ST. PAUL, Minn. – The #10 Concordia University women's basketball team (1-1) closed out the Radisson Hotel Roseville Classic with a 70-68 win over Fort Hays State (1-1) on Saturday night. Mishayla Jones led the way with a career-high 25 points and seven rebounds as the Golden Bears outlasted the Tigers in the second half.
 
Concordia saw a double digit second half lead disappear but they were able to rebound and claim their first win of the season. The Golden Bears were extremely effective inside the arc and on the glass as they outmatched FHSU. The Golden Bears connected on 20-34 (68.8%) from inside the three point line as well as 24-33 (72.7%) free throws in the winning effort. CU also held a 44-34 advantage in the rebounding category as they gobbled up 35 defensive rebounds.
 

CU Women's BB vs. Fort Hays State 11.15.2014 - Images by Justin Oakman

The Golden Bears held the Tigers to just 32.3% shooting, including an icy 27.3% in the first half. Fort Hays State did, however, force 23 CU turnovers while committing 14 of their own.
 
Mishayla Jones had a breakout night for the Golden Bears as she finished with a game-high and career-high 25 points on 9-11 from the floor and a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. The sophomore point guard was also active on the defensive boards with seven rebounds with a pair of assists.
 
Amanda Barton stepped into the starting lineup and had a big night with 12 points and 11 boards as well as two steals as she hit 4-6 from the floor. She was joined in double figures by Anika Whiting with 12 points and five rebounds and Kionda Nicks with 10 points, four rebounds and four blocks.
 
The Tigers were led by Beth Bohuslvasky's 16 points. Chelsea Mason added 11 points and Nikola Kacperska added 10 off the bench for FHSU.
 
After a 9-8 lead in favor of Fort Hays State at the 12:22 mark of the first half, Concordia took the lead and held it until midway through the second half. The lead reached eight at 29-21 for the Golden Bears with 4:02 to play in the half as Barton knocked down a jumper. The Tigers cut it back to five before Concordia settled in with a seven point lead at 34-27 going into the break.
 
Jones scored 11 points and Nicks chipped in eight of her 10 points in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Barton hit a three right out of the break to push the lead to 10 which was the high water mark for the game. FHSU wasted little time chipping away at the lead as they had it down to a four point deficit at the 16:13 mark and had the lead by the 10:11 mark on a Kacperska jumper. The two teams traded buckets with each team taking small leads until an 8-1 run spanning nearly two minutes turned it into a 65-57 lead for the Golden Bears with just 2:17 to play. Bohuslvasky brought it to a one possession game at 68-65 with 15 seconds to play but Jones iced it with a pair of free throws. The Tigers were able to cut it to two on a three as time expired to bring it to a 70-68 final.
 
The Golden Bears travel to Michigan this week as they take on Michigan Tech at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Northern Michigan at 1 p.m. on Sunday.