SEWARD, Neb. – The growth of a young Concordia University Women’s Basketball team has been evident during a three-day stretch that included wins over both Northwestern and Peru State College. It will be conference play from here on out this 2020-21 regular season. The Bulldogs are readying for a short road trip to Doane on Wednesday before returning home to host eighth-ranked Dordt on Saturday. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad owns an overall record of 2-3.
This Week
(11) Concordia (2-3, 1-1) at Doane (3-1, 1-0)
Wednesday, Nov. 18 | 6 p.m.
Haddix Center | Crete, Neb.
Webcast: Doane YouTube
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
(8) Dordt (2-2, 1-0) at (11) Concordia (2-3, 1-1)
Saturday, Nov. 21 | 2 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Commentator: Brandon Timoney
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 149 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 78.0 (T-40th)
Scoring Defense: 77.6 (118th)
FG% Offense: .365 (T-116th)
FG% Defense: .410 (100th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .247 (118th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .402 (142nd)
Rebound Margin: -2.4 (129th)
Turnover Margin: +4.6 (46th)
Doane
Scoring Offense: 83.0 (T-25th)
Scoring Defense: 69.5 (82nd)
FG% Offense: .436 (T-42nd)
FG% Defense: .370 (T-60th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .338 (T-46th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .289 (T-66th)
Rebound Margin: +5.5 (T-49th)
Turnover Margin: +3.8 (51st)
Dordt
Scoring Offense: 69.0 (T-90th)
Scoring Defense: 70.3 (T-87th)
FG% Offense: .365 (T-116th)
FG% Defense: .408 (99th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .280 (90th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .289 (T-66th)
Rebound Margin: +9.0 (T-31st)
Turnover Margin: -2.0 (T-130th)
Protocols for fans
At Doane: Visiting fans will not be allowed to attend the game at Doane. The athletic department at Doane will re-evaluate this policy prior to the start of the second semester.
Concordia: Concordia University, Nebraska recently updated its fan attendance policies and will allow 25 percent capacity in Friedrich Arena. Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase advance tickets online via HomeTown Ticketing: https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets. Tickets will be sold on site, provided capacity limits have not been reached from online sales. Fans in attendance are required to wear face coverings. For more information on Concordia’s fan protocols, visit: https://www.cune.edu/athletics/information-fans.
Season to date
The Bulldogs began the season with three-straight losses during a challenging stretch that included games against Dakota State University (S.D.), No. 20 Carroll College (Mont.) and Midland. Concordia then rebounded with an 83-72 win over Northwestern. Three Bulldogs reached double figures: Taylor Cockerill (25), Rylee Pauli (15) and Taysha Rushton (11). Over the past two wins, Concordia has had turnover margins of +12 and +7. The Bulldogs have lost three games at home after going 63-1 at home the previous four seasons combined.
Cockerill joins 1,000-point club
Taylor Cockerill became the 30th member of the program’s 1,000-point club when she reached that mark in the second quarter of last week’s win over Northwestern. Cockerill is also the 14th different player during Drew Olson’s tenure to score 1,000 or more points. The Waverly High School native may be one of the top pure scorers in all of the NAIA. She currently ranks 18th nationally with an average of 22.6 points per game. Cockerill’s respective game-by-game scoring totals have been 33, 25, 17, 25 and 15. She’s also averaging 9.2 rebounds per game.
Rotation takes shape
Since halftime of the loss to Midland, Concordia has played at a higher level. The early season has been used to find the most productive lineup combinations. Over the past two games, the starting lineup has featured guards Taylor Cockerill, Averie Lambrecht and Taysha Rushton and forwards Rylee Pauli and Faith Troshynski. Not surprisingly, Cockerill has played the most minutes (32.8 per game). Rushton (28.4) and Pauli (25.0) have also been leaned upon heavily. Rushton is the team’s second leading scorer at 13.4 points per game. The freshman from Lubbock, Texas, has made 17-straight free throws to begin her career.
Scouting Doane
Off to a 3-1 start, Doane has already surpassed its win total from the entire 2019-20 season when it went 2-25 overall (1-21 GPAC). Head Coach Ryan Baumgartner has helped stabilize the program after taking over the position during last season. Since a season opening loss to York College, the Tigers have defeated Peru State, Barclay College (Kan.) and Mount Marty. Doane is in the midst of a six-game home stretch to open up the campaign. Senior forward Haylee Heits (1,094 career points) leads the team with an average of 14.8 points per game.
Scouting Dordt
Dordt brings back one of the most talented and experienced rosters in the GPAC – thus why the Defenders were picked to win the conference. Head Coach Bill Harmsen has led the program to back-to-back national tournament appearances (Dordt had not previously reached the national stage in its history). Senior Erika Feenstra (1,583 career points) has been one of the top players in the GPAC her entire career. She’s currently the team’s third leading scorer behind Bailey Beckman (12.0) and Karly Gustafson (11.8). The Defenders also received a boost from University of Nebraska transfer Ashtyn Veerbeek.
Next Week
Before breaking for Thanksgiving, the Bulldogs will play at College of Saint Mary (1-2, 0-0 GPAC) at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 24. That contest will begin a string of three-straight road games.
Projected Starters
Concordia (2-3, 1-1)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.4)
G – Averie Lambrecht, So. (1.6)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (22.6)
F – Faith Troshynski, Sr. (6.0)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.6)
Doane (3-1, 1-0)
G – Kyla Miller, Fr. (4.8)
G – Olivia Nall, Fr. (10.3)
G – Sydney Roth, So. (12.0)
G - Ashley Teten, So. (13.3)
F – Haylee Heits, Sr. (14.8)
Dordt (2-2, 1-0)
G – Bailey Beckman, So. (12.0)
G – Jordyn Winterfeld, Jr. (2.5)
F – Erika Feenstra, Sr. (10.3)
F – Baylee Tetzlaff, Sr. (5.3)
F – Ashtyn Veerbeek, Jr. (9.5)