The12th-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska women's basketball teamed rallied from a ten-point deficit in the first half for a 70-57 victory over Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers on Saturday afternoon in Seward, Neb. Concordia (10-1, 4-1 GPAC) struggled from the field in the first-half, making just nine shots (32.1 percent). After shooting 44 percent in the opening frame the Tigers (5-7, 2-3 GPAC) cooled off in the second half shooting 32.3 percent from the field.
Dakota Wesleyan outscored the Bulldogs 16-6 in the opening 8:26 of the game. Concordia bounced back to tie the game at 18 just five minutes later. During the 12-2 run the Bulldogs got a three by Melissa Tinkham to pull within four. Freshman Kristin Miller sank a pair of free throws to cap the run.
After trading leads the final six minutes of the half, a bucket by Tinkham tied the game at 28 heading into intermission.
After the break the squads played even basketball until the 11:22 mark. From that point on Bulldogs picked up the intensity on both ends of the court, going on a 13-3 run to take a 10-point advantage. Tinkham hit back-to-back threes to fuel the run that was capped by a pair of Jordan Schmoldt free throws after a steal.
The Concordia lead swelled to as many as 16 on two occasions down the stretch thanks in part to 12 second chance points on eight offensive boards. For the game the Bulldogs won the battle on the glass 44-31.
Concordia benefited from a strong performance at the charity stripe converting on 83.3 percent of their opportunities. In fact the Bulldogs made more free throws (20-of-24), than Dakota Wesleyan attempted (15).
Whitney Stichka led the Bulldogs offensively with 22 points to go along with seven boards. Stichka was one of three Concordia players in double digits including Tinkham with 18 and Schmoldt with 12. Tinkham was two rebounds away from a double-double with eight. Libby Hirssig also grabbed eight rebounds.
Dakota Wesleyan was paced by Allison Johnson with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field. Sarah Mortenson added 10 points. Ashley Johnson had six assists and five rebounds. No one else had more than seven points for the Tigers.
The Bulldogs have one more home game before the holiday break, taking on Peru State on Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. Concordia will then take part in the Columbia College Classic on Dec. 28-29 facing William Woods and the host Columbia College.
