Landgraf, Wagner propel Women's Basketball over Concordia Chicago

MEQUON, Wis. – Madelyn Landgraf and Brianna Wagner had career games offensively, and Concordia University Wisconsin pushed its winning streak to six consecutive with a 75-68 victory over Concordia University Chicago on Tuesday night inside the R. John Buuck Field House.

Landgraf and Wagner each scored double-figures in the first half to help the Falcons put together an 18-4 scoring run to take control of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at halftime. During the second half they continued their hot shooting and ended the game with a season-best 50.0 percent (28-of-56).

Meanwhile, Landgraf (junior, Elkhart Lake, Wis.) finished with a career-high 23 points (14 in the first), which included three long balls and 6-of-7 at the free throw line. It was her fourth 20-point game of the season and second in a row.

Wagner had the best game of her young career with a career-high 20 points (12 in the first half) on 9-of-16 shooting to go along with a career-high 16 rebounds, which is tied for the 10th most in a game in program history. She also dished out a pair of assists and stole two passes. Wagner controlled the paint in the second half with eight points and 10 rebounds.

The final score was closer than the game actually was, as the Cougars put together an 8-0 scoring run during a 52 second span as the clock ticked down. Neither team played a particularly clean game, as there were a combined 45 turnovers, 28 steals and 40 fouls.

"We had too many turnovers and made a lot of mistakes in the second half," head coach Stacey Brunner-Jones said. "A game like this is a great learning lesson with a team as young as ours. We play a lot of games this month, and it is important for us to improve and take advantage of our opportunities."

As Landgraf and Wagner were putting on a show, sophomore Taylor DeLong (Milwaukee, Wis.) quietly had herself an impressive game with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, four rebounds and a career-high six assists. Sophomore Sammi Blissett (Springfield, Ill.) also finished with four points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal.

"Brianna and Taylor had great games for us off the bench," Brunner-Jones said. "Their energy and hustle is needed every time they step on the floor."

In the end, CUW"s bench outscored CUC's reserves by a 39-25 margin. The Cougars tallied 15 second chance points on 12 offensive rebounds. There was one scoring tie and 11 lead changes (all in the first 12:48 of the game).

The game went back-and-forth on the scoreboard, until the Falcons defense rose to the occasion and locked down the Cougars. Over the final eight minutes of the first half they scored 18 points, while limiting CUC to four points on 1-of-8 shooting, to go along with five turnovers.

After leading 40-27 at the intermission, CUW extended its advantage to a game-high 16 points on a Corrina Terrano (freshman, Phoenix, Ariz.) jumper 40 seconds into the second half. The Falcons lead hovered between 10 and 14 points nearly the entire second half.

CUW returns to action on Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest at Benedictine University, who is a game ahead in the NACC standings. The contest is the first of a doubleheader with the men's program.