Ann Arbor, Mich. - After trailing at the half the Alma College women's basketball suffered their third loss of the season at Concordia University on Sunday (Nov. 29) afternoon, 60-55. Freshman Kassidy Blough (Jackson, Mich./East Jackson) scored a team-high 13 points while sophomore Lauren Higgins (Sterling Heights, Mich./Cardinal Mooney Catholic) grabbed team high seven rebounds. 

It was a back and forth first quarter while the game was knotted on four separate occasions. Blough hit a three with 1:02 left in the quarter to give Alma the 15-13 advantage but a winding down seconds bucket from Brianna Rowe made the game an even 15-15 through one quarter. The second quarter was where the Scots were hit the hardest allowing the Cardinals to go on a 15-3 run to go in to halftime with the 35-22 lead. 

Alma rallied in the second half in attempts to cut the Cardinals lead, bringing it to a 37-26 deficit after a made lay up by freshman Kelsey Wolffis (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores) with 6:40 left in the third. The Scots however continued to trail the Cardinals 47-35 going in to the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was a different story and Alma went on a 14-9 run cutting Concordia's lead to three, 56-53 after a three-pointer from junior Kaitlyn Kendall (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) at the 3:06 mark. Unfortunately it was too late for the Scots as they were forced to bring Concordia to the free throw line who shot 94.1% on the day from the line ultimately being defeated 60-55. 

Alma shot a season team low 37 percent from the field making 20 of 54 but they did hold Concordia to only 38 percent (19 of 50) from field goal range. The Scots were out rebounded by the Cardinals in a 36-32 margin but ousted them in assists, 11-9. 

Alma now stands at 1-3 in the 2015-16 campaign and will begin Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play on Wednesday (Dec. 2) at 7:30 p.m. as they stay on the road and travel to Adrian College. 

NOTES:

• Kassidy Blough has made a three and has recorded an assist in every game this season.
• Sophie Guzman has made a three and notched at least one steal and one assist in every game this season. 
• Erica Hansen has come off the bench and scored at least one basket in every game this year.
• Lauren Higgins has recorded two or more rebounds in eight of her last nine games. 

QUOTES

Head Coach Kris Johnson

on the game...

"We need to start playing 40 minutes of basketball. We played good in the second half but we need to do that from the beginning. I thought Kassidy (Blough) and Sophie (Guzman) did a great job in the back court as well as setting up our offense and making big plays while Lauren (Higgins) did a great job defensively and on the boards."