the bears ended 2005 with their fourth consecutive win with a 53-41 win over csu pueblo at the best western central classic womenrsquo;s basketball tournament in denver. Concordia survived 23.5 percent field goal shooting in the first half by forcing 16 turnovers and winning the rebounding advantage to improve to 7-4 on the season.

ashley smith led the bears with 12 points, while amanda behnke had 11 points and katie laviolette added 10 points. Smith posted a game-high eight rebounds.

in a defensive struggle, csu-pueblo shot just 22.2 percent (6-for-27) in the second half, including 0-for-12 from three-point land. The bears held csu-pueblo to just 2-22 (9.1 percent) from long range for the game. Concordia outrebounded the thunderwolves, 50-37, including 20 offensive boards, and shot 44.4 percent (12-for-27) in the second period.

concordia-st. Paul led by 11, 36-25, with 12:33 to go in the game but csu-pueblo fought back to cut it to seven, 38-31, with under 10 minutes remaining. However, a trey by smith pushed it back to 10, 41-31, with 8:13 left. The thunderwolves again trailed by seven, 44-37, with 6:15 to go but the golden bears went on a 9-4 run to lead by 12, 53-41, with 1:31 remaining.

in the first half, the two teams combined for just 17 points in the first 10 minutes of the contest. Concordia held a 28-18 advantage on the boards in the opening 20 minutes and outscored csu-pueblo, 10-2, on second-chance points.

the bears will face regis on jan. 2 at 2:00 before beginning the nsic play on jan. 6th against bemidji state at the gangelhoff center.