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Moorhead, Minn. – The Saint Benedict basketball team got down early, and despite a rally in the second half could not overcome a hot-shooting Concordia team in a 81-68 loss tonight (Jan. 9).
 
Playing on the road for the first time since Dec. 12, the Blazers (8-4, 6-3 MIAC) found themselves down 18 with 14:56 left to go in the game. Looking to get back in the game, the Blazers strung together a 21-to-4 run to cut the lead to four at 58-54 with 10:28 to go, the closest they had been since a two point deficit midway through the first.
 
Back-to-back threes from Brianna Barrett and Morgan Dale jump-started the run, with Dale also adding seven consecutive points on three consecutive possessions. A pair of Mattie Lueck free throws eventually capped the stretch, but that was as close at the Blazers would get.
 
The Cobbers connected for 55.17% (16-of-29) of their attempts from the floor in the second half, effectively holding off the Blazers. It was enough to counter a Blazer attack that shot 43.1% (25-of-58)  in the game, their third best shooting night of the year, and second straight over 43%.
 
Barrett once again led the Blazers in scoring, extending her streak to eight straight while hitting the 19-point mark for the second time on the season, just one off her career high. She was joined on the leaderboard by Morgan Dale with 16 points – her second best effort of the year – and Jamie Wollin with 12, the fifth time this season, the Blazers have had three players in double figures.
 
With the win, Concordia (9-3, 8-1 MIAC) runs their current streak to six straight, with five of those wins now coming by double digits. The Blazers see their season-long three-game winning streak come to an end with the loss, and they have now dropped five straight to the Cobbers.
 
Saint Benedict must now return home to face the No. 3 ranked team in the country in St. Thomas, hosting the Tommies at 3 p.m. on Jan. 12 in Claire Lynch Hall.