BALTIMORE, MD – The No. 5/5 Johns Hopkins women's basketball saw its remarkable season come to a close Friday afternoon, falling to No. 20/25 Concordia-Moorhead, 64-59, in the third round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship inside the John Long Center. The loss marks the third consecutive season Hopkins' run in the national tournament has ended in the Sweet 16.
 
In a game that lived up to its billing, Kendall Dunham scored six straight points midway through the fourth quarter to give Hopkins a 47-46 lead with 7:51 remaining. Moments later, Lauren Knudson recorded her fifth steal of the afternoon, leading to a three-pointer from Layla Henderson that pushed the Blue Jays ahead 50-48. Dunham again answered for Hopkins with a basket to reclaim a 52-50 advantage.
 
However, a three-pointer from Concordia's Taylor Safranski with 2:50 to play gave the Cobbers a 57-53 lead — a deficit the Blue Jays were unable to overcome.
 
Hopkins opened the game with a 5-0 run as the Blue Jays' press forced an early turnover that led to a Knudson three-pointer. Concordia, however, cut the deficit to three at 12-9, but Dunham connected from deep for Hopkins' third three-pointer of the opening quarter to give the Blue Jays a 17-13 advantage heading into the second.
 
Knudson opened the second quarter with her second three of the half, but Concordia answered each Hopkins basket to keep the game within a possession. The Cobbers eventually used a 10-2 run to take their first lead of the game and carried a 30-26 advantage into halftime.
 
The teams traded baskets early in the third quarter before Faith Williamson and Dunham knocked down back-to-back transition three-pointers to give Hopkins a 39-36 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the period. The Blue Jays then forced three consecutive turnovers but were unable to convert the opportunities into points, allowing Concordia to regain momentum and take a 43-41 lead into the final quarter.
 
The fourth quarter remained a one-possession battle throughout. Dunham ignited a 6-0 Hopkins run, scoring six straight points and tying the game at 46-46 before giving the Blue Jays a 47-46 edge with just over seven minutes to play. Knudson's fifth steal set up Henderson's three-pointer that made it 50-48 with 6:28 remaining, and Dunham later converted a tough basket to put Hopkins back in front, 52-50.
 
After the teams traded baskets in the closing minutes, Concordia's corner three with 2:50 left gave the Cobbers a four-point lead at 57-53.
 
Trailing by seven with 55 seconds remaining, Dunham drilled a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 60-56. With 10.2 seconds left, Knudson buried another three to bring Hopkins within three at 62-59. Concordia, however, broke the Blue Jays' press and sealed the game with a final basket to secure the 64-59 victory.
 
Dunham led Hopkins with 18 points, shooting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, while Jocelyn Godstein added 12 points and Knudson finished with 11. Knudson also recorded a game-high six steals, and Macie Feldman pulled down a team-best nine rebounds.
 
With the result, the Blue Jays' historic season comes to a close.
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