Falcons Hand Eagles First Conference Loss

MADISON, Wis. - Concordia women's basketball added another entry into the win column on Saturday afternoon, topping the Edgewood Eagles by a 56-45 score. The Eagles entered the contest with a perfect 7-0 record in NACC play, and the Falcons' double-digit victory granted Edgewood its first conference loss and overall defeat in the calendar year.

After having its three-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday, Concordia dominated Edgewood in the first half, taking a 33-19 lead into the break. The Falcons' offense saw strength in numbers, as six different contributors posted field goals in the opening twenty minutes of play. Senior Erin Viergutz (Clintonville, Wis.) led the way for the Falcons with eight points, while sophomore Ava Booth (Plymouth, Wis.) took responsibility for six. Her 3-3 rate on free throws also added to an impressive 7-8 team performance from the foul line.

Defensively, the Falcons were just as strong, restricting the Eagles to a 1-7 line on three-point attempts. Concordia's six steals in the half also contributed 11 total points off turnovers during the contest.

The third quarter of play saw the Falcons expand their lead to 20 by its conclusion, as freshman Andrea Butterbrodt (Green Bay, Wis.) tallied six of her team-leading twelve points. Concordia also held the Eagles to just seven points, including only one made-shot attempt from the field.

Edgewood managed to trim the Falcons' lead to eight late in the fourth quarter of play, but a perfect 3-3 posting from the free throw line in the final two minutes kept the Eagles' attack at bay.

With the win, the Falcons improved to 5-3 in conference play while also moving their overall record back to .500.

Concordia will look to continue its winning ways against the 3-13 Alverno Inferno on January 24 in the school's first and only meeting of the 2023-24 season. The Falcons hold an all-time record of 31-4 against the Inferno, having won each of the last 15 meetings.