NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Visiting Concordia-Moorhead used a 20-4 run to start the third quarter to break open a seven-point game and went on to defeat the St. Olaf College women's basketball team by an 80-54 margin in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play on Wednesday night at Skoglund Center.

Sophomore Grace Gertner and junior Joy Brandenstein were both in double figures at halftime to keep St. Olaf (4-4, 0-3 MIAC), which was playing without at least three potential starters, within seven points at the break. Concordia (7-1, 3-0 MIAC) exploded for 20 points in the first 4:35 of the third quarter, however, to break the game open on its way to staying unbeaten in conference play.

Brandenstein was in double figures for the fourth time in five games with a season-high 15 points on 6-for-13 shooting while also handing out a team-high three assists and grabbing two steals. Gertner scored a career-high 12 points, shooting 3-for-4 from the field, 2-for-2 from three-point range, and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, while also pulling down six boards. Sophomore Elise Hahn neared another double-double with seven points, 10 rebounds, and two blocked shots.

Maya Metcalf – a transfer from NCAA Division II Minnesota State University Moorhead – shot 8-for-11 from the field, 3-for-4 from behind the arc, and 5-for-6 from the charity stripe on her way to a game-high 24 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three blocks for Concordia. Molly Musland hit all three of her three-pointers while adding 15 points for the visitors, who had 11 student-athletes score in the win.

Brandenstein scored five points in the first six-plus minutes, including a three-pointer that forced a 9-9 tie, before the Cobbers scored five quick points to ahead by five. First year Norah Bickett drained one of her two three-pointers on the night to make it a two-point margin before the visitors closed the quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 21-14 lead into the second.

Midway through the second, Musland scored eight consecutive points for Concordia to help the Cobbers extend their lead to 11 at 35-24. After trailing by as many as 13, St. Olaf went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line and kept Concordia scoreless for the final 3:42 to go into the locker room down just seven at 37-30. Brandenstein (11) and Gertner (10) accounted for 21 of the Oles' 30 first-half points.

The Cobbers shot 9-for-12 from the field over the first 4:25 of the second half as part of a 20-4 start that ballooned their lead to 23. Metcalf made all four of her shots in the quarter, including a pair of three-pointers, as Concordia led by at least 18 the rest of the way.

St. Olaf will be back at home on Wednesday, Dec. 17 for a 3 p.m. tip-off against North Central University in non-conference play.