By ALEX AGUEROS

(CONCORDIA, Mo., digitalBURG) – The offense never found its rhythm in Concordia, where the Lady Orioles were outmatched by the Crest Ridge Lady Cougars 53-37 Tuesday.

“They kind of got us here,” said Concordia coach Susie Vandevender. “They kept switching defenses on us, and it got us a little bit.”

The Lady Cougar’s various defensive strategies halted any post-game Concordia wanted to establish, with most of their offensive possessions ending in a block or miss on the low post. The Lady Orioles trailed 25-15 at halftime and could never catch up.

The beginning of the second half saw the Lady Cougars pressure Concordia on both sides of the ball, with a full-court press into its “2-3 zone” defense, and a fast-paced offense featuring long passes and pull-up jumpers.

Senior forward Hailee Langkrahr led the Lady Orioles in offensive production by sheer will, often dribbling through Crest Ridge’s trap and dumping off to an open teammate, or scoring through the double team she commanded. Langkrahr finished the game with 12 points.

“Toward the end of the game, they put a box-and-one on her,” Vandevender said of Langkrahr, explaining the defensive scheme Crest Ridge used slow down the forward. “She wants the ball. She’s a baller, it’s frustrating when a defender is following you around the whole time.”

Despite losing senior Dakota Miller to a torn ACL, senior Britlin Murray leaving the game after tweaking her ankle, and not having a formal practice this season, Vandevender applauded the team’s effort on defense.

“We really haven’t had time to work on things without Miller,” Vandevender said. “But the defense doesn’t give up.”