-back three-point field goals by Alissa Holland and Lindsay Anderson. Anderson capped the half with a jumper to pull Doane within a bucket 35-33.
In the second half the Tigers got as close as one on three occasions and twice the Bulldogs answered with long-range field goals, one by Stichka, the other by Danae Koopman.
Junior Melissa Tinkham put the Bulldogs up by nine with 13:37 left on another triple. But Doane battle back within one just 90 seconds later on a fastbreak layup by Anderson.
Concordia then outscored the Tigers 9-0 in the next three minutes, forcing two missed shots and three turnovers. Senior Jordan Schmoldt capped the run for the Bulldogs on a backdoor pass from Koopman.
The Tigers got no closer than six the rest of the way as the Bulldog lead ballooned to as many as 14. Despite struggling from the line in the first half, Concordia improved in the second frame, hitting 11-of-16 from the stripe.
Hirssig paced the Bulldogs, scoring 16 points off the bench on 5-of-8 from the field. She also grabbed six rebounds. Stichka and Tinkham each added 15 points apiece and accounted for four of Concordia's seven triples. Koopman rounded out the Bulldogs in double digits with 13, including some clutch shots.
Amber Quin and Tinkham tied for team high honors on the glass, grabbing seven boards each. As a team the Bulldogs out-rebounded the Tigers, 41-34.
After struggling from the field in their past two games, shooting under 30 percent, Doane shot 50.9 percent for the game. Vanessa Munter came off the bench to lead the Tigers with a game-high 18 points. Anderson added 16 to go along with 13 and 12 by Hannah Helman and Amy Fox respectively.
