Eagles Can't Maintain Quick Start, 67-56

Box Score 

(2/2/08 - Women's Basketball) IRVINE - After leading for most of the first half, host Concordia was unable to withstand the hot hands of #12-ranked The Master’s as the visitors shot 57.1% from the field for the 67-56 victory, Saturday evening in Golden State Athletic Conference play.

The Eagles came out with plenty of energy for the homecoming crowd. The Master’s Jennifer Ritter hit a three on the first play of the game, which was immediately answered on the other end by Concordia’s Kayanna Nichols. CUI took the lead just two minutes into the ballgame as Nikki Fu got a steal, scoring the lay-up to go up 7-5.

Concordia stretched their lead to seven with 12:39 to play as Cheyenne Wallace tipped an offensive rebound to Nichols for the jumper and Priscilla Angeloni scored from the block the next time down the floor to put the Eagles up 17-10.

The Mustangs showed why they are the #12 ranked team in the NAIA, though, working down the Eagle lead as Teresa Fukumoto hit a three to tie the game at 25-25 with 4:42 to play in the first frame. Erica Inge hit two free throws with 4:18 remaining to put The Master’s ahead of the Eagles, a lead they would not relinquish and took a 35-29 cushion into the break.

Concordia struggled against the press from the Mustangs in the second frame and were unable to recover from their halftime deficit. Jennifer Ayers-Stamper led The Master’s with 16 points off 6-for-9 shooting while Inge kicked in 14 points off the bench.

The Eagles were led in defeat by Nicole Fu, who finished the night with 12 points and three assists. Cheyenne Wallace posted nine points while grabbing seven rebounds for Concordia.

The Master's improved to 15-5 overall, 7-4 in GSAC play while Concordia falls to 8-13, 2-9. The Eagles are back home this Tuesday, February 5 to host San Diego Christian at 5:30 p.m. The Eagles earned a 65-59 win in El Cajon the first time the teams met back in November.