ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia University women's basketball team (3-2) returned home with a 69-62 win over the University of Jamestown (4-4) on Tuesday night at the Gangelhoff Center. The Golden Bears outscored the Jimmies 43-27 after the half as
Anika Whiting scored a game-high 26 points in the win.
CU hit a scorching 57.7% (15-26) of their shots after the half while holding UJ to just 26.7% (8-30) as they erased a double digit first half deficit. The Jimmies won the rebounding battle with 47 compared to 40 for Concordia.
Whiting had a strong night with 26 points, five boards and three assists as she shot 8-16 and 10-12 from the free throw line.
She was joined in double figures by
Mishayla Jones and
Ameshia Kearney with 11 points each. Jones also added seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks as she continues to rebound well from the point guard position.
Kaeli Kraska had a big first half for the Jimmies as she hit 5-11 and scored all of her 14 points before the break. She missed all four of her attempts in the second half.
Jessica Buck nearly picked up a double-double for Jamestown with eight points and 10 rebounds.
The Golden Bears got off to a slow start in the first half as they missed their first six shots and 13 of their first 14 to dig themselves an early hole. The Jimmies got off to a 9-2 start in the opening four minutes and they eventually pushed it out to double digits at the 11:21 mark at 18-8. Concordia hit a pair of free throws and a three to cut it to five at 18-13 but an 8-2 run for Jamestown extended the lead to 11 with 8:25 to go in the half. The lead ballooned all the way to 14 at 35-21 with just a few minutes to go before the break but the Golden Bears managed to chip it down to 35-26 heading into the locker room.
CU connected on just 25.0% (7-28) from the floor and 14.3% (1-7) from beyond the arc in the first half but managed to hold the Jimmies to 30.2% (13-43) as well. UJ did have some success from three as they hit 40.0% (6-15) in the half.
The tables were turned in the second half as Concordia opened up the second half on a 12-4 run to cut the lead to one at 39-38 at the 13:44 mark. A few possessions later, Whiting gave CU their first lead at 42-41. The Golden Bears continued to extend their lead with a 9-0 run spanning nearly four minutes to push the lead to double figures at 60-50. The lead reached as high as 11 at 53-42 before Jamestown was able to close the gap to three at 63-60 with 2:09 left in the game. The Golden Bears were able to ice the game with free throws down the stretch to claim a 69-62 win.
