December 28, 2016- With the winter break in full swing, the Concordia University Chicago Women's Basketball team took to the floor for the first time since the big Rivalry Cup win over Dominican. The Cougars would take to the floor in the desert against Benedictine Mesa in the first of two games in their trip out west. The game was a closely guarded and fast paced affair, that came down to a last second jumper that spoiled the opening game of the trip by an 88-86 score.
 
The opening quarter began quickly with scoring by Taylor Jacobsen and Erin Jacobsen in a back and forth first quarter. Benedictine gained a 10-7 advantage midway through the quarter, but Crystal Corranswered with a jumper in the lane. E.Jacobsen tied the game at 12 with just under four minutes remaining with a three. Courtney Lofink then gave CUC the lead, converting a steal into a layup. Benedictine was able to score the last four points of the quarter to end the quarter 16 all after the first.
 
The Redhawks came out strong in the second quarter. They built up a eight point lead over the first half of the quarter forcing multiple Cougar turnovers. CUC cut into the lead late in the quarter. Three threes on three straight possessions by Lauren Orr and the Jacobsen sisters cut the Redhawk lead to 35-32 with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter. Benedictine threatened late, but two baskets by T.Jacobsen to end the half sent the teams to the locker rooms with CUC trailing 39-36.
 
The Cougars would shoot 36 percent from the floor in the first half (13-36) while shooting just 28 percent from three. The Jacobsen twins combined for 19 of the Cougar's points. Benedictine shot 47 percent from the floor (16-34) but still managed to lead by just three.
 
CUC came out of the locker room and grabbed the lead back quickly with baskets by Orr and Lofink. The teams continued their intense closely guarded contest throughout the quarter. The Redhawks grabbed a 10-point lead with 2:24 remaining in the quarter. CUC quickly came back with an 8-1 run to end the quarter, all started by a jumper by Sarah Smith. The Cougars and Redhawks headed to the fourth with CUC trailing 63-60.
 
The fourth quarter started off much like the mid part of the third. Benedictine extended their lead back out to nine points. Threes by T.Jacobsen and Orr brought CUC within one with 3:32 left. Lofink converted one of her five steals into a layup to give CUC the lead at 82-81 with 2:10 remaining. Orr extended the lead to three just moments later off an E.Jacobsen steal. Looking to close it out, Orr got her own offensive rebound with 46 seconds left and gave the Cougars a 86-83 lead. Unfortunately, a three by Alexis Todd tied the game at 86, and the Redhawks were able to convert a late turnover into the game deciding basket with three seconds on the clock. The Cougars got one final shot off but came up short to the Redhawks 88-86 in a thrilling opener in the desert.
 
The Cougars shot 44 percent for the game including a red-hot 51 percent in the second half. Four of the Cougars' starters finished with double digits scoring, led by T.Jacobsen with 20. CUC struggled controlling the basketball, turning the ball over 29 times in the game.

CUC (5-4) will continue their trip out west with a matchup with the tournament hosts Arizona Christian University. Opening tip is scheduled for 8:00pm Chicago time.