PHILADELPHIA – The Concordia Clippers women's basketball team returned to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) action on Wednesday evening with a matchup at Philadelphia University. Concordia fell to the Rams at the Gallagher Center, 59-41, as Philadelphia has won their last 12 games overall against the Clippers.
The first quarter began with Concordia scoring the opening basket as the Rams responded with five straight points to take their first advantage at 5-2. It would be a back-and-forth battle between the two sides as the lead changed hands seven times in the first period. Philadelphia ended the quarter with a jump shot at the buzzer to hold a 17-16 lead after 10 minutes of play.
In the second quarter the Clippers would struggle offensively as sophomore Julianne Wilkinson (Red Hook, N.Y.) knocked down the only basket of the period, a three-pointer at the 6:59 mark. The Rams managed to score only 10 points as the home team went into the locker room with a 27-19 advantage.
Concordia came out in the third quarter with four of the first six points, but Philadelphia would use a 5-2 run to hold a 34-25 lead at the 6:52 mark. The Clippers cut their deficit to four points after five unanswered points brought the score to 34-30 with 5:29 to go in the period. From here the Rams used a 7-0 run to take their largest lead thus far at 41-30. Philadelphia ended the quarter on a 5-2 run as Concordia trailed 46-32 with one period to go.
The fourth quarter saw the Clippers begin with a quick basket, but the Rams scored six straight points to hold a 52-34 advantage with 6:36 to go in regulation. Both teams scored seven points apiece to close out the game as Philadelphia would take a 59-41 win.
Junior Jessica Rosalbo (Staten Island, N.Y.) led Concordia with 14 points as sophomore Brianna Hendrick (Valley Stream, N.Y.) added seven points, four rebounds, and two steals. Sophomore Hadiyah Black (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with a team-high eight rebounds for the Clippers.
Concordia (3-9, 1-5 CACC) will return to the Meyer Athletic Center for their next game on Saturday, January 9th. The Clippers will host Chestnut Hill College in a CACC showdown as tip-off is set for 1 p.m. Fans unable to attend can follow the action by clicking on the live stats and video links under the women's basketball schedule page on ConcordiaClippers.com.