RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Edgewood College women's basketball team is not going to be pushed around anymore. The Eagles sent an emphatic message to the rest of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference that the rebuilding process if fully underway with a 72-69 road victory at Concordia University Chicago on Saturday afternoon. Junior Allison Gordon, the lone upperclassman on the team turned a monster double-double performance with 22 points and 14 rebounds.
Edgewood College (5-5, 3-2 NACC) trailed 35-30 at halftime, and fell behind 42-34 on a three-pointer by the Cougars' Annika Rae early in the third period. The Eagles' Abby Shane started the comeback with a three-pointer, and Gordon followed with two free throws. After a Concordia Chicago (5-2, 3-2 NACC) free throw Shane hit another jumper and a three-pointer on the next possession to give the Eagles their first lead of the second half.
Riley Larson then scored a free throw and a basket, and Gordon scored on a put-back to complete a 15-1 Eagles run for a 49-43 lead. Edgewood College wouldn't trail again, but the Eagles were far from in the clear.
Nursing a six-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter, the Cougars rallied to tie the game at 63-63 on a three-pointer by Taylor Jacobsen. The Eagles' Shane and the Cougars' Courtney Lofink traded baskets before Delaney Wilhelm drilled a three-point shot from the right wing for a 68-65 lead. Gordon followed with a post-up move, and after forcing a stop, Brook Lonigro fed Larson on the fast break for a 72-65 lead with 2:21 left to play.
Concordia Chicago scored in the paint, and then converted a steal and a layup by Jacobsen to cut the margin to 72-69. The Eagles had a chance to make it a two possession game, but missed a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left, setting up one final chance for the Cougars. Jacobsen tried a three-pointer from the left corner, but missed. Gordon ripped down the rebound, but was tied up for a held ball that went back to the Cougars with three seconds to play. The inbound again went to Jacobsen, but her desperation three-pointer off the dribble was well wide of the mark.
Edgewood College's win marked the first time they have won three straight NACC games since the 2014-15 season. Gordon huge 22-point, 14-rebound performance was her second double-double of the season and fifth of her career. She also surpassed 500 career points. Shane finished with 14 points, while Wilhelm also had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Larson contributed 12 points off the bench. Lonigro handed out a team-high seven assists against just one turnover.
Concordia University Chicago was led by Jacobsen's 17 points and five steals, while Courtney Lofink had 14 points and six assists. The Cougars have now lost back-to-back games after winning five straight to open the season.
Edgewood College is off until after the Christmas holiday. The Eagles will host Lakeland University on Saturday, December 30 at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.
