Monday, November 5, 2018

Nov. 5--U. Mary Women 64 Concordia Moorhead 27

I'll be glad when these exhibition games are over. We've had 3 of them, now as our Games of the Day, and the average score has been 82-40. Well, no surprise. Here you had a D3 visiting a D2. Two strikes right there. And D2 U. Mary defeated Concordia Moorhead easily 64-27. It was 31-13 at the half, 50-16 after 3, 54-16 a minute later. Concordia shot 9-of-49 (18 percent) from the floor. 'Nut sed.

What was interesting here is that I learned that Concordia has a couple of new guards in freshmen Autumn Thompson from Stephen-Argyle and Anna Rinke from Wheaton, both veterans of the MN state tournament. They had little if any impact tonight but, longer term, they will help Concordia, who went 11-14 last year, 8-10 in the MIAC. Meanwhile, Grace Wolhowe, a junior from Staples-Motley, is the star. She led in scoring last year at 11 mpg and shot 45 percent from the field. Tonight, she led the Cobbers with 7 points and 5 rebounds.

Concordia also brings back a pair of bigs (5-11 and 5-10 are big in the MIAC) in Kirstin Simmons (Waseca) and Mira Ellefson (Hawley). The averaged 17 points and 9 boards last year and shot 48 and 43 percent, respectively, from the field. Rachel Hoernemann (Ortonville) and Elizabeth Birkmeyer (Ada) also return.

The Cobbers should be somewhat improved this year but the MIAC is shaping up to be pretty competitive. Improved on the floor may not translate into wins this year, but a person has got to wish a team coached by Jessica Rahman, now in her 15th season at Concordia well. She's a great lady who has coached some outstanding teams. Just now, MS-Moorhead and coach Karla Nelson are grabbing all the best players in the west central part of the state, which used to be Rahman's stomping ground. Concordia will be back. It's just a question of when.

Player of the Day--Grace Wolhowe, Concordia Moorhead
Team of the Day--Concordia Moorhead
Coach of the Day--Jessica Rahman, Concordia Moorhead

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