Falcons Reach Program Milestone in Victory Over CUC

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Concordia University Wisconsin women's basketball team closed out its final-ever Concordia Invitational Tournament (CIT) game on Saturday with a dominant victory over the Cougars of Concordia Chicago, clinching a 64-46 non-conference win.

With the win, the Falcons improved to 7-10 overall and extended their dominance over the Cougars, having now won five straight games against CUC and nine of the last 10 matchups.

The win also marked an important milestone, as it was the 700th win in program history. 

"The 700th win is a huge milestone for our program, and it's a testament to the incredible dedication, talent, and teamwork from our players and assistant coaches," said head coach Stacey Brunner-Jones, who has led the Falcons to 355 of those victories. "The hard work that goes into each of those wins is something truly remarkable, and I'm proud of everything this program has accomplished together."

Sophomore Gracie McNabb (Grafton, Wis.) got things started early, draining a three-pointer off a pass from junior Ava Booth (Plymouth, Wis.). Senior Aubrey DeBauch (Gillett, Wis.) followed with four quick points—two free throws and a crafty left-handed layup—before McNabb added two more triples to give CUW a 15-11 lead at the 1:31 mark of the first quarter.

McNabb also showcased her passing ability, finding sophomore Jayden Ross (Baraboo, Wis.) for a mid-range jumper, making it 17-11 at the end of the quarter.

Senior Abby Hafemann (Hales Corners, Wis.) contributed early in the second, scoring three straight points with a layup and foul shot. Later, sophomore Andrea Butterbrodt (Green Bay, Wis.) extended the Falcons' lead to 12 points with a clutch mid-range jumper, pushing the advantage to 26-14 with six minutes left in the half.

The Falcons' defense remained stifling, and they went into halftime with a commanding 32-18 lead, capped off by a final bucket from DeBuach, assisted by freshman Alexa Schwartz (Treynor, Iowa).

Out of the break, McNabb quickly picked up where she left off, knocking down a three-pointer on CUW's first possession. The offense continued to click, with key contributions from Booth, DeBuach, McNabb, and Hafemann, as the Falcons built a 47-27 lead heading into the final frame.

Hafemann continued her strong play with an open three-pointer, set up by senior Lindsey Lonigro (Deerfield, Wis.), while the Cougars' attempt at a comeback was thwarted by DeBuach, who scored six straight points to keep CUC at bay.

In the closing minutes, junior Kaitlyn Carothers (Columbus, Ind.) and Lonigro added layups, sealing the 64-46 victory.

DeBuach led all scorers with 20 points, marking her third 20+ point game this season and extending her streak of double-figure performances to 14 games. McNabb finished with 14 points, hitting 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. Off the bench, Hafemann posted a season-high 8 points in the winning effort.

Defensively, the Falcons were dominant, holding Concordia Chicago to just 28.8% shooting from the field and outrebounding the Cougars 45-34.

Aubrey DeBauch was voted to the All-Tournament Team later on Saturday night.

Next, the Falcons return to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) action, hosting the Scarlet Hawks of Illinois Tech on Wednesday at R. John Buuck Fieldhouse.