Concordia advances in GPAC Tournament with 61-58 win over Hastings College

Concordia University held on for a 61-58 women’s basketball win over Hastings College in the opening round of the GPAC Tournament on Tuesday evening in Seward.  With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 15-16 on the year.  Concordia will now travel to Northwestern College on Thursday evening at 6 p.m.  Hastings College ended the year at 12-18. 

Hastings College held the lead for the entire first half.  The visiting Broncos raced out to a quick 6-0 start in the opening minutes of the contest and led by as many as seven on two occasions in the half.  Concordia rallied, however, and tied the game at 36-36 with half a minute remaining in the half.  A late basket by Melissa Thompson gave Hastings a slim 38-36 advantage heading into halftime. 

Concordia took advantage of a long dry spell by the Broncos to start the second half.  Following a pair of made free throws by Alicia Statler which made the score 40-36, Hastings didn’t score again for 10 minutes.  Concordia scored nine straight during that stretch to grab a 45-40 lead. 

Hastings had an answer, and there were several ties and lead changes down the stretch.  A layup by Sophia McDermott gave Hastings the lead at 55-54 with three minutes left in regulation.  Kristin Miller (Jefferson City, Mo.) gave Concordia the lead at 56-55 with a layup with just under two minutes remaining.  The Bulldogs forced a Hastings miss, and Kristen Conahan (Omaha, Neb.) hit a big 3-pointer as the shot clock was winding down to push the Bulldog lead to four at 59-55 with less than half a minute to play. 

Following another Hastings College miss, Katie Rich (Tilden, Neb.) hit a pair of free throws to stretch the Bulldog lead to six at 61-55 with 18 seconds remaining.  McDermott connected on a 3-pointer as time was winding down to pull the Broncos within three at 61-58.  However, Concordia was able to run the clock out and secure the 61-58 win. 

Concordia managed to pick up the win despite struggles from the field.  Concordia was just 19-of-56 (33.9 percent) overall and 7-of-24 (29.2 percent) from deep in the game.  The Bulldogs finished 16-of-23 at the foul line for 69.6 percent.  Concordia held a 44-33 rebounding advantage in the contest. 

Kat Ommen (Jefferson City, Mo.) led three players in double figures with 13 points.  Rich added 12 points, and Conahan delivered 11.  Miller added eight points and a game-high nine rebounds, and Lori Laboda (Parker, Colo.) grabbed eight boards for the Bulldogs. 

Hastings also struggled offensively, hitting just 19-of-54 (35.2 percent) shots overall and 4-of-12 (33.3 percent) 3-pointers.  The Broncos were solid at the line and were 16-of-17 on the night for 94.1 percent. 

Alicia Statler scored a game-high 16 for the Broncos despite foul troubles throughout the evening.  Melissa Thompson added 12 points, while Frankie Petersen and Courtney Spawn each had four assists for the Broncos in the loss.