SEWARD, Neb. – Three cracks at a potential game-tying 3-point field goal in the final seconds rimmed out as the ninth-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball team endured its first loss of the 2025-26 season. The Bulldogs were unable to complete their furious fourth-quarter rally from 12 points down inside Friedrich Arena on Saturday (Dec. 6). They were edged, 59-56, by No. 14 Dakota Wesleyan in a clash of NAIA top 15 squads. Both teams shot below 35 percent in a defensive slugfest.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s program opened at 9-0 for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign. Concordia now stands at 9-1 overall (5-1 GPAC).
“It was a struggle for us today,” Olson said. “We were not at our best. Part of that is Dakota Wesleyan is a really good team – great defensively and really long. We had multiple players not play at the standard we are used to. We had so many chances and missed layups. You go 10-for-18 from the free throw line and give up 20 offensive rebounds – we didn’t deserve to win. At the same time, we continued to fight. We had a chance at the end. We’ll learn and grow from it.”
Up against DWU’s stingy man-to-man defense, the Bulldogs made only seven field goals in the first half and finished 18-for-65 (.277) from the floor. Concordia finally found some offensive juice once it found itself down 55-43 with less than four minutes to play. A trey apiece from Kristin Vieselmeyer, Savi Butterfield and Ayla Roth cut the deficit to 56-52. In the final minute, Butterfield sank a driving layup (cutting the deficit to 58-55) and then had a chance to tie the contest after a steal in the backcourt by Roth.
Out of a timeout with DWU up 58-55 and eight ticks left on the clock, Olson drew up a play that resulted in an open 3-point try for Bree Bunting, whose shot hit the backboard and spun out. Bunting also had one more desperation try that misfired. For the second time in a week-and-a-half, the Tigers victimized a team ranked No. 9 on the opponent’s home court.
The results on the defensive end are not atypical for Dakota Wesleyan, which holds foes to 34 percent shooting on the season. On Saturday, the Tigers (6-3, 4-1 GPAC) used their rugged defensive efforts and followed the lead of star post Emma Yost (19 points and 10 rebounds). Additionally, Avery Broughton added 13 points and 16 rebounds. DWU overcame its shooting woes – 34.3 percent overall and 1-for-10 from 3-point range – and 21 turnovers. The Tigers controlled the boards, 37-26, and have won four straight in the series versus the Bulldogs.
Concordia countered with its own pesky defense, featuring its patented full-court pressure and an active zone (which netted 10 steals). The team’s only double-figure scorer was Butterfield, who finished with 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting. Sammy Leu provided a spark in the third quarter with a steal and layup and trey from the right wing. Leu and Raelyn Kelty notched eight points apiece and Bunting and Vieslemeyer contributed seven points each. Kelty grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Said Olson, “We have a really tough group. They continue to fight. We have some Dawgs on our team. We do. Today we just couldn’t gather ourselves and play our basketball, especially on the offensive end. It’s both ways with what Dakota Wesleyan did to us and our team kind of settling in.”
After two at home, the Bulldogs will be on the road for two outings next week. Next up, Concordia will head to Fremont, Neb., for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff at Midland (1-9, 1-5 GPAC) on Wednesday. The Bulldogs have won each of the past nine meetings with the Warriors, who picked up their first win of the season on Saturday. They won, 71-57, at Waldorf.