SYLVANIA, Ohio (LourdesAthletics.com) -- Lourdes University women's basketball edged out a 51-46 victory over Concordia University in a defensive battle on Wednesday evening inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center. The Gray Wolves secured their fifth home win of the season by maintaining composure down the stretch in the fourth quarter.
Lourdes opened strong with a 20-point first quarter, building a double-digit lead thanks to efficient shooting (57.1%) and a balanced offensive effort. Emma Pedroza led the charge, finishing with a team-high 18 points, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Pedroza has hit double-digit scoring performance in all games this season, thus far, and posted her fourth consecutive game with at least 18 points.
Macie Stringfellow added a solid 14 points and six rebounds, making key plays in critical moments. Nadeen Jemaa contributed six points and four rebounds, while Grace Ryan provided energy off the bench, tallying six points and three steals. Lourdes' defense played a pivotal role, forcing eight steals and limiting Concordia to just 34.6% shooting from the field.
After a dominant first quarter, Lourdes saw its lead shrink in the second half, as Concordia outscored the Gray Wolves in both the third and fourth quarters. However, clutch free-throw shooting (93.3%) and timely defensive stops helped Lourdes fend off the Cardinals' late surge.
The Gray Wolves improved to 8-4 overall and 4-3 in WHAC play.
Up Next:
The team travels to Canton, Ohio, to face Malone University on Friday, December 20, at 1 p.m.
