2023-24 NAIA Women’s Basketball All-Americans
SEWARD, Neb. – A four-time First Team All-GPAC award winner, Concordia University Women’s Basketball star Taysha Rushton has claimed her third career NAIA All-America honor. On Monday (April 1), the NAIA named Rushton a 2023-24 Second Team All-American. Rushton earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades as both a sophomore and junior.
The do-it-all guard from Midland, Texas, has helped power Head Coach Drew Olson’s program to national tournament appearances in each of the past four seasons. As a senior, Rushton averaged 15.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game while starting all 34 games. In addition, she shot 42.8 percent (178-for-416) from the floor, 36.7 percent (73-for-199) from 3-point range and 79.8 percent (87-for-109) from the foul line. In 126 career games as a Bulldog, Rushton has tallied 1,924 points, 407 rebounds, 348 assists, 290 3-point field goals and 213 steals.
Prior to the 2023-24 season, Rushton talked about her decision to play college basketball at Concordia. Said Rushton, “It’s probably the best decision I’ve made in my life. I went through some rough patches freshman and sophomore year thinking about leaving because I wanted to go to cosmetology school. I love basketball too much and I decided to stay. It’s honestly so crazy looking back. This is my senior year. No way I’ve already been here four years. I’ve made the best friends on my team. I have great relationships with the coaches. I love Concordia and I’m so glad I chose to come here.”
Other multiple-time All-America honorees coached by Olson have included Taylor Cockerill, Kristen Conahan, Philly Lammers, Bailey Morris, Tracy Peitz, Katie Rich, Whitney Stichka, Melissa Tinkham and Quinn Wragge.
Rushton career highlights
· 4x First Team All-GPAC.
· 3x NAIA All-American (HM twice / 2nd Team in 2023-24).
· Program all-time career rankings of second in made 3-point field goals (290), third in points scored (1,924), 10th in assists (348) and 18th in steals (213).
· Led Bulldogs to four national tournaments (two trips to the final site – national quarterfinals in 2021 and national round of 16 in 2024).
· 2x CIT MVP.
Concordia women’s basketball all-time All-Americans
Grace Barry (2020-2nd)
Lynda Beck (1992-1st)
Taylor Cockerill (2019-HM; 2021-WBCA 1st, NAIA-HM)
Kristen Conahan (2012-2nd; 2013-1st)
Sarah Harrison (2003-1st; HM-2005)
Mary Janovich (2017-HM)
Trish Kindle (1993-2nd; 1994-HM)
Amber Kistler (2012-1st)
Hayle Kobza (2000-HM; 2001-HM)
Philly Lammers (2017-2nd; 2018-1st; 2019-1st; 2020-1st)
Bailey Morris (2014-1st; *2015-1st)
Teresa Noffke (1989-HM)
Allison Nyland (1996-HM)
Tracy Peitz (2014-3rd; 2015-2nd)
Shelly Poppe (1987-3rd)
Elizabeth Rhoden (2003-2nd)
Katie Rich (2011-HM; 2013-HM)
Taysha Rushton (2022-HM; 2023-HM; 2024-2nd)
Kari Saving (2005-2nd)
Stacy Scheer (2010-HM)
Stephanie Schilke (1998-2nd)
Whitney Stichka (2007-HM; 2008-2nd; 2009-1st)
Melissa Tinkham (2008-HM; 2009-HM)
Rachel Witzel (1997-3rd)
Quinn Wragge (2017-HM; 2018-3rd)
*National player of the year