Box Score: CUW 62, EC 55

VIDEO: Brunner-Jones post-game interview

MADISON, Wis. - After finding themselves down by 13 points with 4:21 to play in regulation, the Concordia University Wisconsin women's basketball used their harassing defense to earn a 62-55 overtime victory at Edgewood College on Tuesday night during Northern Athletics Conference play.

Despite a poor shooting night, the Falcons turned their efforts to the defensive end of the court during the final minutes of regulation and overtime. CUW forced five turnovers and converted those EC miscues into a 15-2 scoring run during the final 4:21 of the second half. The Falcons were down three with 28 seconds to play before junior Tiffany Hendrickson worked herself free off a screen to drain a 3-pointer from the left wing to send the game into overtime.

During the extra session the contest was won at the free throw line. CUW knocked down seven free throws and sophomore Katie Luethe responded on the defense with two decisive steals and a pair of rebounds to limit the Eagles (6-11, 5-6 NAC) chances.

The Falcons outscored the Eagles 24-4 over the final 9:21 of the game, including overtime, to earn their fourth-straight conference win and first overtime victory of the season.

CUW (12-6, 12-2 NAC) used a balanced offensive approach in the victory, as four players scored in double-figures. Junior Brittany Zietlow (Oak Creek, Wis.) and senior Brittney Toles (South Beloit, Ill.) led the team with 13 points apiece, respectively.

"Every time we play Edgewood it is a good game," Toles said. "We really had a change in attitude and a sense of urgency during the final minutes of the game and overtime. Our philosophy has always been to play solid defense first and we had to do that tonight to win."

Luethe (Oshkosh, Wis.) finished the game with 12 points, seven rebounds and a game-high-tying four steals for the Falcons. Senior Kendall Kerns (Stoughton, Wis.) added nine points, seven rebounds and a game-high-tying four steals. Hendrickson (Ingleside, Ill.) added 10 points and four rebounds.

"We had to play good defense tonight," Luethe said. "We always talk about our defense fueling our offense and tonight it showed. I am proud of how we played with heart tonight. With the game on the line we didn't want to let ourselves down and we did everything we had to, to win."

The Eagles were led by Mariah Hill's game-high 17 points off the bench. Alison Tobin recorded the game's only double-double, 12 points and 11 rebounds. Melanie Walker added eight points, eight rebounds and a game-high six assists.

Neither team could gain control in the opening period as there were six scoring ties and four lead changes. Zietlow made a layup with 1:49 left to cut the Falcons deficit to 24-23, which ended up being the halftime score.

The Falcons twice cut the Eagles lead to two points in the second period, before EC went on a 14-3 scoring run over a five minute stretch to push its lead to 51-38. CUW wasn't going to let the game just coast to the final horn, as it locked down on defense and made a game of it.

In the end, the Falcons held a 25-11 points off turnovers advantage after creating 25 Eagles miscues. EC, did however, own a 26-13 lead in bench production.

CUW returns to the hardwood on Friday when it travels to River Forest, Ill., for the 61st annual Concordia Invitational Tournament. The Falcons will play Concordia University Nebraska, which is ranked fifth in the latest NAIA poll. Game time is set for 1 p.m. on the campus of Concordia University Chicago, which is this year's host.