The concordia women's basketball team (19-9) got a 68-56 win over southwest minnesota state (7-21) in the first round of the nsic red baron classic wednesday at the gangelhoff center. With the win, the bears earn the right to host the 2007 nsic red baron classic on mar. 3-4.

junior amanda behnke topped 1,000 career points with an 18-point performance to lead the bears. She had 174 points as a freshman at winthrop university and now has 1,011 career points. Behnke also added a game-high 13 rebounds to record her eighth double-double of the season. She finished the game shooting 7-13 from the field and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.

junior katie laviolette also registered a double-double 13 points and 13 assists, her fifth double-double of the season. She was 5-12 from the floor and 3-4 from the charity stripe.

junior kelly lund (left)finished with 13 points and six rebounds, while junior mary schroeder had 11 points and six rebounds as the only other players in double-figures for concordia.

the bears shot 24-58 (41.4) from the field, 5-19 (26.3) from three point range and 15-19 (78.9) from the free throw line. The mustangs were held to only 1-13 (7.7) from beyond the three point arc and 19-52 (36.5) from the field. They were 17-20 (85.0) from the free throw line.

concordia outrebounded southwest minneosta state 39-32 and forced 12 mustang turnovers, compared to 11 for the bears.

smsu was led by betsy tasca with 15 points and six rebounds. Sara leidall finished with nine points and a team-high seven rebounds.

concordia will play wayne state, a 77-70 winner over winona state in the first round at 4:00 on saturday, mar. 3. The other game of the day will pit northern state against msu moorhead at 2:00.

box score

first round nsic red baron classic results (feb. 28)
#1 concordia 68, #8 southwest mn state 56
#2 msu moorhead 75, #7 upper iowa 68
#3 northern state 72, #6 bemidji state 56
#4 wayne state 77, #5 winona state 72

semifinals - nsic red baron classic (mar. 3 - gangelhoff center)
#2 msu moorhead vs. #3 nothern state - 2:00
#1 concordia vs. #4 wayne state - 4:00

finals - nsic red baron classic (mar. 3 - gangelhoff center)
winner semifinal 1 vs. Winner semifinal 2