MADISON, S.D. – In an all-out war where the lead changed 15 times, 11th-seeded Bethel College (Kan.) made the necessary basket to hold on in an upset (78-76) of the 6th-seeded Concordia University, Nebraska on Friday (March 13). The Bulldogs had a five-point lead with under two minutes to play, but a late 7-0 game-clinching run earned the Threshers a win in the NAIA National first round contest. Kristin Vieselmeyer (18 points) and Sammy Leu (13), along with others, gave valiant efforts on both ends of the floor.
Head Coach Drew Olson and Concordia Women’s Basketball bow out in the first round with a 23-8 overall record.
“We didn’t do enough to kinda put them away when we should have,” Coach Olson said. “We missed too many free throws, and they stepped up and hit a lot of big shots. They did a great job and we weren’t able to match their shot-making plays at the end of the game. Kristin was great throughout the game. Sammy hit a couple of threes. Rae hit a three-pointer at the top of the key. JJ hit a shot in the corner. Ayla was great at getting to the rim. It was just not the game we thought was going to happen.”
Tied at 67 at the 4:28 mark of the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs went on a 7-2 (74-69) scoring surge capped off by a JJ Jones stroked trey and a faux dagger layup by Vieselmeyer. Bethel answered in the final minutes with a 9-2 final onslaught as six points came via the charity stripe.
Concordia matched the Threshers shot for shot with 27 made field goals apiece. CUNE had an edge in forced turnovers (16-10), steals (13-7) and made treys (9-7). The Bulldogs were plagued at the free throw line shooting 46.4 percent (13-for-28), while their counterparts made 70.8.
Vieselmeyer, out of Holyoke, Colo., fired a 7-for-13 shooting clip with nine of her 18 coming in the third stanza. The senior forward also managed two rebounds, steals and blocks.
Coach Olson, “Kristin is a really special player and a really special person. I think about my family. We have known her since she was probably eight years old. I got to know her through camp and through coaching her older sisters. The opportunity to coach her for four years is incredible. She is a great leader, super caring, and is always there for all of her teammates. We are going to miss her a lot because she is just an amazing person.”
Leu showed up from the opening whistle making life difficult on the opposition with six rebounds and four steals while reaching double figures in scoring. Ayla Roth (10 points, five rebounds), Jones (10 points, four rebounds) and Raelyn Kelty (eight points, six assists) all put on pressure throughout the contest.
Bethel was led by Karlee Locke’s 21-point, 12-rebound double-double performance. The Threshers had four in double figures including Karlee, Kendal Locke (18), Madyson McKinzie (13) and Caryn Yoder (12). They will move on to take on third-seeded Dakota State University.
No. 13 Concordia finishes its 2025-26 season with a fourth-place finish in the GPAC regular season as a national qualifier with a 23-8 overall record and a 17-5 conference showing.