SEWARD, Neb. – After celebrating the 29th Concordia Invitational Tournament title in program history, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team will now refocus its attention upon the remainder of the conference slate. This week will be a challenging one for the Bulldogs, who will host No. 14 Dordt on Wednesday before traveling to take on second-ranked Northwestern on Saturday. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad enters the week alone atop the GPAC standings.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 30 vs. No. 14 Dordt (17-7, 10-6), 6 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Feb. 2 at No. 2 Northwestern (20-3, 14-3), 2 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Concordia regained the No. 1 ranking on Jan. 22 when the NAIA unveiled a new Division II poll. It marked the 18th time in program history that the Bulldogs have reached that lofty perch. Concordia has taken up residence in the top five of the national poll ever since moving up into that position on Dec. 13, 2016. The program also has an active top 25 poll streak of 87, which dates back to the 2011-12 preseason poll. During Olson’s tenure, the highest poll finish has been No. 2 – in 2015 and 2018. The Bulldogs began this campaign as the preseason No. 1.
Junior Philly Lammers has played like an All-American again this season. She put together a string of dominant performances last week, averaging 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.67 steals and 1.67 blocks per game over the victories over Doane, Concordia University, Wisconsin and Concordia University, Ann Arbor. Lammers was named the CIT MVP after her latest outing – a 23-point, 14-rebound effort in the title game versus CU-Ann Arbor. Lammers was joined on the CIT All-Tournament Team by Taylor Cockerill, who put up a combined 35 points at CIT.
Since falling in double overtime at Dordt on Jan. 2, the Bulldogs have won eight games in a row – most in blowout fashion. Only one of those contests (a 93-85 win over then No. 5 Northwestern) was decided by a single digit margin. Concordia may not have been tested significantly last week, but that will change down the stretch of conference regular season play. After this week’s action, the Bulldogs will be at No. 8 Morningside and host fourth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan. In other words, a schedule that Massey Ratings pegs as the third toughest in the entire NAIA is about to get even more challenging.
Dordt appears to be on the verge of the first national tournament appearance in program history. Sophomore forward Erika Feenstra (22.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg) is a candidate for the GPAC Player of the Year award. She posted 32 points and 12 rebounds in the victory over Concordia. That was the signature win of the season thus far for the Defenders, who are 4-3 since beating the Bulldogs. On paper, one advantage Dordt has over Concordia is on the boards. The Defenders rank sixth nationally in rebound margin (+10.5).
Northwestern’s overtime loss over the weekend at Doane may be the most shocking result of the entire NAIA basketball season to date. The Red Raiders were seemingly rolling along with their only previous defeats on the season coming against teams currently ranked No. 1 and No. 4 in the national polls. Head coach Chris Yaw’s squad won’t overlook Concordia in the same manner. Led by Kassidy De Jong, Northwestern rates as one of the nation’s top offensive teams. It sports national rankings of No. 1 in field goal percentage (.483), No. 3 in 3-point field goal percentage (.374) and No. 4 in scoring offense (86.5).
Wednesday will serve as senior day for the Bulldog women's basketball program. Seniors to be honored are Jadyn High, Jerrica Tietz, Megan Vieselmeyer and Quinn Wragge.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (22-2, 14-2 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (10.8)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.6)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (4.9)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (11.2)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.7)
Dordt (17-7, 10-6 GPAC)
G – Payton Harmsen, Jr., 5-8 (8.3)
G – Annie Rhinesmith, Jr., 5-8 (12.8)
G – Siennah Stamness, So., 5-10 (6.0)
F – Rachel Evavold, Jr., 6-1 (12.5)
F – Erika Feenstra, So., 6-0 (22.5)
Northwestern (20-3, 14-3 GPAC)
G – Sammy Blum, So., 5-7 (11.2)
G – Kassidy De Jong, Sr., 5-10 (18.3)
G – Breana Schuiteman, So., 5-8 (7.7)
F – Haley Birks, Sr., 6-0 (13.3)
F – Anna Kiel, Jr., 6-1 (10.5)