By: by Patrick Rydeen

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Concordia University women's basketball team (12-6, 7-4 NSIC) overwhelmed #11 Wayne State (16-2, 9-2 NSIC) in the second half in a 69-50 win.  The Golden Bears outscored the Wildcats 41-18 in the second half as they knocked off WSC for the second time this year, handing them their only two losses on the season.

In what was an excellent all-around team performance, several individuals stood out with impressive stat lines.  Kionda Nicks flirted with a quadruple-double as she had 10 points, 10 boards, eight assists and seven blocks.  The seven blocks was a Division II school record (the all-time school record is 10, held by Cheryl Senechal since the 1982-83 season).

Anika Whiting and Rachel Hansen both came through with big nights on the night they were honored as the latest members of the 1,000 point club at CU.  Whiting tied a season high with 25 points to go along with 11 rebounds to complete the double-double.  Hansen also finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points and picking up 10 rebounds and six assists.

Concordia went into the break trailing 32-28 but quickly turned the tide in their favor with a 16-3 run to open the second half.  The Golden Bears shot 46.2% from the floor and held the Wildcats to an icy 14.3% in the second half as they cruised to a 19 point victory.  Not only was the defense stifling, but Concordia dominated the glass by holding a 49-29 advantage in the rebounding department.  They were especially stingy on the defensive glass, only allowing the Wildcats to grab five offensive rebounds on 46 missed shots.  CU did a tremendous job moving the ball against the WSC zone with 24 assists on their 25 baskets on the night.

The first half provided a evenly matched game with five ties and 13 lead changes in the game's first 20 minutes.  The biggest lead of the half for either team came at the 14:17 mark as Mille Niggeling hit her second three in under a minute to give WSC an 11-6 lead.  CU followed with a 7-0 run to take the lead in what started string of trading buckets.  An Ashton Yossi three with 28 seconds left in the half gave Wayne State a 32-28 lead heading into the half and the game appeared headed to a photo finish.

Concordia couldn't buy a three as they hit 1-8 from beyond the arc compared to 6-13 for Wayne State, but a 22-4 advantage in the paint kept CU in it.

The second half turned out to be all Golden Bears, though, as the WIldcats didn't have an answer for Whiting.  She poured 17 of her 25 in the second half on 5-9 shooting and 7-8 from the stripe.  Rachel Hansen also turned it on after the break with 11 of her 12 points and seven of her 10 boards in the final 20 minutes.  Concordia aggresively attacked the hoop and got to the line 18 times in the second half and hit 15 of them. 

Concordia pushed the lead to double digits for good at 52-42 with 8:26 to go as they cruised to a 69-50 win.

Ashton Yossi proved to be a bright spot for the Wildcats with a team-hig 13 points on 3-5 from three and 4-4 from the free throw line as well as three assists and three steals.  Leading scorer Jordan Spencer had to work for her 11 points as she hit just 4-14 shots.

Concordia faces another big test tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. when Augustana comes to the GC.  The Vikings sit just a game behind the Golden Bears in the tight NSIC South standings.