saint paul, minn. - the golden bears (3-3) fell for the first time in the gangelhoff center this year, falling 66-52 to #9 michigan tech (4-1). Concordia built up a 28-17 half time lead but was unable to hang on as michigan tech exploded in the second half shooting 60.0% from the field and going 6-8 from behind the arc in the final 20 minutes of action. jodi batzel (rochester, minn.) led cu with 21 points on the afternoon. anika whiting (ashland, wis.) added 13 as she was the only other player in double figures for concordia. box score

concordia and michigan tech struggled to find any offense in the first five minutes of action. Neither team scored in the first 4:43 of play, with mtu opening up the scoring. Concordia went on a 17-4 run over the next seven plus minutes of action taking a 19-6 lead with 7:00 minutes left. Concordia was able to get the ball down low in the paint and used their size to gain the advantage. Michigan tech closed the gap to nine a couple times but cu maintained the 11 point advantage into half.

batzel and whiting combined for 19 of the golden bears 28 first half points, outscoring mtu in the paint 16-6 in the first half. Concordia was held in check from the outside, not even taking a shot from behind the arc. Michigan tech was not much better shooting just 1-15 from behind the arc in first half and were just 7-33 from the field all together.

in the second half mtu figured out get the ball in the basket from inside and out. Michigan tech cut cu's lead five four minutes into the second half. It took them about seven minutes to come all the way back tying the game at 40 with 13:09 left. Tech took control of the game over the a span of seven plus minutes in the second half going on a 19-0 run and taking a 55-40 lead with 7:59 left. Concordia went 6:30 with a point and 7:21 with a field goal in the second half. Concordia got with eight with 3:31 left thanks to a 8-0 run but cu went scoreless the rest of the way falling 66-52.

michigan tech was on fire in the second half shooting 60.0% from the field and 75.0% from behind the arc. Mtu's sam hoyt had 22 points in the second half alone on 7-10 shooting including four made three pointers. She was named mvp of the radisson roseville classic following the game.

the golden bears are back at home next weekend as they open up nsic play with matches against northern state and u-mary on friday and saturday.

radisson roseville classic all-tournament team:
emily greiner, mount mercy
megan eul, minnesota, crookston
jodi batzel, concordia
lynn giesler, michigan tech
mvp - sam hoyt, michigan tech

photos copyright 2011 lou michaels