SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball will have Wednesday off before making the longest trek in the GPAC schedule to Forest City, Iowa to compete against Waldorf on Saturday (Jan. 31). Coach Drew Olson reached 500 career wins in a dominant triumph over Midland (76-24) but lost to No. 1 Dordt (72-56) days after. The Bulldogs are 16-5 through 21 games and 11-4 in the conference.
This Week
Saturday, Jan. 31 at Waldorf ( 2-19, 1-14 GPAC), 2 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Hanson Fieldhouse (Forest City, Iowa)
By the numbers
· The countdown for Drew Olson has moved forward as the head coach has 500 career wins – the most in Concordia Athletics history with a record of 500-159. Olson has compiled a conference mark of 305-107 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.
· Going for win 500, Olson’s squad wasted no time jumping ahead with a 13-1 run powered by Bree Bunting’s eight points. Midland, dazed from the early onslaught, was rocked by another 14-6 tidal wave after an eruption by JJ Jones and Makynna Robbins. The Warriors never recovered inside Friedrich as they scored three field goals in the first three quarters. A sophomore out of Houston, Texas, Robbins notched nine points and eight snags off the rim. Kristin Vieselmeyer led all scorers with 13, as Bunting followed (11). Sara Harley made herself known with six assists.
· In the top-10 bout, the Bulldogs found themselves looking down the barrel of a 15-point deficit (26-11) only 10 minutes in. The home squad could have easily packed it up and went home against a two-stud lineup of two-time defending national champions, but after a mid-game Vieselmeyer speech, CUNE started to match blow for blow. The next three quarters would go back and forth, but the massive 13-2 third-quarter run by Concordia cut the lead to six (44-38). Dordt would answer via Macy Sievers (16 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists) and Gracie Schoonhoven’s (29 points, 10 rebounds) stellar performances. Vieselmeyer and Ayla Roth would reach 15 points each and Sammy Leu added eight points plus seven rebounds. The striking difference was rebounds (48-27) and second chance points (20-4) in the Defenders’ favor.
· The Bulldog press has led to being top-10 in the NAIA in turnovers (6th) and steals (8th) late in the 2025-26 campaign. A nasty game of speed up the opponent’s decision-making has allowed Concordia to take ownership of 26.5 extra possessions fueling the 80.2 points scored every 40 minutes. Gobbling up 15.8 swipes a game, the thieves in front are led by none other than Sammy Leu (2.9 spg) with 60 steals – one away from the top of the GPAC. Leu and her top pickpockets include Gabrielle Wagner (1.5), Bree Bunting (1.5), Raelyn Kelty (1.4) and Ayla Roth (1.3).
· A defense that limits possessions via a majority 2-3 zone press continues to make it hard on competition when the ball is in the wrong hands. The Dawgs only allow 58.0 points per game ranking second in the GPAC. Concordia ranks second in three-point percentage defense (27.4), fourth in field goal percentage defense (37.4) and fourth in opponents’ assists per game (12.7).
· Every game a second convoy of five Bulldogs rolls out that includes the likes of Gabrielle Wagner, Joclyn Bassett, Sara Harley, Juliana Jones and Makynna Robbins. With Savannah Butterfield sidelined, the roster goes about 12 deep, seeing minutes every game. Bassett, Harley and Wagner combine for the second level of stingy guards that reach over three steals per game in unison and continue to force turnovers in the same ways as the initial five. Jones provides something on every level of the game with averages of 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals. Robbins is a force on the glass seizing 4.3 boards (3rd on team) in only 9.8 minutes per game.
· With the start of the GPAC tournament less barely under a month away, Dordt (13-1) stands in first of the conference standings. Dakota Wesleyan (13-2), Concordia (11-4) and Hastings (11-4) round out the top-four of the conference currently. Briar Cliff (10-5) stands at No. 5, while Doane (7-8) and Mount Marty (7-8) are duking it out for the sixth slot. Northwestern (6-8) and Morningside (6-9) will look to solidify a final spot in the postseason playoff with only eight spots total.
· Concordia has dropped since the last NAIA RPI ratings. The Bulldogs are rated 32nd in the newest release from Monday (Jan.26). The RPI has Concordia’s strength of schedule slotted at No. 52. Other GPAC teams in the top-25 are Dordt (4th) and Dakota Wesleyan (24th). Briar Cliff (37) and Hastings (41) are in the first 50 squads. The Defenders (25) and Northwestern (39) have the hardest slate of top GPAC schools. A new NAIA coaches’ poll will be released on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup
G – Bree Bunting, 5-9 (9.6)
G – Ayla Roth, 5-9 (10.4)
G – Sammy Leu, 5-10 (8.1)
F – Raelyn Kelty, 5-11 (7.3)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-2 (11.5)
The Opponent
The Warriors are 2-19 overall and 1-14 in the conference with their lone GPAC win coming against College of Saint Mary (77-49) to open 2026. Waldorf will face Morningside on Wednesday before hosting Concordia. The Warriors put 53.9 points on the board a game at a 34.6 percent shooting clip and 27.4 percent from long range. Senior forward Cloey Dmytruk is the leading scorer with 16.6 points a contest in 34.7 minutes per game. Pulling down 29.5 boards every 40 minutes, Waldorf allows 43.0 and has a -13.5 margin. The squad in purple takes 7.8 steals and 10.6 assists per game from its opponents.
Waldorf Probable Lineup
G – Mia Sao-Martinez, 5-5 (4.7)
G – Destiny Sao-Martinez, 5-8 (5.0)
G – Jariah Riley, 5-6 (6.3)
F – Charlotte Mills, 5-9 (12.5)
F – Cloey Dmytruk, 5-10 (16.6)
Next week
The Bulldogs will hit the road toward Crete, Neb., to face Doane on Wednesday. Concordia will return to host Morningside inside Friedrich Arena the following Saturday.