SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Concordia University, Nebraska broke a six-game road losing streak to Briar Cliff, defeating the home team, 83-77, on Saturday (Feb. 14). The Bulldogs made the Chargers regret their 26 turnovers scoring 30 points off the added possessions. Roth helped snap the losing streak with 17 points.
The Dawgs won for the first time in the Newman Flanagan Center since January 18, 2020, improving to a 21-5 overall record and a 16-4 GPAC showing.
“That was a really tough win,” Head Coach Drew Olson commented. “Really proud of our group. Briar Cliff is a great team that has two elite players. They are tough to handle. I don’t think we played great, but we played well enough to beat a good team. We had a lot of players step up and make some big time plays. Ayla, Sammy, Sara Harley. It wasn’t our best game but it was a game that showed our toughness and how well we can be on the road.”
With a slim 60-54 lead going into the final round, the Bulldogs put distance between themselves and the Chargers on a 14-6 game-sealing flurry. Five different Concordia players scored in the run as Bree Bunting (nine points, five assists) and Sammy Leu (10 points) clocked two baskets apiece in the push. Leu, a Wahoo, Neb., native, went 4-for-8 from field goal range.
The visitors spent the rest of the contest at the free throw line going 9-for-10 down the stretch and 21 made free throws (84.0 percent) in the game. Knocking down the majority of the free throws from the line were Raelyn Kelty (5-for-6), Kristin Vieselmeyer (5-for-8), Roth (4-for-4), and Gabrielle Wagner (4-for-4).
The biggest distinction was the Dawgs transferring turnovers to offense. With Concordia pouring in 30 points, the Chargers only made 14 off 23 visitor turnovers. CUNE shot 41.3 (26-for-63) percent from field goal range and 33.3 (10-for-30) percent from three.
Roth, along with the 17 points, grabbed five rebounds, four steals, and dished out three assists. Kelty seemed to always be the answer for the Dawgs by dropping 12 points, nine clutch boards and three steals. Kristin Vieselmeyer (five rebounds) scored the big slice of her 13 points in the opening half. Sara Harley and Wagner added four and three steals, respectively.
Briar Cliff relied on Mallie McNair’s 20 points, six steals and four rebounds to stay within a short distance. Taylor Sodeman (15), Abby Lee (14) and Kenna Mongan (14) also scored in double figures as the Chargers shot 41.5 (27-for-65) percent from the floor. The Chargers (18-9, 12-9 GPAC) will face Morningside next Saturday.
Concordia (21-5, 16-4 GPAC) will host senior day against Mount Marty (14-12, 9-11 GPAC) on Wednesday. The Bulldogs will tip-off at 6 p.m. CT in Seward. The two seniors who will be celebrated are Vieselmeyer and Wagner. CUNE bested MMU, 66-59, in Yankton, S.D., on meeting No. 1 this season.