OK, first off, I apologize for the delay in getting this next group of games on my blog. Just an incredibly bad week that was punctuated by an abscessed tooth (which I got treated promptly, thank God) and getting a big speech ready this next week for my Toastmasters group. And trying to squeeze in an indoor practice during the period didn't make things any easier.
Anyway, on Wednesday night (1-5) I headed over to Si Melby Hall on the Augsburg campus as they prepared to host MIAC co-leader Concordia for an early 5:45 matchup. While there was little doubt about how this game would end up, even I would be in awe of how incredibly good and sharp Concordia looked early on as they raced to an early 15-0 lead before the Auggies knew what hit them. It took Augsburg nearly seven minutes before they finally got on the board thanks to sophomore Tracee Schrank's bucket. But that would prove to be only sticking a needle in a crumbling dam as the Cobbers simply poured it on. What made it even more impressive is just how they did it - with balanced scoring and everybody getting in on the act. But perhaps one of the biggest reasons for the success Concordia has enjoyed so far this season is Jessica Rahman's prize recruit - 6'4" freshman Alexandra Lippert from Willmar. Lippert was not only dominant in the rebounding phase of the game but can simply be unstoppable once she gets posted up down low.
The Concordia juggernaut was in full force when senior PG Erica Nord drained a "3" from the top to give the Corn an insurmountable 33-6 lead and senior Maggie Bauernfeind followed suit a few minutes later with a "3" of her own that put the surging Cobbers up 36-8. The lone Auggie shining moment in the first half came when sophomore Brittany Dyshaw put on pretty move at the 1:59 mark and finished that helped to temporarily stop the deluge but by that time Concordia was still up 36-12. In fact, the only real negatives for Concordia in the 1st half were junior Andrea Benjamin's injury (still not sure what happened there but it appeared to be a knee problem) and Lippert picking up two quick fouls just before the end of the first half that saw Concordia way up 36-13.
The theme didn't change much by the time the second half got underway. Despite Lippert picking up a quick third foul at the 19:36 mark when Auggie sophomore guard Katie Ahlstrom put a pretty move on her, head coach Jessica Rahman opted to keep her star pupil in. Despite Dyshaw's nice move and finish down low at the 18:02 mark that shrank the Cobbers big lead to 38-20, Lippert made her presence felt again with foul trouble and all as she swatted away an Auggie shot attempt - a big-time blocked shot. A couple of minutes later, senior Lindsey Schultz stole the ball from an Auggie and took it the other way and finished; effectively extinguishing any wisps of hope Augsburg may have had for an epic comeback. Concordia would win this one going away 71-45.
What impressed me most with this Concordia team is how truly team-oriented they are. They truly love each other and they put the team first; they are unselfish. Another thing you have to like about this group is that they are truly a senior-laden experienced team with Schultz, Nord, Bauernfeind, and Brittany Jossart who all start. Throw in a crop of young posts that include Lippert and a supporting cast that includes sophomores Tricia Sorenson and Emily Thesing and junior Mary-Michael Vance who spent her first two years at St. Kate's and you've got one very, very good team that's going to be awfully tough to beat. Both Schultz and Nord admitted afterward that the one thing that has made such a difference for them is the experience they have had playing together the last three years. And they're both excited to have some tall posts down low as well.
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