Balanced Attack Puts Golden Bears Back In Win Column

Nov. 29– [http://www.cugoldenbears.com/_Images/AthleticSportImgs/basketballw/2008-09%20WBB%20Images/Action%20Shots/Jones_3pt3.jpg]KEARNEY, Neb. - Concordia University's women's basketball team had five players score in double figures in an 82-76 win over Rockhurst University at the UNK Country Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday.  Setting the pace for Concordia was Jamie Jones with 16 points and nine assists and Gillian Bjerke with 15 points and nine rebounds. The Golden Bears used the three-point shot to nab the lead from the Hawks in the first half, with Kelly Supernaw sinking her first of three final triples at the 8:37 mark to give Concordia a lead they maintained for the remainder of the game.  Candace Olstad and Supernaw hit back-to-back long range field goals to put the team up 34-23, their largest lead of the first half.  Concordia led 36-32 at the half. The Golden Bears played a stretch of tough defense against Rockhurst in the second half, keeping the Hawks to only one field goal and a set of free throws through five minutes of play.  With solid shooting through this period, Concordia went on a 16-4 run to take their largest lead of the game, a 17 point margin with 11 minutes remaining.  The Hawks gradually chipped away at the Golden Bears, but the margin proved too great and Concordia walked away with the 82-76 win. Five Concordia players posted 11 or more points in the win, topped by Jones's 16 point, nine assist and seven rebound game.  Bjerke shot 5-of-9 from the field and had five free throws for 15 points and matched Shandrell Duncan for a team high nine boards.  Supernaw, Candace Olstad and Kali Olstad combined for eight of the team's three-pointers and scored 12, 12 and 11 points each, respectively. Concordia shot 42.4% (28-66) from the field and 45.5% (10-22) from beyond the arc.  They had a 48-44 lead on the boards, although Rockhurst put in 21 second chance points while Concordia had only seven. The Hawks were led in scoring by Amy Hake, who hit four of her five field goals from long range on her way to 17 points.  Tori Hartin put a double double in the books with 13 points and ten boards.  The team shot 33.8% from the field (25-74) and hit 11 threes. The Golden Bears open NSIC play on the road next Friday and Saturday, traveling to Upper Iowa and Winona State.  Both games will tip off at 6:00 pm.