MOORHEAD, Minn. – In their 13^th road game of the season, the Hamline women's basketball team (14-5, 9-5 MIAC) found a way to hold off a fourth quarter rally from Concordia (8-11, 6-8 MIAC) to earn a 72-69 decision.
 
With the win, the Pipers surpassed their win total from last year, tying the most wins the team has had since the 2012-13 season, while improving their road record to 11-2. The win was also an important one as Concordia is only one place behind the Pipers in the MIAC standings.
 
Senior Reilly Geistfeld put up a massive 27-point, 13-rebound effort to record her 10^th double-double of the year. She shot 45.0% (9-20) from the field on the day, including hitting three of five from deep (60.0%) and six of eight (75.0%) from the free throw line.
 
First year Lydia Lecher scored 14 points in her 17 minutes played and sophomore Sophie Findell added a career-high 12. Findell was incredibly efficient with her points, hitting three of four (75.0%) from three while also dishing out two assists and nabbing four rebounds.
 
The Pipers forced 20 turnovers in the game, converting that into 16 points. The Cobbers held the edge in second chance points (15-3), though, out-rebounding HU 47-25.
 
The beginning of the game was tight, as the opponents were tied up at eight points apiece with three minutes left in the first quarter. The Pipers closed out the quarter on an 8-2 run, though, taking a six-point lead into the second frame.
 
Halfway through the second quarter, HU used an 8-0 run to stretch their lead to 12. Towards the end of the half the Cobbers scored seven of the last eight to make it a five-point game heading into the break, with the Pipers leading by a score of 33-28.
 
Hamline led by five points or more for the entire third quarter, working to build their lead up to double-digits with 2:45 left in the quarter at 50-40. After trading baskets for a few possessions, Findell knocked down a last-second three to help HU take a 56-45 lead going into the final 10 minutes.
 
The Cobbers kept within striking distance early in the fourth quarter and a pair of free throws from Concordia's Mary Sem made it a three-point game with 1:36 left. With 18 seconds left two more free throws form Sem once again put the game within three. Senior Kaeli Stayer hit some important free throws to push Hamline's lead to five.
 
The Cobbers drained a three on their next possession, making it 71-69 with 10 seconds to play. Sophomore Chan'el Anderson-Manning made a free throw to give HU a three-point lead and the Pipers got a critical defensive stop in the final seconds to secure the win.
 
Sems was a force for the Cobbers, connecting on 12 of her 18 shots (66.6%) while knocking down 10 of 11 from the free throw line (90.9%) for a game-high 34 points.
 
The Pipers will continue with their busy week with a pair of home games, hosting #20 St. Thomas on Wednesday night and St. Catherine on Saturday afternoon.