Dec. 29, 2016 - Coming off a tough two-point loss 24 hours earlier, the Concordia-Chicago women's basketball team looked to break even on their holiday swing to Phoenix, AZ. The Cougars took on Arizona Christian University, their second NAIA opponent in as many nights. The evening began promisingly as CUC bolted to an early lead, but the tide turned tremendously a short time later as the Cougars were burned by the Firestorm by a score of 87-45.

The Cougars led 4-2 in the opening minutes when Erin Jacobsen tracked down the rebound of a missed three and fed the ball to Courtney Lofink. Lofink fired a three which did not miss, and CUC led 7-2. The Firestorm answered with a bucket, but Crystal Corr and Taylor Jacobsen converted shots to put Concordia-Chicago up 11-4 after 3 1/2 minutes.

That would be the high point of the game for CUC as Arizona Christian scored the next eight points for a 12-11 lead. The Cougars regained the lead briefly as Lauren Orr scored her third basket of the quarter, but the Firestorm finished with a 9-0 run to lead 21-13 after the first 10 minutes.

Arizona Christian stayed on a roll as the second quarter began. They scored the first 14 points before Orr's putback ended a scoreless drought of nine minutes and a 23-0 run by the Firestorm.The Cougars tried to chip away at the huge deficit and did manage a 7-0 run late in the quarter.Annika Rae scored the final points of the half, but that would only pull the Cougars to within 41-24. The second half brought no miracle rallies as the Firestorm ran away to the lopsided victory,

The Cougars (5-5) will return to Chicago and now prepare for a busy stretch of conference games in January, beginning with a game at Rockford University on Wednesday night at 5:00.