Offensive struggles continue for Concordia in 53-52 loss to Doane College

A pair of made free throws by Kristine Ortmeier in the closing seconds of the game lifted Doane College to a 53-52 women’s basketball win over Concordia on Wednesday evening in Seward.  The visiting Tigers improved to 7-13 overall and 5-6 in the GPAC with the win.  Concordia dropped its second straight to fall to 11-11 overall and 4-8 in the GPAC. 

Doane opened the game on an 11-0 run.  Concordia didn’t score its first basket until almost seven minutes into the game.  From there, Concordia used a 17-2 run to grab a 17-13 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the opening half.  The teams traded leads several times down the stretch, and Doane took a slim 27-25 lead into halftime. 

The Tigers led by five (30-25) in the opening minute of the second half, but Concordia again had an answer.  Concordia reclaimed the lead at 35-34 with 14 minutes remaining.  The Bulldogs held the lead for the majority of the second half and led by as many as eight (50-42) with just over three minutes remaining in regulation.

Ortmeier took over in the final minutes to fuel the Doane College comeback.  Following a free throw by Cheryl Braithwait to cut the Bulldog lead to seven at 50-43, Ortmeier connected on a pair of free throws and scored in the lane to pull the Tigers within three at 50-47. 

Treva Nutter (Thedford, Neb.) hit a free throw to extend Concordia’s lead back to four at 51-47 with two minutes left to play.  Following a Doane timeout, Ortmeier scored and was fouled on the play.  The made free throw cut Concordia’s lead to just one at 51-50 with just over a minute remaining. 

Following a Concordia miss, Brittany Lurz hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 51-51 with half a minute to play.  Concordia’s Kristin Miller (Jefferson City, Mo.) was fouled with 10 seconds remaining and hit one of two from the line to give Concordia a slim 52-51 lead.  Ortmeier was fouled with a few seconds remaining.  She hit both free throws to give Doane the 53-52 advantage.  A desperation 3-pointer by Concordia at the buzzer was no good, and the Tigers secured the 53-52 victory. 

Doane was 19-of-39 (48.7 percent) from the field in the win, including 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) from the field in the opening half.  The Tigers were 4-of-13 (30.8 percent) from behind the arc and 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) from the free throw line.  Doane had 13 assists on their 19 made field goals and won the game despite 26 turnovers on the night. 

Ortmeier scored a game-high 14 points in just 11 minutes of action off the bench to lead Doane.  She was 3-of-4 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line.  Nicole Skolnick added 12 points, six boards and five assists, while Brittany Luetter scored nine points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from long range. 

Concordia struggled offensively throughout the evening in the loss.  The Bulldogs were just 14-of-50 (28 percent) from the field overall and 4-of-17 (23.5 percent) from deep.  Concordia finished 20-of-25 (80 percent) at the foul line and held a slim 31-30 rebounding advantage in the contest.  The Bulldogs finished with 18 turnovers. 

Kristen Conahan (Omaha, Neb.) scored a team-high 12 points and added six steals for the Bulldogs in a losing effort.  Katie Rich (Tilden, Neb.) and Kat Ommen (Jefferson City, Mo.) added nine points apiece. 

Concordia will compete in the Concordia Invitational Tournament on Friday and Saturday in Michigan.