Coyotes Tamed As Winning Streak Ends In Concordia Blowout, 79-59

Dec. 29– VERMILLION, SD - The Concordia University women's basketball team continued their series dominance over the University of South Dakota, a recent upshoot of the NCAA Division I, with a controlling 79-59 win on Coyote territory.  The Concordia victory sets the season record at 11-3 and ends a nine-game USD (9-2) winning streak. The Golden Bears led throughout the game, receiving 28 points from sophomore Zoraa Quoie and hitting 50% of their shots from the field on the night (30-60).  Concordia is now 4-1 against USD with three consecutive wins. A sluggish Coyote offense, which hadn't seen the hardcourt in more than two weeks, shot just 36.2% from the field.  USD's season leading scorer, Bridget Yoerger, was held to only three field goals and missed double figures for the first time this year. Candace Olstad had yet another leading performance for her Golden Bears, reaching a double-double with 15 points from 5-of-10 shooting and also leading the team with 12 rebounds.  The CU effort on the glass resulted in an impressive 40-29 rebounding edge.  The team is now 7-0 when out-rebounding their opponent. Concordia controlled the pace of the game from the tap, as Gillian Bjerke hit a jumper nine seconds into the contest for CU's first and final lead.  Bjerke went on to hit 7-of-11 shots and finished with 16 points and five rebounds. The Golden Bears shot 51.5% in the first half, sending the Coyotes to the locker room with a 30-39 deficit, the first time this season they trailed at the half.  Things continued to fall for the Golden Bears in the second half as they stretched their lead out to as many as 25 points at the 6:47 mark before taking the final 79-59 win. The 20-point victory became the fifth time this season and second consecutive time that the Golden Bears topped a team by 20 or more points.  The final field goal mark of 50% is the third best performance of the year. Quoie's 28-point put-out came from shooting 10-of-16 from the field and hitting 4-of-5 from both long range and at the stripe.  She also matched Kali Olstad with six rebounds, second best on the night for CU.  The team came up with six total three-point shots, relying instead on their inside game.  With 31 points coming from C. Olstad and Bjerke, the team finished play with 32 total points in the paint.  Jamie Jones had five of the team's 17 assists. Leading the way for South Dakota were Jasmine Mosley with 14 points and Annie Roche with ten.  No USD player managed more than five rebounds.  The Coyotes combined for three shots from beyond the arc and had a mere five assists. Concordia returns to NSIC play this Saturday afternoon, playing at St. Cloud State.  The game tips off at 2:00 pm at Halenbeck Hall.