SEWARD, Neb. – Another First Team All-GPAC award has been claimed by Taysha Rushton, who highlights a list of four all-conference honorees from Concordia University Women’s Basketball. The GPAC released its 2022 all-conference list on Wednesday (March 2) while recognizing 10 players on both the first and second teams. Honorable mention accolades were handed out to three Bulldogs: Rylee Pauli, Sadie Powell and Mackenzie Toomey.
2022 GPAC All-Conference
First Team: Taysha Rushton
Honorable Mention: Rylee Pauli, Sadie Powell, Mackenzie Toomey
A native of Midland, Texas, Rushton was also chosen to the conference’s first team in 2020-21. A prolific scorer from day one, Rushton is averaging 17.9 points per game this season, third most among GPAC players. She is shooting 38.7 percent from the field, 33.8 percent from 3-point range and 75.4 percent from the foul line. In addition, Rushton is averaging 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Over her first two seasons as a Bulldog, Rushton has piled up 947 points, 151 assists, 145 3-point field goals and 94 steals. Rushton poured in a career high 32 points in the season opener versus Bellevue and notched 31 points in the win at Midland. She’s reached the 20-point mark nine times this season.
A fourth-year player from Omaha, Pauli has started all 29 games this season and has averaged 7.2 points and a team best 7.0 rebounds per game. This is the second year in a row she has been named Honorable Mention All-GPAC. Pauli has shot 52.3 percent from the floor and 65.4 percent from the free throw line this season. In her career, Pauli has played in three national tournaments and was a member of the 2018-19 national championship team. Her career totals stand at 608 points, 525 rebounds, 168 steals, 124 assists and 45 blocked shots in 122 games. Her 20 points at Dakota Wesleyan in the regular season finale equaled a career high.
Powell has taken on an increased role in her second college basketball season. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native ranks second on the team in scoring average at 9.1 points while also pulling down 4.7 rebounds per game. She is shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 58.9 percent from the foul line. In the New Year’s Day win over Doane, Powell posted a career high 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds. She has reached double figures in scoring 12 times on the season.
One of the team’s best defenders, Toomey has earned her first career All-GPAC award. She is averaging 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 assists per game while playing in all 29 games (nine starts). The Lincoln Southeast High School alum is shooting 34.8 percent from the floor. Her 19 points in the home win over Dakota Wesleyan on Jan. 8 represented a career high. Toomey has swiped 83 steals in 54 career games at Concordia.
The Bulldogs are expected to earn an at-large bid to the national tournament. The official opening round pairings will be announced Thursday during the NAIA’s live selection show.