Falcons balanced in NACC victory at Benedictine

LISLE, Ill. – Concordia University Wisconsin didn't have a player reach double-figures, but had eight players score during a 54-41 victory at Benedictine University on Saturday afternoon inside the Rice Center. The win puts the Falcons a game out of first place in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference standings.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 54, Benedictine 41
Location: Rice Center (Lisle, Ill.)
Records: Concordia Wisconsin 11-4 (8-2 NACC), Benedictine 11-3 (8-2 NACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- CUW used a commanding 13-5 scoring run over the final three minutes and 47 seconds to pull away in a game they led for 38:27. The Falcons made nine-consecutive free throws in the remaining 1:19 to seal the victory.
- It was a game the Falcons needed for a variety of reasons; to stay near the top of the NACC standings and to avenge a disappointing loss from two weeks ago against the Eagles in which they had their worst shooting performance of the season.
- CUW held Benedictine to 30.9 percent and outscored the hosts 34-26 in the paint. The Falcons also scored 11 points off 10 Eagle turnovers.
- CUW led the entire first, third and fourth quarters and all but one minute and 10 seconds of the second period. On four different occasions the Falcons pushed their advantage into double-digits.
- Freshman Baylee Barker (Oconomowoc, Wis.) paced the Falcons for the first time this season in scoring with nine points, including 5-of-6 free throws. Her five free throw makes were a career-best.
- Seniors Madelyn Landgraf (Elkhart Lake, Wis.) and Megan Coenen (Green Bay, Wis.) each had eight points, but were a combined 6-of-23 from the floor. However, the seniors did grab a combined 15 rebounds.
- Junior Samantha Blissett (Springfield, Ill.) filled her stat line as usual with seven points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in 22 minutes off the bench.
- Sophomore Audrey Scharmer (Winona, Minn.) recorded seven points and hauled in a game-best 10 rebounds in 19 minutes of action.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Falcons have outrebounded their last three opponents by double-digits and in total six times this season.
- Scharmer's double-figure rebounding total was the fourth of the season for the forward.
- CUW has gone 2-1 against the top three teams in the NACC over the past two weeks. They are one of three teams with an 8-2 record in league play, which is a game behind NACC-leader MSOE.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- The Falcons return home for a 7 pm NACC contest on Tuesday against Marian inside the R. John Buuck Field House.