Hot shooting sparks Bulldogs in 99-48 rout of Nebraska Wesleyan

Concordia University pounded Nebraska Wesleyan by the score of 99-48 in GPAC women’s hoops on Tuesday evening in Seward.  The 22nd ranked Bulldogs shot over 50 percent from the field and from behind the three point line in the victory.  Concordia moved to 7-0 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.  Nebraska Wesleyan dropped to 1-3 (0-1 GPAC). 

The visiting Prairie Wolves scored the first three points of the contest, but it was all Concordia the rest of the way.  The Bulldogs scored 15 straight to take a 15-3 lead with 13 minutes remaining in the first half.  Concordia continued to build their lead with great shooting and presure defense, and the Bulldogs took a 51-22 lead into halftime. 

Wesleyan struggled with turnovers and managed just 18 field goal attempts in the opening half of play.  The Prairie Wolves were 7-of-18 from the floor and 0-of-5 from long range while committing 22 turnovers.  Concordia, on the other hand, was 18-of-35 from the field in the opening half for 51.4 percent.  The Bulldogs were 7-of-12 (53.3 percent) from deep and 8-of-10 at the foul line.  Senior guard Amber Kistler (Minatare, Neb.) had a big first half for the Dogs, totaling 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field (4-for-4 from behind the arc). 

It was more of the same in the second half, as Concordia opened the half with an 11-0 run to take a 62-22 lead.  The hot shooting from the field continued.  The Bulldogs led by more than 40 for the final six minutes of the game.  Concordia actually increased its field goal percentage in the second half, hitting 15-of-28 shots for 53.6 percent.  The Bulldogs again connected on 7-of-12 from long range in the final 20 minutes, and Concordia was also 11-of-12 from the charity stripe in the second half. 

For the game, the Bulldogs were 33-of-63 from the field overall for 52.4 percent.  Concordia was lights out from deep, connecting on 14-of-24 shots for 58.3 percent.  At the line, the Bulldogs were 19-for-22 for 86.4 percent.  Concordia totaled 30 paint points and 19 second chance points.  Concordia totaled 21 assists on their 33 made field goals.  The Bulldog defense was also impressive.  Concordia forced 36 NWU turnovers and scored 47 points off of those turnovers.  The Bulldog bench totaled 47 points on the night. 

Kistler finished with a game-high 20 points.  The senior was 7-of-11 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from long range.  Kristen Conahan (Omaha, Neb.) had another big night with 17 points and four steals.  Conahan was 6-of-12 from the field overall and 4-of-7 from deep.  Bailey Morris (Roseland, Neb.) and Katie Herther (Sioux Falls, S.D.) also reached double figures with 10 points apiece off the bench.  Lori Laboda (Parker, Colo.) had a solid all-around game with eight points, four assists and a game-high six steals. 

Wesleyan was 15-of-39 from the field on the night for 38.5 percent.  The Prairie Wolves were just 1-of-10 from deep and 17-of-26 at the foul line.  Mallory Shanahan scored eight points to lead NWU. 

Concordia travels to Midland University on November 29 for a 7:30 p.m. matchup against the Warriors.