Broncos Unable to Steal Win at #10 Concordia

(Seward, NE) – In a big conference matchup at #10 Concordia that featured two of the top four teams in the GPAC on Wednesday evening, Hastings trailed by just one at the break and had chances in the final minute of regulation to try to steal the road win, but the Bulldogs held on, 83-77.

After Concordia scored the opening basket, sophomore McKenna Yates, who had 12 points in the first quarter, got inside for two and sophomore Ann Bose got a quick steal and layup to take a 4-2 lead. Tied at six, Yates went on a personal 5-0 run, including a steal and layup to go up 11-6 with 7:50 left in the first. Concordia took a 18-13 lead, but Yates hit a three to regain some momentum at the 3:37 mark. 

With the Bulldogs holding a seven-point lead with a minute remaining in the first, Yates and junior Bailey Kissinger each made a pair of free throws. Following Kissinger's free throws, she stole the inbound pass and put in the layup to trail only by one, 23-22, after one quarter.

Concordia scored the first seven points in the second quarter, then Hastings answered with six points of their own to get within two at the 6:28 mark, capped by a jumper from senior Mariyah Avila. Kissinger and Avila managed to tie the game on multiple occasions while the Bulldogs were trying to build their lead. Hastings' lone lead of the quarter came on a three-point play by Kissinger to go up 41-40 with a minute left, but Concordia went to the break with a 42-41 lead.

Both teams were held below 40 percent in the first half. Concordia capitalized on their trips to the line by going 19-21, but Hastings forced 16 turnovers to keep the game close. Kissinger had 13 points in the first half, along with Yates' 12, to lead the Broncos at the break.

Seven of the first nine points of the third went to the Bulldogs, but Avila drilled a three and made another jumper to get back within three at the 7:04 mark. Down five halfway through the third, sophomore Josilyn Miller found an opening in the paint and scored, making it 55-52. 

After a deadball offensive rebound, Kissinger penetrated and found sophomore Adyson Mlnarik for a three to take a 57-55 lead with 2:47 left. Up one, Mlnarik stole a pass and Miller rattled in a triple, then Miller scored again on a pullup to go up six. Concordia made two threes in the final minute to tie the game at 64, but Avila put in a floater at the buzzer to take a 66-64 lead heading to the fourth.

Concordia pulled ahead by one two minutes into the fourth on a three-pointer, but Avila had the answer with a three of her own off the glass. A 5-0 run put the Bulldogs up five with 6:20 to go and after Kissinger scored inside, Concordia went up four on another three. Down three with less than three minutes left, the Bulldogs got a steal and turned it into a three to go up 80-74.

After empty possessions by both teams, Avila kicked the ball ahead to senior Macy Bryant on the left wing, who cashed in a three to trim the lead to three with 1:47 left. Bryant stole the inbound pass, but a missed three by Hastings allowed Concordia to go up four at the line with 1:26 left. Hastings had a few chances to cut into the lead in the final minute, but the shots would not go and the Bulldogs put the game away at the line, holding on 83-77.

For the game, Hastings shot 40 percent from the field compared to Concordia's 38 percent. The Bulldogs held a 46-43 rebounds edge, while the Broncos led the turnovers forced battle, 22-19. Avila led Hastings with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Kissinger contributed 17 points and five rebounds, while Yates had 12 points, three rebounds and three assists. Bose had a team-high seven rebounds to go along with eight points.

Up next, Hastings will play at Northwestern on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 2pm.