SEWARD, Neb. – After a snowstorm froze sports contests throughout the Midwest this past weekend, Concordia is set to make a short trek, facing Hastings on Wednesday (Jan. 17). After, the Bulldogs will rematch against Briar Cliff on Saturday. CUNE added to the win column with a 101-60 blowout over conference rival Doane this past Wednesday. The Dordt matchup was rescheduled for Monday (Feb. 5). Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad steps up to 12-2 overall and 8-2 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), amassing a five game win streak.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 17 at Hastings (8-7, 4-5 GPAC), 6 p.m. CT
-- Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Lynn Farrell Arena (Hastings, Neb.)
Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. Briar Cliff (12-3, 7-2 GPAC), 2 p.m. CT
-- Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· Putting on a show for the second time in 2024 amidst the home faithful, the Dawgs bit into the Tigers of Crete, Neb., with a 16-0 run in the early going. Seventeen more (20 total) 3-pointers later, Concordia ran away with a 41 point victory over in-state conference rival Doane. Kendal Brigham was a bucket, scoring a career best 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field. The Tigers couldn’t catch their breath from the suffocating home defense that forced 24 turnovers and 10 steals inside Friedrich Arena. Four other Concordia players reached double figures: Abby Krieser (14), Taysha Rushton (12), Megan Belt (12) and Sadie Powell (12). Leu also added nine points as one of 12 Bulldogs to register in the scoring column. As a sign of how well they shared the ball, 39 of its 33 baskets were assisted.
· An all time performance came from Brigham, but scoring 20 buckets from the perimeter was a new record under Coach Olson’s tenure. She led the team with five on 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. The Wahoo Neb., native compiled five assists, three rebounds and steals to boot. The senior product, out of Wahoo High School, had a previous career high of 19 ( 4-for-6 3-point), which was also against Doane on February 9, 2022.
· After starting out December with two losses in three games, CUNE is riding a five game win streak over two nonconference teams and three conference foes. The average margin of victory has been +20.8 points a game. In the streak, they have held their opponents to an average of 63 points per bout. The defense has forced 23.4 turnovers a contest and 71 total turnovers in the stretch. Still second (14.1) in the NAIA in steals per game, the Coach Olson press keeps putting the squeeze on opposing offenses.
· With Christmas break passed, Concordia is now 10 games through a 22 game conference schedule. Dordt remains the top team in the GPAC with an undefeated (9-0) record having beat Briar Cliff at the No. three spot in the league. The Dawgs (8-2) are a half game ahead, having played an extra game, of the Chargers (7-2) and a full game over Dakota Wesleyan (7-3). Northwestern (6-3) and Doane (5-5) round out the top teams in the GPAC just passed a third of the way through conference play.
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Mackenzie Toomey, 5-9 (5.3)
G – Taysha Rushton, 5-5 (15.2)
G – Abby Krieser, 5-8 (11.1)
F – Sadie Powell, 6-0 (11.1)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-1 (6.1)
Hastings
The Broncos will step on the court with a four game win streak and an 8-7 overall record (4-5 GPAC). In the last three, Hastings has bested Bellevue (62-50), and conference foes, Morningside (76-51) and Mount Marty (87-42). They have averaged 67.5 points per game (ppg) with over seven 3-pointers made a contest. Collecting almost 40 rebounds per game, the Broncos will rely on Rachel Goodon (6.5 rpg) and Kiernan Paulk (6.3 rpg) to clash the glass on both sides of the floor. Mariyah Avila paces the team in scoring (13.1 ppg), as Paulk completes the top two with 8.5. Tathis Arredondo shoots 87 percent from the charity stripe, the individual team-high.
Hastings Projected Starting Five
G – Mariyah Avila, 5-5 (13.1)
G – Lexi Kraft, 5-5 (7.3)
G – Tathis Arredondo, 5-4 (5.9)
G – Kiernan Paulk, 5-8 (8.5)
C – Rachel Goodon, 6-3 (7.6)
Briar Cliff
The Chargers were on a two-game losing streak before winning in a tight battle against Northwestern, 74-71. With the victory, their overall record is 12-3 and 7-2 in the conference, sitting half a game back from the Dawgs. Briar Cliff’s offense is powered by Mallie McNair and her 16.6 ppg. Konnor Sudmann is another force on the Charger lineup, who led the team with 23 points against Concordia in the Dec. 9 matchup. Yet another top five GPAC stat holder, Payton Slaughter, owns 6.8 rpg along with 11.3 ppg. The team averages a conference high 86.9 ppg, only allowing 63, and making 31.3 field goals per game.
Briar Cliff Projected Starting Five
G – Payton Slaughter, 5-6 (11.3)
G – Konnor Sudmann, 5-11 (11.2)
G – Mallie McNair, 5-8 (16.6)
G – Kennedy Benne, 5-8 (11.1)
C – Rachel Langel, 6-0 (9.3)
Next week
Concordia will host Mount Marty before traveling to CIT next weekend at Concordia University Wisconsin. CUNE is set to dual with Concordia University Ann Arbor on Jan. 26 in the first of a two-game weekend.