Falcon women gain control after halftime to defeat Raiders

MEQUON, Wis.-  Tonight's Concordia- MSOE women's basketball matchup was definitely a game of two distinct halves with Raider size and patience giving the Falcons fits over the first 20 minutes and CUW speed dictating what eventually became a 64-46 win over the second twenty.

The Raiders had their entire projected starting five together for the first time all season and looked like the better team in the early going.

MSOE powered the ball inside to assume a 22-15 lead with five minutes left in the first half before Concordia trimmed the margin to 25-22 at the break.

Things changed drastically when CUW, now 11-2 in conference play, picked up their defensive intensity in the early moments of the second half, taking their first lead 27-26 on a Katie Luethe jump shot with 17:49 remaining. 

That began a streak of 13 consecutive points by the Falcons, and as the pace picked up the visitors quickly wore down.

Concordia's lead grew to as much as twenty points so that reserves got significant minutes down the stretch. 

Luethe (Jr./ Oshkosh, Wis.)  came back from a difficult first half to lead the Falcons with 13 points and seven rebounds.  Senior Tiffany Hendrickson added 10 and eight other CUW players also scored.

Bre'Ana Strong was just that for the Raiders, leading all scorers with 19 points, including three of six from long range, and grabbing seven rebounds.

The Falcons (13-5) board their bus for the trip to Nebraska on Wednesday at midnight and play Concordia Seward on Friday at 1:00pm in the first game of the CIT.