SEWARD, Neb. – With an 8-point advantage, the Bulldogs went on a 19-5 scoring drive via five treys to hand No. 13 MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) its first loss of the season on day two (Nov. 8) at the 26th annual Cattle Classic. Four Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball players racked up double-digits, including Kristin Vieselmeyer (6-for-7 FG) and Juliana Jones (career high) with 16 points apiece.
The unranked Bulldogs are 4-0, notching two ranked wins in the past two days at the classic.
“It was a great run by our team,” Head Coach Drew Olson said. “Just the effort defensively, really kind of turned them over a bunch of times in that stretch. Obviously, when you shoot the way we did in the first half, good things are going to happen. Great effort overall by the whole team.”
Just above five minutes remaining in the second stanza, Raelyn Kelty, Ayla Roth, Vieselmeyer (2) and Sammy Leu dropped five total from beyond the arc in the scorching hot 19-point eventual knockout punch to defeat the visiting Pioneers. Kelty and Savannah Butterfield would add crafty layups in the offensive onslaught.
In the first half, Concordia marred the MNU attack forcing 12 turnovers, 26 points (38 total) off stolen possessions and shot 55.5 percent in the two frames.
Vieselmeyer was just shy of perfect shooting 85.7 percent from the field and a spotless 4-for-4 from three. The forward also tacked on four steals, four assists, three rebounds and a block. Jones found a rhythm in front of the home crowd, going 6-for-12 from all ranges and 3-for-4 from 3-point land. In the third quarter, the Millard South product virtually answered every bucket by the Pioneers with nine points and five rebounds in the contest.
“Just keeping up the pressure on the defensive end,” Jones said. “We had a lot of transition buckets by us, and we shot it pretty well, so that definitely helped too. I didn’t shoot the best yesterday, but my coaches and teammates are super supportive. Kept encouraging me to keep shooting it and it finally started falling, so that felt nice.”
Said Olson, “Those two played great. They are really special post players because of their whole dynamic. They can be on the perimeter, and both shoot it. There were moments for everybody. If you think about it, every single player had a couple key plays.”
With every Bulldog having significant moments, Roth banked rolled seven points in the first four minutes of play as she and Leu ended with 12 points each. Bree Bunting, Butterfield and Kelty (game high eight rebounds) gathered seven, seven and five points, respectively. Gabrielle Wagner led all players with six dishes.
MidAmerica Nazarene (3-1) was led by Zaylee Werth’s 13 points and eight rebounds as well as Kameron Green’s 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. The Pioneers will travel to Central Methodist University (Mo.) for its next contest.
Vieselmeyer and Leu were named to the 2025 All-Cattle Classic Team following today’s game.
Concordia (4-0) will surge into conference play versus Waldorf (0-3) at home next Saturday. The Bulldogs will take the floor in Friedrich Arena at 3 p.m. CT.
2025 All-Cattle Classic Team
Shaylynn De Yager, Arizona Christian
Sammy Leu, Concordia
Kristin Vieselmeyer, Concordia
Zaylee Werth, MidAmerica Nazarene
Emma Yost, Dakota Wesleyan