SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball has found its stride with a four-game win streak that will be tested against upcoming Hastings and Dakota Wesleyan. Head Coach Drew Olson has a mountain of career wins (498) that could eclipse the 500 mark with two more this week. The Bulldogs are 14-3 through 17 games and 9-2 against GPAC competition.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 14 vs. Hastings (12-5, 8-3 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Sunday, Jan. 18 vs. No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan (13-4, 9-2 GPAC), 2 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: The Corn Palace (Mitchell, S.D.)
By the numbers
· The countdown for Drew Olson has moved forward as the head coach has 498 career wins – already the most in Concordia Athletics history. In his 20th season, Olson had six 30+ win seasons and fifteen 20+ wins in a campaign. During his tenure, Olson has directed his teams to a combined 12 GPAC titles (tournament and regular season), 16 national tournament trips and five national semifinal appearances. The 2019-20 (32-2), 2018-19 (35-3), 2017-18 (36-2), 2014-15 (35-3), 2016-17 (34-3) and 2011-12 (34-3) squads each reached the 30-win tally.
· Olson has compiled a conference mark of 303-105 in his career. On Nov. 12, 2014, Olson surpassed Carl Everts (195 wins) for most victories in program history. Olson later picked up his 200th career win when the Bulldogs topped Doane on Dec. 3, 2014. His 300th triumph occurred Jan. 10, 2018, versus Briar Cliff while win No. 400 came over Dordt on Feb. 3, 2021. Another milestone win came on Nov. 15, 2023, when Olson picked up No. 446 in his career, surpassing his former coach, Grant Schmidt, for the most coaching victories in the history of Concordia Athletics.
· The Bulldogs came out with a 17-5 advantage over Morningside and didn’t let the edge get below seven in the runaway win (72-49). Concordia gained 26 points off forced turnovers (26) and limited the Mustangs to 32.7 percent shooting. The Seward bench shot 47.6 (30-for-63) percent from the floor and 30.4 (7-for-23) from beyond the arc. Ayla Roth led both teams in points with 16 on 7-for-11 shooting. Not far behind in double figures were Makynna Robbins (13) and JJ Jones (11). Kristin Vieselmeyer grabbed a game-high seven boards with Roth, Sammy Leu and Gabrielle Wagner swiping three steals apiece.
· Mallie McNair’s stellar 28-point performance kept Briar Cliff in the contest for about 28 minutes, but the Dawgs responded with crushing pressure in the last 12 to blow out the Chargers (89-70). Leu and Raelyn Kelty’s fourth-quarter heat checks cashed in scoring 16 and 10, respectively. All five starters hit double-digits including Roth (20), Kelty (19), Leu (17), Bree Bunting (13) and Vieselmeyer (11). The Holyoke, Colo., veteran claimed a double-double with 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Concordia shot the lights out in the fourth frame at 69.2 (9-for-13) percent and 60.7 (17-for-28) percent in the second half.
· A big reason why the Bulldogs have a four-contest roll is the continuing emergence of Roth. In the last four games, the Milford, Neb., product has averaged 18.8 points per game and 49.0 (25-for-51) percent field goal shooting. A freshman point guard, Roth has hit 50.0 (15-for-30) percent from 3-point land, while also contributing 3.8 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists. Her last four point totals were 25, 14, 16 and 20.
· Starting all 15 games, Raelyn Kelty averages 6.8 points a contest and 5.0 rebounds. The Kiowa, Colo., native has reached double figures four times, shooting 45.6 percent from the field. Rae’s season high came against Briar Cliff scoring 19 points, and against Midland, she tallied 15. The 5-11 forward has 427 career points with a 44.2 shooting clip and 75 games played in her career.
· The 3-point shooting for Concordia is second in the league at 34.0 percent. Making the most in the conference by five to the next GPAC foe, the Bulldogs have downed 180 total. Vieselmeyer (42.9) and Sara Harley (42.5) currently shell out the highest rate per chance. Sammy Leu (30), Roth (27), Bunting (17) and Harley (17) have the most made from beyond the arc through 17 games.
· Concordia has jumped up 12 spots since the last NAIA RPI ratings. The Bulldogs are rated 27th in the newest release from Monday (Jan.12). The RPI has Concordia’s strength of schedule slotted at No. 77. Other GPAC teams in the top-25 are Dordt (6th) and Dakota Wesleyan (22nd). Briar Cliff (34), Hastings (44) and Northwestern (74) are in the first 75 squads. The Tigers (36) and the Red Raiders (48) have the hardest slate of top GPAC schools.
Probable Lineup
G – Bree Bunting, 5-9 (9.6)
G – Ayla Roth, 5-9 (10.5)
G – Sammy Leu, 5-10 (8.5)
F – Raelyn Kelty, 5-11 (6.8)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-2 (11.4)
The opponents
The Broncos are 12-5 overall and 8-3 in the conference defeating their last two opponents Waldorf (114-64) and Morningside (89-71). The starters point averages look familiar to the Bulldogs with four in double figures. Bailey Kissinger has the highest marks with 12.8 per game, but is followed closely by Ann Brose (11.8), McKenna Yates (11.6) and Mariyah Avila (11.6). Hastings has the most potent offense in the GPAC scoring 88.1 points per game and is meeting the second-best defense in the league as Concordia only allows 56.9 points per 40 minutes. The Broncos' firing clips from each part of the field are 41.1 percent (FG), 31.2 percent (3-PT) and 74.5 percent (FT). Pulling down 40.5 off the glass a contest, Hastings dishes 18.4 assists but allows 70.9 points to its opponents.
Hastings Probable Lineup
G – McKenna Yates, 5-8 (11.6)
G – Mariyah Avila, 5-5 (11.6)
G – Bailey Kissinger, 5-8 (12.8)
G – Ann Brose, 5-9 (11.8)
F – Macy Bryant, 5-11 (9.5)
The Tigers are 13-4 overall and 9-2 in the league and are on a seven-game win streak having not seen a loss since Dec. 10. Dakota Wesleyan’s last three wins came at the expense of Midland (91-40), Doane (72-45) and Mount Marty (79-50). Averaging 77.4 points per game, the Tigers give up the least amount of points in the conference (56.5). Taking 43.5 rebounds (3rd in GPAC) per game, they only allow 30, not giving much room for second-chance points. Emma Yost is the points leader (15.2) in the post as Avery Broughton tallies 13.5. Broughton is third in the conference in rebounds (8.6 pg) and first in blocks (35). Jaida Young is second in assists with 80 on the season.
Dakota Wesleyan Probable Lineup
G – Shalayne Nagel, 6-1 (9.3)
G – Jaida Young, 5-8 (4.6)
G – Avery Broughton, 6-1 (13.5)
F – Rylee Rosenquist, 5-7 (11.6)
F – Emma Yost, 6-0 (15.2)
Next week
The Bulldogs will host Midland next inside Friedrich Arena on Wednesday (Jan. 21). After, Concordia will rematch against Dordt, this time in Seward, to face the defending NAIA national champions.