Falcon women battle past Rockford 53-42

MEQUON, Wis.-  When a basketball team's offense has trouble getting into sync, that same squad's defense has to take center stage.  That is what happened this afternoon during Concordia's 'grind it out" 53-42 win over Rockford in the Buuck Fieldhouse.

CUW (16-6/ 13-2 NAC) was unable to establish control until the contest's final five minutes but held on to a precarious lead behind a stellar defensive performance.

Stacey Brunner-Jones' team missed numerous shots that they ordinarily hit in the first half, but still led 29-21. 

Rockford chewed up almost all of that deficit over the initial seven minutes of the second period, getting within 33-31 at 13:06.  

The score stood 39-35 Falcons when Jasmine Williams (Fr./ Chicago, Ill.) took matters into her own hands.  First, she hit a layup and to make it 41-35 and then followed with a steal that preceeded Katie Luethe's (Jr./ Oshkosh, Wis.) 3-pointer that upped the margin to 44-35.  Williams added a pair of rebounds and another steal over the next three minutes as CUW pulled away.

Luethe led the Falcons with a 17 point performance and 11 rebounds.  She is now 13 points away from the coveted 1000 point mark.  Five other CUW players added between five and nine points. 

Concordia dominated the rebounds 50-35 but CUW's 32% shooting was just slightly better than Rockford's ice cold 30% marksmanship.

Cierra Johnson led the visitors with 10 points, but RC's top scorers (Erin Ryczek and Nicole Lawler)  were held to seven and six respectively.

The victory allowed the Falcons to secure at least a tie for the NAC North title.  A solo crown can be accomplished with a home win over Marian on Tuesday.