Concordia vs Macalester 11-30-11

Was over at Macalester's Leonard Center's for this evening's 5:45 P.M. clash between the visiting Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers and the host Scots.  I was anxious to see this new Concordia team without the likes of Erica Nord, Lindsey Schultz, Brittany Jossart, et al, and how they would fare against a Macalester team that can be very, very dangerous at times.

Predictably, it was Shannon Rene who got things going for the home team as she canned a jumper for a 2-0 lead at the 18:14 mark but, just as predictably, the Cobbers looked for their big gal, 6'4" sophomore post Alexandra Lippert to get them on the board and she did at the 17:00 mark.  Macalester would be able to make a bit of a push that was fueled by Jessica Rene's "3" from the left wing at the 13:33 mark for an 8-4 lead but the Cobbers would come right back behind scores from Lippert and reserve sophomore post Kelsey Walloch to knot the issue at 8-all a little more than a minute later.  Senior Maggie Wood would nail a "3" of her own at the 10:37 mark for the Scots but so would junior Emily Thesing at the 8:31 mark.  The Scots would make one more push behind Jessica Rene's "3" that enabled Macalester to build a 20-15 lead by the 7:17 mark. 

That would be about as good as it would get for the host Scots as they watched this young but good Concordia team go on a 15-0 run which is so typical for a Jessica Rahman-coached team.  Lippert scored consecutive baskets at the 6:51 and 6:19 mark and then padded her scoring at the 3:23 mark.  Junior Tricia Sorenson knocked down a "3" from the left top at the 2:03 mark that sandwiched some fine work by freshman Katelyn Holland that gave the Cobbers a 30-20 lead.  Another lay-up by senior reserve Mary-Michael Vance enabled the Cobbers to go into the locker room at the half in control with a 32-23 lead.

But Macalester Head Coach Ellen Thompson would not let her team go out with a whimper.  Jessica Rene nailed a "3" at the 19:15 mark of the second half and junior PG Kyana Jones got a lay-up a bit later that suddenly cut the Concordia lead to only 32-29.  But one of the hallmarks of a Concordia team is that they are mentally tough and do not get rattled.  Thesing calmly swished a "3" at the 18:36 mark and Lippert made one free throw at the 17:49 mark that halted this Macalester push.  The Scots would again cut the Cobber lead down to a scant three-point advantage thanks to Jessica Rene's jumper and Woods' steal and lay-up but again Concordia would calmly respond as they would go on a 12-2 run that effectively extinguished Macalester's hope for a comeback.  Despite Lippert picking up her fourth foul by the 8:23 mark and Jones nailing a "3" at the 6:49 mark to briefly get the Scots back to within single digits, the Cobbers were in firm control down the stretch.  Macalester offered up a brief ray of hope when Jessica Rene canned another "3" at the 4:46 mark but the Cobbers would be able to pad their lead from the charity stripe down the stretch for a final tally of 63-51.

A disappointed Ellen Thompson explained to me that she felt her team simply didn't hit enough shots which is true; they did not convert on some key lay-up attempts and you could also argue that the Rene Sisters had something of an off-night.  I think a lot of credit has to go to the Cobber defensive efforts that can make life miserable for any team and both Lippert and Jessica Rahman echoed those sentiments to me afterward.  As Rahman explained, this team does have experience playing - just not playing TOGETHER - yet.  When they get that, this Cobber team will be tough to beat.

Concordia vs Macalester 2-2-11

Was over at the Macalester's Leonard Center for this night's clash between host Macalester and Concordia which made yet another long trek down from the Fargo-Moorhead metro area down to the Cities.  This would be another big test for the Scots against an upper echelon MIAC team and, after knocking off GAC a couple of days ago, Macalester obviously wanted to keep the beat going.

Early on, Macalester looked like they might do just that as the Scots raced to a 7-0 lead in the first five minutes as Concordia looked a bit out of synch and rythm.  Junior Shannon Rene drew first blood as she hit a "3" from the left wing at the 18:03 mark and then senior Majra Mucic beat the shot clock on a short shot at the 17:26 mark.  Junior Holly Schiedermayer then hit a layup at the 15:03 mark that made the home crowd feel good about things.  But the Cobbers would slowly get back in the contest and were able to forge a 10-10 tie when senior Maggie Bauernfeind nailed a "3" at the 10:12 mark. 

Still, Shannon Rene held a very hot hand in this 1st half and she again would set the tone as she nailed "3s" at the 9:55 and 9:26 mark that would give the Scots another little cushion.  This cushion would last a bit longer as fellow junior Maggie Wood canned a "3" at the 4:52 mark and a 21-14 lead.  But, once again, the Cobbers would find a way to erase the deficit.  Senior Lindsey Schultz hit a long two pointer from the right corner and then freshman post Kelsey Walloch followed with a short jumper.  Then, fellow freshman post Alexandra Lippert narrowed the Macalester lead to 21-20 with just 2:05 left.  The Cobbers would get their first lead when Bauernfeind made a layup and was fouled in the process with just 1:36 left.  Although Macalester would get the lead back at the half at 25-23; the tone of this game had changed significantly as Macalester had trouble going inside after Concordia toughened their perimeter "D".

Macalester did their best in the second half to get out to a good start.  Sophomore PG Kyanna Jones hit a jumper along the baseline at the 19:26 mark and then Mucic scored off the glass a minute later.  Schiedermayer then scored around Lippert at the 17:59 mark and then Shannon Rene hit one of her trademark "3's" at the 17:10 mark for a 34-29 lead.  Slowy, but surely Concordia would battle back.  Senior PG Erica Nord finished underneath at the 16:08 mark then Lippert grabbed a rebound and finished at the 14:50 mark.  Then reserve sophomore Emily Thesing knocked down a "3" from the top of the key at the 13:39 mark to narrow Macalester's lead to 36-35.  Things would stay very close; very tight over the course of the next few minutes.  But, at the 9:54 mark, this experienced, senior-laden Concordia team made its move.  Lippert scored inside and was fouled in the process and the resulting free throw gave the Cobbers a lead that it would never relinquish.  The crucial sequences came at the 8:36 and 7:54 marks respectively when Macalester, trying to keep it a one-possession game, was burned by Cobber senior sharp-shooter Brittany Jossart as she nailed key three-pointers that would not only give Concordia a 50-45 lead but also gave them a real shot in the arm as well as their trademark defense shut down not only Macalester's 1-2 inside punch of Mucic and Schiedermayer but also the Rene Sisters out on the perimeter as well.  Coming down the home stretch, Concordia was able to snuff out any wisps of hope Macalester may have had as they carved out a 66-57 victory at the horn.