YANKTON, S.D. – With a one-point advantage at the half, Kristin Vieselmeyer put the offense on her back as she drained 16 of the Bulldogs' 28 points in the third aiding heavily in the 66-59 victory over Mount Marty on Tuesday (Nov. 25). Both teams averaged 90+ points a game going into the contest, but Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball forced 28 turnovers to overcome a pesky Lancer squad inside Cimpl Arena.
Head Coach Drew Olson and the attacking defense remain undefeated at 8-0 overall and 4-0 going into Thanksgiving break.
“We held on,” Coach Olson said. “We were not at our best. We started off great in the first quarter, then we let Mount Marty back into the game. We were really out of sync in the second quarter. We missed layups and free throws. In the third, we responded well and had a great run. We played great defensively. Kristin Vieselmeyer completely carried us for a stretch in that third quarter, which was really special. We've got to be a lot better, but at the same time, on the road against a quality team, we still found a way to win.”
After squandering an double-digit early lead with a 7-point second quarter, the Bulldogs’ Vieselmeyer (7-for-9 FG) took over the rock out of the lockerooms, scoring 14 of the first 16 points in the 16-6 offensive drive. Concordia finished the third stanza with a 28-13 point surplus (12-for-19 FG) and a 58-42 lead going into the fourth. A Holyoke, Colo., native, Vieselmeyer led all scorers with 23 points and six rebounds.
Said Olson,” She showed she is one of the best post players in the country. She is phenomenal. She can score in so many different ways. When she gets going, there are not a whole lot of people who can stop her.”
With 6:51 left in the game, Mount Marty’s Lacey Sprakel made a jump shot to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 10. Bree Bunting responded with a trey and Vieselmeyer with a bucket of her own to push the lead back out to 12. Concordia hit a second dry spell for the last five minutes, but the lead would hold out via stout defense. Bunting, another born in Colorado, was the second in Bulldog blue to finish with double digits (14) and five rebounds.
Shooting 42.2 percent from the floor, the visitors combined for 55.2 percent (21-for-38) in the first and third quarter and 23.0 percent (6-for-26) in the second and fourth. Concordia’s press defense slashed the Lancer attack with 28 turnovers (14 steals) compared to the MMU’s 12, led by Sammy Leu and Ayla Roth’s three swipes apiece. Raelyn Kelty and JJ Jones finished with seven points each.
The Lancers (6-2, 2-2 GPAC) had supreme edge in multiple categories to keep themselves within striking distance: 48-31 rebounds (23 offensive), 16-3 made free throws and 23-11 in second chance points. Sprakel and Alexis Folkers paced the home team with 13 points from both.
Concordia (8-0, 4-0 GPAC) will have Thanksgiving break to recoup and reload before hosting in-state rival Doane (2-4, 0-3 GPAC) on Wednesday (Dec. 3). The Bulldogs will host the next two in Friedrich Arena with the first tip-off coming at 6 p.m. CT. The two teams split last season as the home squads won in each contest.