SEWARD, Neb. – Unbeaten in February, the Bulldogs will welcome Mount Marty and make the trip to Hastings for their final two games of the regular scheduled slate. Head Coach Drew Olson’s crew defeated College of Saint Mary, 88-42, and Briar Cliff, 83-77 to continue rolling in a five-game streak. Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball is now 21-5 overall and 16-4 in the conference.
This week
Wednesday, Feb. 18 vs. Mount Marty (14-12, 9-11 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Feb. 21 at Hastings (19-7, 15-5 GPAC), 2 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Lynn Farrell Arena (Hastings, Neb.)
By the numbers
· An early 21-2 blitz gave the Bulldogs the sizable spread versus CSM with the defense generating eight turnovers in the run. The same story continued throughout the contest with Concordia disrupting the Flames’ attack that led to 39 points off the pressure. Libby Hoffman dialed in to score 16 career-high points (6-for-10 FG) and made four treys. Kristin Vieselmeyer (five rebounds, five steals) and Sammy Leu scored 12 points apiece. As a team, CUNE shot 42.5 (34-for-80) percent and made 34.3 (12-for-35) percent from three. The Bulldogs edge out CSM on the boards (42-38) and only allowed one made three (1-for-13) in the game.
· With a six-game losing streak in the Flanagan Center looming, Concordia needed to start a new run on the road against the Chargers. With a slim 60-54 lead going into the final round, the Bulldogs put distance between themselves and the Chargers on a 14-6 game-sealing flurry. Concordia would finish off the home team from the Charity stripe shooting 21-for-25 from the line in total. Shooting 41.3 percent as a team, the Bulldogs relied on guard Alya Roth (17 points), Vieselmeyer (13), Raelyn Kelty (12) and Leu (10). Sara Harley and Kelty were pests on the defensive side of the floor taking four steals each.
· Senior day festivities will have two gracing the floor in Kristin Vieselmeyer and Gabrielle Wagner. Vieselmeyer, out of Holyoke, Colo., has mounted 932 career points on 52.5 percent shooting in her career. The forward has been a 35.8 percent 3-point shooter and 81.4 percent from the free-throw line. In 119 (85 starts) games played, she has made 205 free throws and 69 treys. The exercise science major has piled on 432 rebounds, 150 assists, 87 steals and 76 blocks. She has averaged 11.4 points per game as a senior and 7.8 in her career. Wagner, from Sioux City, Iowa, made her varsity debut this season having scored 97 points on 48.8 percent shooting from field goal range. The guard has made 10 treys while producing season totals of 46 assists, 41 steals, 39 rebounds and three blocks. A public health and fitness major, Wagner has shot 31.3 percent from three and 63.6 percent from the free throw line.
· Dordt has won a share of the GPAC title with a 19-1 conference record. The rest of the GPAC standings have Dakota Wesleyan (17-3), Concordia (16-4) and Hastings (15-5) in the top four. These teams have locked in a first round host spot in the conference tournament. Briar Cliff (12-9) and Northwestern (11-9) reside in the fifth and sixth spot. Mount Marty (9-11), Doane (9-11) and Morningside (8-13) are fighting for the bottom two positions in the conference playoff with one week remaining.
· In the five-game run, the Bulldogs defeated Waldorf (111-43), Doane (84-59), Morningside (84-62), CSM (88-42) and Briar Cliff (83-77). Concordia has fired 45.8 percent, while allowing 36.6 percent to their opponents. The average margin of victory is 34.4 points per game, with the Bulldogs scoring 90.0. Four players have averaged at least 10 points including Leu (11.4), Bree Bunting (11.0), Vieselmeyer (11.0), Kelty (10.8) and Roth (10.4). The trap defense has forced 148 turnovers and 106 steals. Bunting (19), Roth (13) and Leu (13) have hit double figure swipes in the surge.
· Concordia is rated 28th in the newest release from Monday (Feb. 16). The RPI has the Bulldog’s strength of schedule slotted at No. 87. Other GPAC teams in the top-25 are Dordt (6th) and Dakota Wesleyan (19th). Hastings (50), Briar Cliff (53) and Northwestern (62) are in the first 75 squads. The Red Raiders (29) and the Defenders (42) have the hardest slate of top GPAC schools. The newest ARC rating (released Feb. 3) has the GPAC with three of the top-5 in the Midwest including Dordt (1), Dakota Wesleyan (2) and Concordia (5). The Bulldogs have three quad one wins (3-5 record) and are 7-0 in quad two in the top of the NAIA as released on Feb. 16.
Probable Lineup
G – Bree Bunting, 5-9 (9.8)
G – Ayla Roth, 5-9 (10.4)
G – Sammy Leu, 5-10 (8.7)
F – Raelyn Kelty, 5-11 (8.0)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-2 (11.4)
The Opponents
The Lancers are coming off an upset of Dakota Wesleyan, 75-63, inside Cimpl Arena. MMU is 14-12 on the season and 9-11 in conference. Concordia came out on top in the first meeting, 66-59, in a tight one down the stretch. Having won their last two games, the Lancers are averaging 39.2 percent from the floor and 32.8 percent from an archer’s range. With 41.0 rebounds a game, they dish out 14.8 assists and take 10.9 steals. Lacey Sprakel is a dynamo in the MMU categories with a team high in points (14.3), assists (3.5) and steals (2.8). Alexis Folkers (7.4 points) pulls down 6.6 rebounds every 40 minutes.
Mount Marty Probable Lineup
G – Kaela Martinez, 5-8 (12.4)
G – Alexis Folkers, 5-6 (7.4)
G – Leah Williams, 5-7 (9.8)
F – Alexus Motely, 5-8 (8.7)
F – Lacey Sprakel, 5-10 (14.3)
The Broncos have won three in a row against Midland (103-60), Waldorf (100-49) and Morningside (79-59) to move up to 19-7 overall and 15-5 in GPAC play. Almost all five starters average in double figures including McKenna Yates (13.7), Bailey Kissinger (13.2) and Ann Brose (12.0) at the top. Hastings makes 88.9 points per game on a 41.6 percent shooting clip and 31.9 from 3-point land. The Hastings defense forces 26.0 turnovers (16.7 steals) per game, only giving up 13.3. Kissinger clutches a team high 6.2 rebounds per game.
Hastings Probable Lineup
G – McKenna Yates, 5-8 (13.7)
G – Mariyah Avila, 5-5 (11.0)
G – Bailey Kissinger, 5-8 (13.5)
G – Ann Brose, 5-9 (12.0)
F – Macy Bryant, 5-11 (9.9)
Up next
Concordia will be hosting the first round of the GPAC tournament starting on Feb. 25. The seeding will be officially announced once the regular season ends on Saturday.