The 13th-ranked Briar Cliff women's basketball team showed resilience on the road Saturday afternoon but fell 89–70 to the No. 9-ranked Concordia Bulldogs in GPAC action.
After a slow start that saw the Bulldogs take a 20–10 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Chargers settled in and responded with a strong second period. Briar Cliff outscored Concordia 21–17 in the quarter, cutting the deficit to six at halftime and keeping the game within reach. The Chargers continued to battle through the third before Concordia used a late push in the fourth to pull away.
Mallie McNair paced Briar Cliff with a game-high 28 points, delivering an efficient performance by shooting 7-for-15 from the field, connecting on three three-pointers, and going 11-for-12 at the free-throw line.
Abby Lee followed with a strong all-around effort, posting 16 points, a team-best nine rebounds, four steals, and a block.
Brooklyn Heineman added six points and five rebounds, while
Kenna Mongan contributed five points and four assists.
Taylor Sodeman chipped in seven points, and
Kinzee Hinders sparked the Chargers off the bench with four points and four steals.
As a team, BCU shot 37.9 percent from the field and held a 39–34 edge on the glass, while converting 80.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Briar Cliff now stands at 13-4 overall and 7-4 in GPAC play as conference action continues. The Chargers return to play on Wednesday, January 14, traveling to Orange City, IA, to take on the Northwestern Red Raiders. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
#BattleOn