Linfield Holds Off Cavs, 63-59
PORTLAND, Ore.— Down 10 points at the half, the Concordia University women’s basketball team fought back to take a lead against Linfield midway through the second period but the advantage would be short-lived as the Wildcats would hold on for the 63-59 road win.
With the win, Linfield moved to 7-2 on the season while Concordia dropped to 6-7.
Behind 5 of 12 shooting from beyond the three-point arc, Linfield jumped out to a 37-27 lead entering the break. A 15-5 Cavalier run to open the second half highlighted by a reverse layup by freshman Danielle Clauson (Edmonds, Wash./King’s H.S.) squared the game at 42 at the 12:50 mark. The next time down the court, Clauson would return for a successful jumper for the first Cavalier lead since the opening bucket of the game.
In an immediate response, the Wildcats charged back with nine unanswered points from four consecutive field goals from four different players to give Linfield a seven-point lead.
The Cavs would close to within a single point on two occasions but could not reclaim the lead.
With eight of her 10 points after intermission, Courtney McFadden (Salem, Ore./North Salem H.S.) keyed the Wildcat attack in the second period. Clauson struck for 11 points in each half from an identical 5 of 6 shooting in each stanza for a game-high 22 points. Casey Stepan (Vancouver, Wash,/Mountain View) led the Wildcats with 12 points.
“Linfield played well as a team and we knew that going in,” Concordia head coach Aaron Christian said. “Their pressure got to us and we couldn’t find a way to consistently execute each of our possessions.”
Concordia returns to action after New Year’s when they return to Cascade Collegiate Conference action on Jan. 4 to host Southern Oregon. Opening tip is slated for 5:30 p.m. with the men’s squad set for a 7:30 p.m. start.