SEWARD, Neb. – The Bulldogs face two tough conference rosters in Morningside at Sioux City and will be cross-court against No. 13 Briar Cliff inside Friedrich Arena. Following the new year celebration, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball rang in 2026 defeating Northwestern (69-67) in a late thriller. Reaching a dozen wins, CUNE has compiled a 12-3 overall record and a 7-2 GPAC mark.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 7 at Morningside (10-5, 5-4 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center (Sioux City, Iowa)
Saturday, Jan. 10 vs. No. 13 Briar Cliff (12-3, 6-3 GPAC), 2 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· Up 14 in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs couldn’t take the lid off the hoop and gave up a 15-0 run for the visiting Red Raiders to jump ahead late (65-64). In the final 60 seconds, Raelyn Kelty and Bree Bunting made big time plays to go-ahead and kept the lead with a rebound, assist and block by Kristin Vieselmeyer. Concordia survived Northwestern’s Margo Schuiteman double-double 29-point performance. Ayla Roth (14), Vieselmeyer (13) and Bunting (11) made multiple figures on the scoreboard with Kelty and Robbins notching nine points, respectively. Vieselmeyer nine) and Robbins (seven) paced in boards with Roth dishing five assists. Collectively, the Dawgs pulled down 39 rebounds and shot 39.7 percent (25-for-63) from the floor.
· Concordia’s defense has proven to daze and confuse most opposing attack’s thus far allowing the least amount of points (56.6) per outing om the conference. The press gobbles up possessions by forcing the most turnovers (28.3) when the ball is in opponents' hands and blocks out passing lanes with the third least amount of allowed assists (12.4). With a higher denial rate (3.8) in the GPAC, Concordia makes even the half court possessions tough in Bulldog territory. With 16.5 steals every 40 minutes played, the Dawgs keep their paws ready to knock loose the rock any time their opponents have it.
· Starting all 15 games, Raelyn Kelty averages 6.1 points a contest and 4.9 rebounds. The Kiowa, Colo., native has reached double figures three times, shooting 44.3 percent from the field. Rae’s season high came against Midland scoring 15 points and in the first contest against Northwestern, she tallied 14. The 5-11 forward has 404 career points with a 43.9 shooting clip and 73 games played in her career.
· The 3-point shooting for Concordia has it tied for third in the league at 33.5 percent. Making the most in the conference by 15 to the next GPAC foe, the Bulldogs have downed 161 total. Vieselmeyer (43.8) and Sara Harley (41.7) currently shell out the highest rate per chance. Sammy Leu (26), Roth (20) and Bunting (17) have the most made from beyond the arc through 15 games.
· Facing Morningside and Briar Cliff for the first time this season, last year's team split with the Mustangs, with each side taking its win on home court. The Bulldogs won in Seward (74-62) led by Kendal Brigham (13 points) and Leu (12). On Dec. 4, 2024, Concordia dropped its game to Morningside (70-56) in Sioux City. The Chargers took both games last season in Friedrich Arena (54-42) and at the Newman Flanagan Center (73-56).
· The countdown for Drew Olson has moved forward as the head coach has 496 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 eclipsed the 30-win mark.
· In the most recent NAIA coaches’ poll, Concordia stayed at the No. 9 slot in the top 10 of the ratings. In the GPAC, Dordt (2nd) and Dakota Wesleyan (10th) are also at the top of the list midway through the season. Briar Cliff is rated at No. 13, which totals four conference squads in the highly touted rankings going into 2026. Hastings continues to climb, receiving votes just outside of the initial 25.
Probable Lineup
G – Bree Bunting, 5-9 (9.7)
G – Ayla Roth, 5-9 (9.5)
G – Sammy Leu, 5-10 (8.3)
F – Raelyn Kelty, 5-11 (6.1)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-2 (11.8)
The opponents
The Mustangs are 10-5 overall and 5-4 in the conference winning four out of their last six games. In its most recent contest, Morningside fell to Mount Marty (67-58) in Yankton. The offense makes 77.3 points per game, while giving up almost 10 less (67.8). Shooting 40.5 percent from the field, the Mustangs shine from the three-point line with a 33.5 percentage, tied with Concordia. Ali Albrecht shoots a deadly 46.9 percent from three with 23 made on the season. Lily Vollertsen is the points leader with 20.5 and 10.9 rebounds to average a double-double. Jaeden Webb delivers a team-high 4.0 assists and Clancy Brown averages 10.8 points and a team-high 2.1 steals.
Morningside Probable Lineup
G – Clancy Brown, 5-8 (10.8)
G – Annie Harms, 5-6 (4.5)
G – Jaeden Webb, 5-9 (6.7)
F – Ella Wragge, 5-10 (3.9)
C – Lily Vollertsen, 6-2 (20.5)
The Chargers are 12-3 overall and 6-3 in the conference. On a two-game win streak, Briar Cliff defeated Hastings (89-76) and Doane (77-64). In second in points per game, BCU puts up 83.6 every time it's on the floor allowing 68.7. With a 45.7 shooting percentage, the Chargers are first in the conference and second in three-point (33.6) shooting. Briar Cliff limits opponents' rebounds to 33.6 per game. BCU relies on freshman Abby Lee (21.0) and veteran Mallie McNair (19.1) to put marks on the game book as Taylor Sodeman also reaches double figures (11.3). Brooklyn Heineman fills the stat sheet in ball control averaging 4.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.7 steals.
Briar Cliff Probable Lineup
G – Mallie McNair, 5-8 (19.1)
G – Brooklyn Heineman, 5-7 (8.7)
G – Kenna Mongan, 5-8 (9.3)
F – Taylor Sodeman, 5-11 (11.3)
F – Abby Lee, 6-0 (21.0)
Next week
The Bulldogs will host Hastings next inside Friedrich Arena on Wednesday (Jan. 14). After, Concordia will make the trip to South Dakota to take on Dakota Wesleyan at the Corn Palace.