PHOTOS

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia Golden Bears women's basketball team dropped a tough NSIC game Saturday to the Winona State Warriors by a score of 62-59.  Concordia falls to 1-2 in NSIC play and 3-4 overall while Winona State moves to 2-1 and 8-2, respectively.

The Bears jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the opening minutes, sparked by a hot start for Carissa Wolyniec (Minneapolis, Minn.).  Wolyniec scored 10 of the team's first 13 points and finished the half with 13 points on a perfect 5-5 from the field and 3-3 from downtown.  The two teams traded blows for much of the rest of the half with CU holding a 5-10 point lead.  Marieanna Dulas finished the half 3-3 shooting for Winona State including a big three at the 3:14 mark cutting the lead CU lead to five.  The late half surge for the Warriors going into the break brought the score to 28-25, the closest it had been going back to the 18:05 mark where Concordia led 5-2.

Concordia took control of the boards in the first half holding a 20-12 advantage, with Kionda Nicks (St. Paul, Minn.) grabbing a career-high nine in the first 20 minutes.  The Bears also outshot the Warriors in the half by shooting 44.0% (11-25) compared to Winona's 41.4% (12-29).

Winona State opened the second half with a pair of quick threes from Becca Fristelben and Kelsey Andrist to tie the game up at 31-31 at 17:30.  The Warriors then took their first lead of the afternoon at the 12:58 mark at 37-35 on a Michelle Tobin jumper.  The Golden Bears regained the lead, going up 43-38 after a 8-1 run midway through the half.  WSU responded and took their largest lead of the game at the 7:16 mark of the second half, going up 48-45 on a pair of free throws from Tobin. 

The two teams went back and forth for much of the half with eight ties and nine lead changes.  CU held a 55-52 lead with 2:34 remaining before two straights buckets from the Warriors gave them a 56-55 advantage.  Concordia answered back with a Jasmine Haynes (Robbinsdale, Minn.) jumper from the corner.  After a Fristelben layup for Winona, Mandy Poke (Richfield, Minn.) knocked down two free throws giving the Bears their final lead of the game at 58-57 with :33 left on the clock.  Katie Wolff sunk a pair from the line, giving Winona State the lead for good at 60-59.  Concordia nearly stole the ensuing inbounds pass before fouling Tobin, who hit both from the line, making it 62-59.  Haynes had a look from 35 feet to tie it up but it rimmed out as time expired.

Both teams cooled off shooting in the second half with Concordia shooting only 9-26 (34.6%) in the half while Winona State fired at a 10-27 mark (37.0%).  The Bears continued to take the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Warriors 38-29 for the game.  CU committed 17 turnovers on the day.
The Golden Bears squad was led by Wolyniec and Anika Whiting (Ashland, Wis.) who each scored 15 points while Haynes added 11.  Wolyniec finished the day an efficient 86% from the field (6-7) and was 3-4 from the three point line.  Whiting turned it on in the second half, scoring 11 of her 15 on the day in the final 20 minutes.  She was 6-12 shooting and a perfect 3-3 from the free throw line.

Winona State received a solid effort from Michelle Tobin, who finished with 16 points and eight boards on 4-12 from the field while knocking down all eight of her attempts from the line.  Becca Fristleben chipped in 13 points in the win.

Concordia hits the road next weekend with a trip to Sioux Falls on the 14^th at 6:00 p.m. and Southwest Minnesota State on the 15^th at 5:00 p.m.