Top-Ranked Women’s Basketball Falls to No. 2 Northwestern

By Morgan Consier

Concordia’s women’s No. 1-ranked basketball team faced the No. 2 Northwestern College Red Raiders in Orange City, Iowa on Saturday in an attempt to reach two dozen wins for the season.

The Bulldogs took the lead early on and led by 15 points with a score of 21-6 at the end of the first quarter.

During the second quarter, the Red Raiders took away that lead and surpassed Concordia just in time for the end of the quarter, leaving the score with Northwestern leading 35-34 at the half.

Concordia fought to regain their lead from early in the game and did so midway through the third quarter, but the Red Raiders turned the game into a back-and-forth competition for the lead, ending the third quarter 61-54.

Sophomore guard Taylor Cockerill and freshman guard Grace Barry took charge during the fourth quarter to tie the game with 45.8 seconds remaining.

Despite Concordia’s attempt to push the tie in their favor and keep their winning streak, the Red Raiders won 81-75.

Lead scorers for the game were Cockerill with 28 points and freshman guard McKenzie Koepke with 14 points.

The team will travel to Sioux City, Iowa to compete against the Morningside College Mustangs on Feb. 6 at 6 p.m.