Cobbers Close Regular Season Strong with 74-54 Win Over Saints

MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/21/26) — Concordia finished the regular season on a high note, using a second-quarter surge and a dominant second-half performance to defeat the College of St. Scholastica 74-54 Saturday afternoon, improving to 22-3 overall and 16-2 in MIAC play.

The Saints opened the game with early momentum, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers from Ava Haus and Jackie Johnson to jump out to a 6-0 lead. Concordia responded midway through the quarter as Molly Musland scored in the paint and Maya Metcalf connected from beyond the arc off an assist from Genevieve Gruba, trimming the deficit to one.

The Cobbers briefly moved in front at 8-6 following a transition layup by Gruba and a 3-pointer from Taylor Safranski. The Saints answered to regain the lead, but Kaitlyn Rohloff and Kaia Gack combined to go 4-for-4 at the free-throw line to keep the game close. Gack added a late layup and free throw to total five first-quarter points, though the Saints closed strong to take a 17-10 advantage into the second.

Concordia flipped the momentum in the second quarter.

Musland opened the period with a 3-pointer, and after the Saints answered with a three from Evie Schmitz, the Cobbers began to create separation. Musland and Wheeldon combined to convert three of four free throws to push the lead into double digits. A jumper from Gack followed by a 3-pointer from Alexa Snesrud stretched the advantage to 28-13.

St. Scholastica attempted to chip away with a pair of late 3-pointers from Haus, but Concordia stayed in control. Peyton Breinback and Rohloff each added a basket in the final minute to cap a dominant quarter and send the Cobbers into halftime with a 34-21 lead over the College of St. Scholastica.

The Cobbers seized full control coming out of the locker room, fueled by Metcalf's explosive start to the third quarter. Just 20 seconds into the half, she buried a 3-pointer. One minute later, she knocked down another to stretch the lead to 40-23. Metcalf then attacked the rim for back-to-back layups, pushing the margin to 44-23 and igniting a decisive run.

Concordia continued to pour it on. Musland added a 3-pointer, Rohloff scored on a pair of jumpers, and Metcalf converted at the free-throw line as the lead swelled. Haus tried to keep the Saints within reach with a 3-pointer and two free throws, but the Cobbers' offense proved too much. Tatum Finley drilled a 3-pointer with 21 seconds remaining in the quarter to make it 60-35, and although Kate Toewe converted two free throws in the closing seconds, Concordia entered the final period in command, 60-37.

The Saints struck first in the fourth quarter with a layup from Kloey Lind and a pair of free throws from Haus. Concordia quickly answered. Wheeldon hit a free throw, Musland connected from deep, and Gruba added a jumper to extend the lead to 66-41. Gruba followed with back-to-back layups to give the Cobbers a 27-point advantage with 4:37 remaining.

St. Scholastica mounted one final push, knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers along with a layup and another three to trim the deficit to 16. The rally, however, came too late. Brooklyn Christianson and Wheeldon added late baskets to seal the 74-54 victory.

As a team, Concordia shot 23-for-64 (35.9%) from the field and 9-for-25 (36%) from 3-point range. The Cobbers outrebounded the Saints 44-36 and forced 14 turnovers while committing just five. Concordia turned those miscues into 21 points and received a major boost from its bench, which accounted for 35 points.

Metcalf led the Cobbers with 16 points and six rebounds. Musland added 12 points, going 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, while Gruba recorded eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds. The Cobbers' depth was on full display, with Gack contributing nine points and Rohloff adding eight. In all, 11 players found the scoring column.

With the win, Concordia closes the regular season at 22-3 overall and 16-2 in MIAC play. The Cobbers enter the MIAC playoffs as regular-season champions and the No. 1 seed. They will host the MIAC Semifinals on February 26 at 7 p.m.