Nov. 21, 2016 - As far as home openers are concerned, many teams need to knock off some early-game jitters. This was not the case for the Concordia University Chicago women's basketball team tonight. The Cougars shot nearly 50 percent from the floor and trailed for less than 20 seconds in the contest. Led by senior Lauren Orr's 24 points on 9-16 shooting, CUC opened the season in style with a 73-56 win over the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

The season opened up with quick scoring. After an MSOE three, Taylor Jacobsen hit a three for the first points of the season. Orr then hit a three of her own to tie the score at six. Jacobsen slipped a nice pass underneath to Magen Lloyd to give CUC the lead for good with 7:44 remaining in the first. The Cougars were able to extend the lead late in the quarter. Leading 12-9, back-to-back layups by Crystal Corr while getting fouled extended the Cougar lead out to 17-9. A three point play by Courtney Lofinkas time expired brought the Cougar faithful to their feet. The Cougars led 20-11 at the end of the first.

Concordia continued to build the momentum in the second quarter. Erin Jacobsen hit a jumper to extend the lead to double digits early. A three by twin sister T. Jacobsen and another three by Orr put the lead at 17 just over halfway through the quarter. CUC polished off a fantastic first half with another Orr layup that sent the teams to the locker room with CUC leading 37-19.

The Cougars shot a hot 44 percent from the field in the first half including 4-10 from deep. The CUC defense was equally as impressive allowing MSOE to make just six shots from the field in the half. Orr led the way with 12 points in the half followed by T. Jacobsen with eight.

The Raiders showed fight throughout the third quarter, chipping away at the Cougars' lead. A jumper by Annika Rae kept CUC up 13 midway through the quarter, but MSOE continued to pressure. The Raiders cut the Cougars' lead to just nine with 2:54 remaining in the quarter, but.the Cougars got the offense going with a layup by T. Jacobsen and a three by Miranda Rogers to keep the CUC lead in double digits going to the fourth.

The teams battled back and forth to begin the fourth before back-to-back layups by T. Jacobsen and Corr extended the lead to 18 halfway through the fourth. Corr pushed the lead further just moments later with another layup on a feed by Lofink. Concordia continued to control the rest of the quarter, leading to the impressive 73-56 season opening victory.

CUC shot an impressive 48 percent from the field for the game (30-62). Orr led with 24 points followed by T. Jacobsen's 14 and freshman Corr's 15. The post play of CUC was critical in the game, limiting reigning NACC player of the year Holly Denfeld to 14 points.  The Cougar's ability to out rebound MSOE (73-56) was critical as well.

The Cougars (1-0, 1-0 NACC) will look to continue to build momentum when they take on Blackburn College tomorrow night inside Geiseman Gymnasium. Opening tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.