SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Concordia-St. Paul women's basketball team (18-6, 14-5 NSIC) extended its win streak to 10 games with a narrow 75-72 win over the Sioux Falls Cougars (10-15, 7-12 NSIC) Friday night.
The Golden Bears climbed out of an early 13-0 hole, chasing the Cougars for the entire first half and finding themselves down nine points at the break. CSP got things rolling in the third, opening up the half with a 9-1 run to take their first lead of the game, controlling play from there on out to make it an even 10 wins in a row.
Lauren Wilson tallied 18 points to lead the Golden Bears in scoring, going 7-of-14 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 at the free throw line, with seven rebounds and five assists. Wilson also came away with one block and two steals on the defensive side of the ball.
Senior guard Leah Dengerud turned in a 16 point night, adding four boards and one assist, while shooting 6-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-4 at the charity stripe.
Emma Mommsen finished one board shy of the double-double, dropping 12 points with nine rebounds, while coming away with one block on defense. Ashley Schuelke tallied 12 points as well, with four boards and an assist.
Lydia Haack posted eight points on the night, grabbing four boards and dishing out three assists, while coming away with three steals. Avery Moeller provided nine points off the bench, going 3-of-7 from beyond the arc.
As a team the Golden Bears shot 44.3% (31-70) on the night shaking off a sluggish first half, by shooting 58% (18-31) in the second half. The Cougars shot at a 49.2% (30-61) clip, hitting at a 59% (18-32) clip in the first half, before being held in check down the stretch.
USF hit early and often in the opening quarter grabbing a 13-0 lead in the opening four minutes of play. CSP responded with a 13-2 run of their own to cut the deficit at two, as Sioux Falls held a 21-15 lead through one quarter of play.
The Golden Bears continued to chip away in the second, getting back to within three on a Avery Moeller three-pointer to open up the period. Another 10-2 run by the Cougars opened up a double digit deficit, as CSP headed to the locker room down nine.
Concordia came out of the break firing on all cylinders, taking their first lead of the game on a three ball from Leah Dengerud. From there the navy and gold put together a 15-2 run to go up by seven near the midway point of the period, with the Golden Bear defense holding the Cougars to just 28.5% (4-14) shooting in the period. CSP scored 26 points in the period hitting at a 66.7% (12-18) clip to lead, 61-55 at the end of three.
Sioux Falls continued to respond, cutting the CSP lead to just two early in the fourth. Ashley Schuelke came up with a pair of key buckets down the stretch to grow the Golden Bear lead to six. USF drained a three and added a layup to make it a one point game with five seconds to play. The Cougars fouled Leah Dengerud on the inbound, the senior guard knocked down both attempts at the line as the CSP defense came up with one more stop to secure the three point win.
The CSP defense was opportunistic as always, forcing 19 turnovers and coming away with 19 points. The game was closely contested in the paint, with Concordia scoring 46 points to Sioux Falls' 44. The board battle was even with both teams grabbing 37 rebounds.
The Golden Bears weekend road swing continues on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 14, when they head to Marshall to take on the Mustangs. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
