Concordia holds off Midland University, 81-72

Concordia University picked up its first conference win of the season with an 81-72 win over Midland University on Tuesday evening in Fremont.  The Bulldogs improved to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in GPAC play with the victory.  Midland dropped to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in GPAC play with the loss. 

The Bulldogs led for the majority of the first half.  Kat Ommen (Jefferson City, Mo.) and Kristen Conahan (Omaha, Neb.) delivered 10 and eight points off the bench, respectively, in the first half for Concordia.  The Bulldogs took a 42-37 lead into halftime. 

Concordia extended its lead in the second half and looked to have firm control of the game.  The Bulldogs led by 17 at 62-45 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the contest, but Midland University rallied down the stretch.  The host Warriors cut the lead all the way down to four (70-66) with 3:43 left in regulation.  However, Katie Rich (Tilden, Neb.) hit a pair of free throws and a jumper to push the Bulldog lead back to eight at 74-66 with just over a minute left to play.  The Bulldogs used solid free throw shooting down the stretch to secure the 81-72 win. 

For the game, Concordia was 24-of-61 (39.3 percent) from the field.  The Bulldogs connected on 9-of-23 (39.1 percent) shots from long distance and were 24-of-30 (80 percent) from the foul line.  Concordia finished with 20 turnovers on the game.  The Bulldog defense, however, totaled 18 steals on the night. 

Ommen paced the Bulldogs offensively with 18 points.  The senior was 4-of-8 from the field and 8-of-10 at the charity stripe.  Conahan added 12 points, three assists and six steals.  Rich poured in 15 points to go along with a team-high six rebounds, and Amber Kistler (Minatare, Neb.) delivered 11 points for the Bulldogs. 

Midland University was 26-of-54 (48.1 percent) from the field on the night.  The Warriors were just 7-of-22 (31.8 percent) from deep and 13-of-19 (68.4 percent) at the foul line.  Midland managed to hold a commanding 43-31 rebounding advantage.  Turnovers were costly for Midland, as the Warriors finished with 35 in the loss. 

Megan Torkelson led three players in double figures for the Warriors with 16 points.  Jami Thramer added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Adrina LaVern scored 13 points for Midland University. 

Concordia travels to Doane College on December 1.