Pictured: Seniors Dani Huray (left) and Sarah Albert (right)

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – It was a bittersweet night on several counts as the Marian University women's basketball team said goodbye to two dedicated seniors before Concordia University Wisconsin prevailed in convincing fashion, 69-42, inside Sadoff Gymnasium, this evening, Feb. 18.

However, all was not lost as the Sabres hung on to eighth place to clinch a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference tournament berth for the right to play top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran College next Saturday.

Near the end of the first half, the Sabres (7-18, 7-13 NACC) took a 22-20 lead on two free throws by reigning NACC Player of the Week, Sarah Albert, who helped erase a 13-point first half deficit. The momentum wouldn't last long, though, as CUW (21-4, 17-3 NACC) embarked on a 31-6 run and never looked back.

Megan Coenen led all scorers with 16 points, including 14 in the first half alone, on 6-for-10 shooting and 4-for-5 from the free throw line. Madelyn Landgraf added 15 points in 38 minutes, while Anna Butler and Katei Luethe led all rebounders with 12 and 11 caroms, respectively.

The Sabres, who battled back from such a large deficit in the first half seemed to gain some momentum going into halftime, but the Falcons showed why they have won a conference-leading 21 games as they imposed their will on both sides of the court in the second half. CUW shot 54.8 percent (17-for-31), while holding Marian to just 19.2 percent (5-for-26) from the field.

The Falcons dominated the paint by a 37-10 margin won the rebounding battle, 47-28. Marian was led by Albert's 12 points, while fellow senior Dani Huray added seven.

Huray and Albert had an emotional Senior Night ceremony prior to the start, honoring their illustrious careers. Fortunately, their season will continue for at least one more game as they head to Milwaukee to take on top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m.