Road stretch continues at Doane, Dordt

By Jacob Knabel on Feb. 3, 2020 in Women's Basketball

SEWARD, Neb. – A stretch of three-straight GPAC road games continues this week for the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team, fresh off a white knuckler of a road victory at No. 12 Dakota Wesleyan. Now the Bulldogs face challenges this week at Doane and at ninth-ranked Dordt. Five of Concordia’s seven games in the month of February will be played away from Walz Arena. Head coach Drew Olson’s squad is 11-2 in road/neutral contests this season.

This Week

Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Doane (2-19, 1-15 GPAC), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8 at (9) Dordt (20-4, 12-4 GPAC), 2 p.m.
Only six games remain in the regular season and it’s essentially a two-horse race in regards to the GPAC regular-season title. Second-ranked Hastings (24-0, 16-0 GPAC) pulled one out of the fire last week at home against No. 7 Morningside. The Mustangs owned a 16-point fourth quarter lead before the Broncos rallied back, forced overtime and won, 85-80. The Bulldogs (22-2, 15-1 GPAC) also put together a comeback from nine points down in the fourth quarter at Dakota Wesleyan and triumphed, 69-67, to remain within striking distance of Hastings. The Broncos are aiming for their first conference regular-season title since they shared it in 2013-14.

When Concordia finds itself in a pinch, it leans upon senior point guard Grace Barry. She tallied the team’s final nine points in the victory at the Corn Palace. Barry finished with 18 points, four assists and three steals at DWU a few days after putting up 17 points, nine assists and five steals in the home win over No. 17 Northwestern. MacKenzie Helman enjoyed a fine week that saw her total 29 points on 7-for-12 shooting from 3-point range. She also came up with a key steal that set up Barry’s game-winning free throws at DWU. Helman’s 17 points versus Northwestern were a career high.

Three-time All-American Philly Lammers recently became the only player in program history to rank in the school’s all-time top five in each of the categories of points, rebounds and steals. She is currently second in points (1,873), third in rebounds (967) and fifth in steals (334). Only one player in program history has ever reached 2,000 points scored – Bailey Morris (2,054). Lammers and the rest of the senior class have combined for a four-year record of 127-10. The 127 wins ties a school record for most over a four-year period. The 2018 and 2019 senior classes also helped the program to 127 wins over four-year stretches.

It's been a struggle for Doane, which has had two different head coaches this season. Doane alum Ryan Baumgartner is the current coach of a squad that has one GPAC win – over College of Saint Mary. The Tigers have dropped seven in a row against the Bulldogs, including this season’s 110-47 decision. Junior Haylee Heits leads the team in most categories, including scoring (12.6), rebounding (7.3), steals (1.35) and blocked shots (0.95).

The Defenders are just about a lock to reach the national tournament for a second year in a row. Head coach Bill Harmsen’s group is paced by star Erika Feenstra, who is averaging 18.5 points while shooting 61.9 percent from the floor. Each of Dordt’s four losses have come against teams currently ranked in the top 10 (including two at the hands of Morningside). Last year’s Concordia-Dordt matchup in Sioux Center was a classic. The Defenders held off the Bulldogs, 97-92, in double overtime. Dordt still has both Concordia and Hastings set to play at its place.

In action next week, the Bulldogs will close out their regular-season home slate by hosting Hastings on Feb. 12 and Mount Marty on Feb. 15.

Projected Lineups

Concordia (22-2, 15-1 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Sr., 5-7 (13.2)
G – Riley Sibbel, Sr., 5-9 (7.3)
G – Mackenzie Koepke, So., 6-1 (8.2)
F – Colby Duvel, Sr., 5-9 (7.2)
F – Philly Lammers, Sr., 5-11 (13.1)

Doane (2-19, 1-15 GPAC)
G – Cheyenne Ostrander, Sr., 5-4 (4.3)
G – Bailey Zarybnicky, Sr., 5-8 (6.4)
F – Bailee Baack, Fr., 5-11 (1.0)
F – Halle Konz, Fr., 5-11 (7.9)
F – Haylee Heits, Jr., 6-0 (12.6)

Dordt (20-4, 12-4 GPAC)
G – Mya Chmielewski, So., 5-5 (5.9)
G – Payton Harmsen, Sr., 5-8 (5.0)
G – Ebby Prewitt, Sr., 5-9 (4.0)
F – Erika Feenstra, Jr., 6-0 (18.5)
F – Rachel Evavold, Sr., 6-1 (10.4)