Carthage 65, Concordia Wisconsin 46
MEQUON, Wis. - The Carthage women's basketball team kicked off the 2025-26 season on the road against the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons on Saturday evening. After an even opening quarter, the Firebirds used the middle quarters of the game to build a lead and come away with a win in the season opener. 



The Firebirds got on the board first with a pair of free throws from Grace Cord, but the Falcons responded with a 7-0 run to take the lead. A layup from Alyssa Orozco and a 3-pointer from Taelor Paulsen leveled the score at 7-7 just past the halfway point of the opening quarter. A pair of layups lifted the Falcons back up by four points before a last-second 3-pointer from Delaney Elsmore cut the Carthage deficit to 11-10 at the end of the first quarter. Elsmore and Paulsen's 3-point baskets led the scoring totals for the Firebirds in the quarter.

The Firebirds got the second quarter started quickly, going on a 9-0 run to take a 19-11 lead with 5:42 to go in the half. The run was fueled by a layup and a 3-pointer from Orozco, a layup from Cord, and a made jumper from Whitney Thompson. The Falcons responded with a 5-0 run, cutting the Firebirds' lead to three points at 19-16. Orozco and Cord closed the half on a combined 7-0 run to give the Firebirds a 26-16 lead at the break. Orozco led the offensive effort with 10 points in the second quarter and 12 points in the half.

The Falcons opened the third quarter with a free throw from Kristin Wentling before Malia Green responded with a pair of free throws for the Firebirds. A layup from Nora Ahram extended the lead to 13 points for Carthage before a 3-pointer from Gracie McNabb brought the Falcons back within 10. The Firebirds then used a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 18 points, leading 38-20 with seven minutes to play in the third. The two squads traded baskets throughout the middle of the quarter before the Firebirds went on a 9-0 run, which featured a pair of 3-pointers from Paulsen, to end the quarter with a 50-27 lead. Thompson led the team in scoring with seven points in the period.

The offense ran through Cord to start the fourth quarter, as the senior was responsible for the team's first 10 points of the period. A 3-pointer from Orozco and a layup from Mallory Winters capped the scoring for Carthage, as the team went on to secure a 65-46 victory.


 

• Grace Cord - 20 points, 9-13 FGs (.692), 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
• Alyssa Orozco - 17 points, 5-5 FTs, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
• Nora Ahram - 4 assists, 2 steals

"It's always great to start the season off with a win!" said Head Coach Megan Jones. "We started a little slow in the first quarter and struggled to get the offense going. Once we started to get the ball inside it really opened up the offense. We moved the ball really well after that first quarter and it led to a positive assist to turnover ratio. We got more active in the press as the game went on and it translated to more offense. We are happy with a lot of things we saw today and know this group is ready to make the adjustments we need to get a little better each day. 
We have to learn from these early games and continue to put the pieces together. We're focused on stacking days and growing together as a team."




The Firebirds (1-0) return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 12 as the squad travels to Milwaukee, Wis. to face MSOE at 7 p.m. Carthage women's basketball returns to Tarble Arena on Saturday, Nov. 15 as the Firebirds host Edgewood at 2 p.m. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.