ST. PAUL, Minn. – After six ties, three lead changes, and an overtime battle, the Golden Bears women's basketball team defeated Southwest Minnesota State with a final score of 82-79 for their first conference win of the 2019-20 season. After the thrilling win, Concordia's record improves to 4-4 and 1-1 in the NSIC. The Mustangs fall to 5-3 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
 
Prior to the fast and upbeat overtime finish for the Golden Bears, the first quarter started out slow as SMSU went on a run and led the score board by eight while CSP went 5-19 from the field. The momentum was exchanged in the second quarter when the Golden Bears improved their shooting percentage to 53.3% to go on an 11-point lead. At the half, CSP was up 35-30 with sharp shooting from Jadyn Hanson. The freshman put up a career high of 18 points, eight rebounds, and three steals for a personal record-breaking game. She also ended the night with zero fouls despite collecting 10 from the Mustangs.
 
Both squads developed a lead in the first half for at least nine-minutes, making it a close game from the start. Concordia allowed eight offensive boards for SMSU of which they took full advantage of with six second chance points. The visiting team also held their own on turnovers, causing 10 by the Bears while only giving up three of their own in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Golden Bears came out in the second half with a 5-0 run from junior guard Danielle Schaub after a quick lay up followed directly by a three-pointer. The game was going the other way after CSP sent SMSU into bonus and they took advantage by going 84.6% (11-13) from the free throw line. Hanson ignited the scoreboard for the Bears with back-to-back offensive boards and two put backs to give the squad a four-point lead going into the fourth.
 
The fourth quarter started the same as the third with a 6-0 run by the Golden Bears. SMSU was able to tie it up with a minute to go and sophomore Meghan DuBois made a lay up for CSP to lead 72-71. The Mustangs replied with a couple free throws once again to lead by two and with 1.2 seconds to go, junior Riley Wheatcraft hit a three from the left side to bring the squads to overtime.
 
Wheatcraft contributed another huge play in overtime with an offensive board and a foul on the put-back for a successful and-one opportunity. The junior ended the night by tying her career best with 22 points along with five rebounds as she went .600 from the field (9-15) and the three-point line (3-5).
 
 The Mustangs were strong rebounders with 47 total and 15 of them coming from junior center Abuk Akoi. Six of Akoi's rebounds were on the offensive end and she also contributed 15 points to SMSU for a double-double, along with six of the teams eight blocks. Sadie Stelter was the leading scorer for the Mustangs with 22 points and Jenna Borchers was right behind with 20.
 
On Concordia's end four Golden Bears scored more than 12 points, Schaub ending with 13 and junior Sidney Wentland with 16 while leading the team in blocks with three. Wentland also led the game in minutes, the forward contributing to Golden Bear plays for 41:07 minutes.
 
As a team, the Bears shot 43.1% (31-72) from the field and 71.4% (15-21) from the free-throw line while the Mustangs shot 35.7% (27-70) in the paint and 76.9% (20-26) to be more efficient from the free-throw line.
 
Concordia will be on the road next weekend for two more conference match ups against Upper Iowa on December 13^th and Winona State on the 14^th. The squad will return home on December 18^th to face Minnesota State at the Gangelhoff Center.