MOORHEAD, Minn. – An eight point halftime deficit proved to be too much to overcome as the Gustavus women’s basketball team suffered their second straight loss, falling to Concordia 75-65 Wednesday. The Gusties are now 11-3 overall and 7-2 in the MIAC, while the Cobbers improve to 6-8 overall and 4-5 in the conference.
A back and forth first quarter left the two teams tied at 12. Over the first four minutes of the second, Gustavus fell behind 11 as the Cobbers put together a 14-3 run. A three-point basket by Alison Hinck (Jr., Vadnais Heights) at 2:53 trimmed the Concordia lead to three before the Cobbers went up 31-23 at the break.
Seven points by Paige Richert (Jr., Comfrey) and three point baskets by Marisa Gustafson (Jr., Mahtomedi) and Maddy Rice (Fy., Forest Lake) helped the Gusties climb within one point with 4:38 to go in the third quarter. The Black and Gold failed to score from the field the rest of the quarter, but converted six free throws and found themselves down 44-49 going into the fourth.
Richert and Caitlin Rorman (Fy. Blue Earth) scored five points quickly in the final quarter to bring the Gusties within one point again at 50-51. The Cobbers put together a 13-4 run to lead by 10 with four minutes to go. Concordia would lead by as much as 17 with a minute to play. Gustavus would hit some shots from behind the arc but suffer their second conference loss.
Richert and Rorman lead the Black and Gold with 17 and 14 points, respectively, to go along with seven rebounds each. Hinck scored a season high 11 points.
Gustavus is back in action Saturday when they host Augsburg for a 3 p.m. tip-off.