AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas women's basketball team suffered their first loss of the season, falling 48-39 to Texas Lutheran on Friday.
After winning two straight games to open their season, the Tornados came up short at home, ending the contest on the wrong side of a fourth-quarter comeback.
Falyn Taylor led CTX in scoring on the night, posting 10 points to go along with three rebounds, and
Natalie Velardez turned in six points and 11 rebounds.
In the first quarter, the Tornados took a quick 9-4 lead after a fast break bucket from
Havyn Perez, but the Bulldogs answered with a 5-0 spurt to tie even the score.
Erin Blaschke hit a pair of free throws at the close of the quarter, giving the Tornados an 11-9 lead, but a last-second basket from TLU brought the score to an 11-11 tie after one quarter of play.
Velardez scored the first points of the second quarter, converting a basket in the paint to put the Tornados ahead, but the Bulldogs answered to even the score at 13-13. With six minutes left in the period, Perez hit a three-pointer to give CTX a 16-14 lead, but TLU outscored the Tornados 10-5 for the remainder of the half. At the halfway point, Concordia Texas trailed 24-21.
The third quarter went the way of the Tornados, as they outscored the Bulldogs 11-4.
Erin Toro got things started with a bucket in the paint, putting CTX within one point at 24-23, and back-to-back jumpers from Taylor and
Chelsea Cogborn gave the Tornados a 27-26 lead. A basket from
Madi Maxwell capped off the quarter with 16 seconds left, giving CTX a 32-28 advantage heading into the final period.
The Bulldogs' offense exploded in the fourth quarter, outscoring Concordia Texas 20-7.
Allie Garza and Velardez each recorded a basket in the period, and despite a strong effort, the Tornados ultimately fell 48-39.
With the loss, the Tornados still sit with a solid 2-1 record early on in the season. Next, the Tornados will complete the home-and-home with Texas Lutheran on Nov. 27, traveling to Seguin, Texas for a 2 p.m. tip off.
