Women's Basketball

36-2 Overall | 19-1 GPAC | Season stats

Women's basketball unveils loaded 2017-18 slate

2017-18 Women’s Basketball Schedule | PDF

SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off GPAC regular-season and postseason titles and a national semifinal appearance, the Concordia women’s basketball program will put itself in the national spotlight again in 2017-18. The team’s schedule for this coming winter was rolled out on Tuesday (June 20). In addition to the usual GPAC grind, the Bulldogs will also challenge themselves significantly by playing four nonconference opponents that were ranked in the top 10 of the 2016-17 postseason coaches’ poll.

Head coach Drew Olson’s squad will return four of five starters from a team that eclipsed 30 wins for the fifth time in school history. Three players who earned some form of All-America recognition this past season are back in the fold: Philly Lammers (second team), Mary Janovich (honorable mention) and Quinn Wragge (honorable mention). The Bulldogs are the only program in NAIA Division II women’s basketball to have reached the national semifinals in three of the past six seasons.

The 2017-18 season will open up at the 18th annual Cattle Classic (Nov. 3-4) inside Walz Arena. After hosting Viterbo University (Wis.) on day one of the Cattle Classic, Concordia will test its mettle in a showdown with the University of St. Francis (Ill.), which also advanced to the national semifinals in 2017. The Bulldogs will also take their act on the road against powerful programs like No. 8 University of Jamestown (N.D.) (Nov. 10), No. 6 College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (Dec. 19) and No. 2 Saint Xavier University (Ill.) (Dec. 29). Concordia will have the opportunity to avenge this past season’s national semifinal loss to Saint Xavier.

Additionally, the Bulldogs will attempt to win their fifth-straight Concordia Invitational Tournament title and 28th all-time. CUNE cruised to an 89-62 CIT championship game victory over Concordia-Ann Arbor inside Walz Arena in 2017. The Bulldogs will draw CU-Ann Arbor on day one of CIT (Jan. 26-27), which will be hosted by Concordia-Wisconsin in Mequon, Wis.

GPAC play will get underway on Nov. 15 when Midland makes the short journey to Seward, where Olson’s squad went a perfect 17-0 in 2016-17. Three days later, Concordia will play at Dakota Wesleyan, the only GPAC team to tag the Bulldogs with a loss during the 2016-17 campaign. Concordia was one of five league schools to earn top-25 rankings in the final poll. The others were No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan, No. 11 Morningside, No. 18 Northwestern and No. 21 Hastings.

GPAC tournament dates are set for Feb. 21, 24 and 27. The NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships will again be held at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The national tournament will be held March 7-13.

Opponents with final 2016-17 national rankings
No. 2 Saint Xavier (Ill.)
No. 4 St. Francis (Ill.)
No. 6 College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
No. 8 Jamestown (N.D.)
No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan (twice)
No. 11 Morningside (twice)
No. 18 Northwestern (twice)
No. 21 Hastings (twice)

Top five: greatest Concordia women's basketball moments

Since its first official season in 1967-68, the Concordia women’s basketball program has steadily improved, eventually becoming a national power. Eunice Goldgrabe became the program’s first stable coach. She helped pave the way for five different Bulldog head coaches to take women’s basketball teams to the national tournament. In the present day, Concordia is a powerhouse under the direction of head coach Drew Olson. In our third installment of “top five moments,” we recount the greatest team and individual moments produced by Concordia women’s basketball. For this list, only specific athletic accomplishments were considered.

1. Unchartered territory

The 2014-15 Bulldogs had the makings of a national championship team with All-Americans Bailey Morris and Tracy Peitz leading the way. As part of a GPAC exclusive national semifinal (Morningside and Hastings on the other side of the bracket), Concordia toppled Briar Cliff, 69-60, advancing to the title game for the first time in program history. Though Morris went 2-for-16 from the field to begin the game, she clutched up with two late 3-point daggers that sewed up the first-ever national championship contest appearance in program history. As part of the national tournament push, the Bulldogs defeated Bryan (Tenn.), 76-35, College of Saint Mary, 92-82, Jamestown (N.D.), 76-59, and Briar Cliff. It looked like it was head coach Drew Olson’s time to win a title when Concordia led by as many as 12 points in the first half of the championship tilt with Morningside. The Mustangs came back and clipped the Bulldogs, 59-57. “We had a good crowd, but it was basically playing in front of a Morningside crowd,” Olson recalls. “You’re on the road for a national championship game. That atmosphere was really cool.”

Aside from an excruciatingly close call in the national title game, the 2014-15 season was one of many thrills and huge moments. Concordia put together a winning streak that stretched over 23 games, upset Morningside in Sioux City for the GPAC tournament title and recorded a total of 13 victories over teams with national rankings. It was a Bulldog squad that had greater substance than just Morris and Peitz. Other key contributors were seniors in Kelsey Hizer and Jericca Pearson, sophomore Becky Mueller and GPAC freshman of the year Mary Janovich. Said Olson, I’ll probably remember their personalities a whole lot more than them as players. I’ll remember how much joy I had coaching each one of them and how much better they made going to work every day. That’s why they’re such a special group.” The seniors on the 2014-15 team were freshmen when Olson first made a semifinal run in 2012 behind other noteworthy stars like Kristen Conahan, Amber Kistler and Katie Rich. The Olson era has seen one standout after the other.

2. The Bailey Morris Game

The Bailey Morris Game: Feb. 15, 2014. Then a junior, Morris had already made a name for herself as a playmaking point guard with a flair for theatrics. This game put her on another level. Up against third-ranked Northwestern, Morris went 12-for-26 from the field, including 4-for-8 from 3-point range, and a near perfect 17-for-18 from the foul line while racking up a school single-game scoring record of 45 points. That production lifted Concordia to an 89-78 win and helped Morris earn national player of the week honors. It was a signature moment for Morris, a product of Sandy Creek High School who was encouraged by head coach Drew Olson to take a score-first approach. In her shredding of Northwestern, Morris had piled up 28 points by the time the first half ended. What made the 5-foot-4 blur such a dynamic scorer was her ability to blister the nets in so many different ways. All of those skills were on display that mid-February day. Morris likely ended the conversation about who deserved GPAC player of the year on that day alone.

The honors continued to stream in for Morris, whose name is right at the top of many of the program’s all-time statistical lists. Named GPAC player of the year as both a junior and senior, Morris became the first national player of the year in Concordia women’s basketball history and finished her career atop the school’s all-time scoring chart with 2,054 points. With Morris leading Olson’s teams, the Bulldogs went to four national tournaments, appeared in the national semifinals twice (championship game in 2015), captured four GPAC titles (two regular season, two tournament) and put together a combined record of 119-21. She offered up plenty of other impressive individual performances, such as her 34-point, eight-rebound effort versus College of Saint Mary at the 2015 national tournament, but the 45-point game stands out as her defining individual moment as a Bulldog.

Following her playing career, Morris wrote, “When I look back on my career at Concordia, sure, I'll remember the scoring record, the national player of the year and all the accolades and recognition. But what I'll be most proud of are my teammates. I'm proud of everything they did for the teams I was on and the player they pushed me to be. I hope they remember me as passionate and hard-working person who loved the game of basketball but more importantly, loved them. Saying 'I'm so thankful for them' would be a giant understatement. I don't think they'll ever understand how much they mean to me. I'm so thankful for Coach Olson. Plain and simple, I wouldn't have become the player I did without him.”

3. The Game

In the history of Concordia women’s basketball, there can be only one, The Game. It occurred Feb. 12, 2003, when top-ranked Concordia ventured west on I-80 for a rivalry showdown with No. 2 Hastings. Fans lined the arena and then flooded it. As head coach Todd Voss recalls, fans actually gathered early to tailgate for a contest with plenty of hype attached to it. It didn’t disappoint. Recalled Voss, “We got there and we got booed even before we got to the arena because there were people lined up. I had the good fortune to coach in a number of great arenas and in big venues in big games at various levels. As far as game atmospheres, that game at Hastings that 2002-03 season was as good or better than any atmosphere I was ever part of in my coaching career.”

The Game lived up to the hype. Though the Broncos built an 11-point lead in the first half, a Concordia squad led by the likes of Sarah Harrison and Elizabeth Rhoden never flinched. The Bulldogs went on a 12-0 second-half spurt and grabbed a late lead in a pulse pounder that earned its place in program folklore. With her team down one, Harrison nailed a 10-foot turnaround jumper with 3.2 seconds left. The Bulldog faction of the audience exploded. Concordia won, 65-64, in a game that will never be forgotten by anyone involved in it. A photographer at the game captured the moment in an image that somehow ended up as a massive poster inside the arena at Hastings. Said Voss, “From the spot where the picture was taken you can see all of these hands up in the air. Well those are actually Bulldog fans, not Bronco fans behind our bench.” Harrison totaled 17 points and seven rebounds. Said Harrison, “I can remember when we were running out for warmups their crowd was booing us. Naomi Laune looked at me and said, ‘That’s when you know you’re good – when the other fans care enough to boo.’ I think that’s the memory that sticks out the most. I don’t know if we actually knew how good we were until a moment like that.”

The 2002-03 squad began the season at 33-0 and reached the national semifinals, where it fell, 66-60, at the hands of the same Broncos team it beaten just over a month earlier. Voss and previous head coach Micah Parker had built a monster of a program that also turned in big seasons in 2003-04 and 2004-05 before Voss wound down his career pacing the sidelines as a Bulldog. The 2002-03 team remains the school record holder for most wins in a season (36).

4. Third time’s a charm

Morningside simply didn’t lose at home. Coming off a national title in March of 2004, the 2004-05 Mustangs had gone 17-1 during conference regular-season play, were winners of 31 in a row at home and carried a No. 2 national ranking into the GPAC tournament championship tilt on March 1, 2005. Concordia made its way to Sioux City, Iowa, ranked sixth nationally, but had gone 0-for-2 against Morningside during the regular season. Ten days earlier, the Mustangs flattened the Bulldogs, 79-53, in Sioux City in the regular-season finale. Head coach Todd Voss’ squad possessed too much senior leadership to let that defeat sink a potential deep postseason run. In that season’s final meeting between the two conference powers, Concordia got out to a shocking 35-10 halftime lead over a Morningside team that went just 3-for-25 (.120) from the field over the opening 20 minutes. Voss told the Sioux City Journal afterwards, “There's no way we could have imagined being ahead of this team 35-10 at the half. The stars must have been aligned just right.”

Future Concordia Athletic Hall of Famer Kari Saving poured in 17 crucial points in a game that was far from a thing of beauty. The Mustangs slashed their deficit to as few as eight points with less than a minute-and-a-half remaining. It was simply too little too late. Morningside shot a miserable 25.9 percent for the game and got kicked on the boards, 45-23, by the Bulldogs. It was a great lead in to the national tournament for Concordia, which went on to advance to the national semifinals for the second time in three seasons.

The victory over Morningside was one of the final big moments produced by the winningest four-year class in school history. The likes of Saving, Sarah Harrison, Keyna Kobza, Naomi Laune and Kayla Luehman went 123-21 between the 2001-02 and 2004-05 seasons. The group of seniors began their collegiate careers playing for Micah Parker, who left Concordia after the 2001-02 campaign.

5. The Game, Part II

In another season chalk full of memories, nothing over the course of the 2016-17 campaign beat the atmosphere and the spectacle of the GPAC tournament championship game that Concordia hosted on Feb. 28, 2017. The contest was a gut wrencher for both sides in a matchup that featured the second-ranked Bulldogs and No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan, two teams that have developed a budding rivalry. Sometimes it’s that shots that don’t go in that are just as memorable as the shots that do go on. On the contest’s final possession, the Tigers’ Ashley Bray launched a trey that misfired. The ensuing two-hand tip by Sarah Carr came dangerously close to dropping through the bottom of the net, but the ball somehow rolled off the left side of the rim. The Bulldogs exhaled while students stormed the court in celebration of a 78-77 victory. Said head coach Drew Olson afterwards, “That was an amazing game. It was really fun to be part of. I think it’s something our kids will always remember.”

The all-timer of a championship game, which included 18 points and 12 rebounds by Quinn Wragge, made up part of a 34-win season complete with GPAC regular-season and tournament titles and a run to the national semifinals. There may not have been a more dominant regular-season team in the nation than the 2016-17 Bulldogs, which put together a 26-game win streak and lost only one conference game all season. That one defeat was avenged in the GPAC championship game. Olson’s 11th Concordia women’s basketball team was arguably his best. It featured second team All-American Philly Lammers along with fellow first team All-GPAC choices in Wragge and Mary Janovich. Transfer Dani Andersen put on a shooting display in the national semifinals and garnered all-tournament accolades.

Honorable mention No. 1: down goes No. 1

It would be difficult to put together a top moments list without mention of former head coach Dr. Micah Parker, one of the early architects responsible for the program’s rise to power. Numerous times, Parker’s squads upset teams ranked No. 1 in the national poll. These games were a prelude to the most glorious years in Concordia women’s basketball history. The 1999-2000 squad did the unthinkable, winning at No. 1 Northwestern, 66-65, in a late January tilt. The fans in Orange City howled when a Concordia player basically tackled a Red Raider on an out-of-bounds play in the final seconds. The horn sounded and Parker hustled his team to the locker room. He didn’t want the officials to have any chance to reconsider the no-call. Parker’s squads made it a habit of beating top-ranked opponents. The 2000-01 Bulldogs also toppled a No. 1-ranked Northwestern team and then did the same to No. 1 Hastings the following season.

Honorable mention No. 2: the shot

Everyone in the building knew the ball would be in Whitney Stichka’s hands. Sometimes embarrassed by her own success, Stichka never backed away in crunch time. At the 2009 national tournament, Concordia trailed, 73-72, with :8.1 seconds remaining in a second-round game. Then a fifth-year senior, Stichka proceeded to go the length of the floor before sinking a highly contested driving layup to lift the Bulldogs to a dramatic win over Cornerstone (Mich.). The play-by-play announcer beamed, “You knew she was going to take it, and Cornerstone couldn’t stop it.” Said Stichka, “I remember that I didn’t want it to be my last game. I just didn’t want to be done. I loved to play basketball. I had that motivation. We were down by one and I knew I needed to score in the few seconds we had.”

Must be mentioned: Eunice Goldgrabe is a pioneer when it comes to many female athletics teams at Concordia. It was Goldgrabe who took over the head coaching post for Concordia women’s basketball for its first official season of intercollegiate competition in 1967-68. She held down the fort until passing the baton to Carl Everts in 1981. It was during the Everts era (1981-92) that the sport really took off in the NAIA. Suddenly the Bulldogs were consistently playing 30 or more games each season. In 1992, Everts’ squad qualified for a national tournament, marking the first trip to nationals in school history. Everts became the winningest coach in Concordia women’s basketball history until Drew Olson assumed that title in November 2014. And before Micah Parker was hired as head coach, Mark Lemke brought the program elevated stature.

Women's basketball picked to repeat as GPAC champs

GPAC release

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s basketball team gobbled up 10 first-place votes in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll released on Thursday (Oct. 19) by the league. Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has been picked to repeat as GPAC champions after capturing conference regular-season and tournament titles this past season. The Bulldogs collected 100 total points in the GPAC poll.

Four of five starters return from the 2016-17 national semifinalist team. The familiar names include senior guards Dani (Andersen) Hoppes and Mary Janovich and post players in sophomore Philly Lammers and junior Quinn Wragge. Janovich, Lammers and Wragge each collected some form of All-America recognition in March. They helped lead Concordia to a 34-3 overall record in 2016-17. The lone starter to graduate was point guard Shelby Quinn.

Olson’s squad was picked third in the GPAC preseason poll a year ago. The Bulldogs have not been a preseason conference favorite since being a co-No. 1 with Morningside prior to the 2013-14 campaign. A No. 1 GPAC ranking virtually guarantees Concordia will be a preseason top-five team nationally. The NAIA Division II women’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll is scheduled to be announced next Tuesday (Oct. 24).

The 2017-18 season will get underway at the annual Cattle Classic (Nov. 3-4). The Bulldogs will play host to both Viterbo University (Wis.) and University of Saint Francis (Ill.) over the two-day event.

2017-18 GPAC Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Concordia – 100 (10)
2. Dakota Wesleyan – 90 (1)
3. Morningside – 78
4. Northwestern – 76
5. Hastings – 65
6. Midland – 47
7. Briar Cliff – 46
8. Doane – 32
9. Mount Marty – 29
10. Dordt – 27
11. College of Saint Mary – 15

Season preview: 2017-18 women's basketball

2016-17 Record: 34-3 overall, 19-1 GPAC; GPAC regular season and tournament champs; national semifinalist
Head Coach: Drew Olson (282-91, 11 years; 9 national tournament appearances; 6 GPAC regular season/tournament titles; 3 national semifinal advancements)
Returning Starters:  Dani Hoppes (Sr.); Mary Janovich (Sr.); Philly Lammers (So.); Quinn Wragge (Jr.)
Other Key Returners: Brenleigh Daum (Sr.); Colby Duvel (So.); Sydney Feller (Sr.)
Key Newcomers: Taylor Cockerill (Fr.)
Key Losses: Aubri Bro; Devin Edwards: Carissa Gutz; Laurel Krohn; Shelby Quinn; Erin Vieselmeyer
2016-17 GPAC All-Conference: Drew Olson (coach of the year); Mary Janovich (first team; defensive player of the year); Philly Lammers (first team; freshman of the year); Quinn Wragge (first team); Dani Hoppes (honorable mention); Shelby Quinn (honorable mention); Erin Vieselmeyer (honorable mention)
2016-17 NAIA All-Americans: Philly Lammers (second team); Mary Janovich (honorable mention); Quinn Wragge (honorable mention)

Outlook
Since the beginning of the 2011-12 season, only the Concordia University women’s basketball program can claim three national semifinal appearances, among all NAIA Division II teams. Four starters return from last season’s squad that claimed GPAC regular-season and postseason titles and came within two wins of the program’s first-ever national championship banner.

The talent on board is undeniable. Drew Olson enters his 12th season as head coach with a stacked deck. The big names are back, including a trio of Bulldogs that earned some form of All-America recognition in 2016-17: do-it-all guard Mary Janovich, star post Philly Lammers and the always-reliable Quinn Wragge.

The expectations are huge, but that can be said every single preseason for a program that reloads with new stars from year-to-year. 

Says Olson, “It’s fun to have those kids back knowing what we’re capable of. We have our own expectations and we have those same expectations every year. I don’t think it’s anything new to us. It’s probably a little bit more realistic to have high expectations with those kids coming back.”

The accolades and the national respect has failed to corrupt the selfless nature of a program that has taken on the winning characteristics of its head coach. The game-to-game focus displayed during last season’s 26-game winning streak was remarkable. Using a devastating zone press, Concordia demoralized opponent after opponent. Through the winning, there’s been no sense of entitlement.

Says senior guard Dani (Andersen) Hoppes, “We’re not going to get overconfident. We back up what people say and the expectations with our hard work. That’s what we talk about a lot. We want to be the hardest working team.”

It’s difficult to pinpoint one primary star on a team with so many enviable individual parts. Why not start with the senior who’s been there, done that. Named GPAC defensive player of the year last season, Janovich serves as one of the peskiest of the ‘gnats’ that ruin other teams’ picnics. The Gretna, Neb., native has piled up 186 career steals and is closing in on joining the program’s 1,000-point club.

A fierce competitor, Janovich understands the nature of the big stage as well as anyone on the team. She was the GPAC freshman of the year during a 2014-15 run that came up agonizingly short of a national title. She’s missed several games due to injury, but she’ll play through whatever’s ailing her if it means another shot at winning the whole thing.

“It’s amazing what she can do for her team,” Olson said. “She’s such a good defender both on the ball and off. She’s an incredible passer. She hits big shots. I think the biggest things are her leadership and competitiveness. It drives the team to wins. It’s probably not likely that she’s going to be 100 percent this year, but we’re going to make due with what she’s got.”

Lammers and Wragge make each other better by matching up every day in practice. Few freshmen come in as physically prepared as Lammers, often referred to by teammates as a “beast.” The Omaha native averaged 13.2 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 56.0 percent from the floor as a rookie. Included in Lammers’ first collegiate season was a 20-point, 14-rebound performance in a win over Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) at the national tournament.

Scary, we know, to think that she could be even better as a sophomore. “We don’t know exactly what she’s fully capable of,” Olson said. “We’re really trying to expand her game in many ways. Hopefully there’s an even better version of Philly this year.”

A first team all-conference choice as both a freshman and sophomore, Wragge will give the 2017-18 team whatever it needs. She put up 20 or more points eight times as a freshman, but more scoring options on last season’s team freed her up in other ways. Wragge is also a solid rebounder, defender and quiet, confident leader. Without the departed Erin Vieselmeyer (current graduate assistant), Wragge is being prepped to play more minutes this winter.

“I feel like she’s capable of even more,” Olson said. “She’s such a great teammate she has no problem taking a lesser role and less minutes for the better of the team. The great thing with Quinn is she can step up any time. She knows when the team needs her to have a bigger game. She knows when other players are doing well and she can take a step back. I think Quinn’s ready for little bit more responsibility.”

Hoppes transferred in from Midland and perfectly complimented the talent around her. She can get crazy hot from 3-point range, as evidenced by her seven 3-point field goals in the national semifinal game, and is comparable to the Road Runner in the way that she hounds opposing guards in the press. The duo of Hoppes and Janovich created plenty of the havoc that led to opponents averaging 26.4 turnovers per game last season.

Like Janovich and Wragge, Hoppes is likely to eclipse 1,000 career points. This could be the best season yet for Hoppes, newly wedded and increasingly comfortable within a system and institution that perfectly fits her style and personality.

“I absolutely love our style of play,” Hoppes said. “It’s so fun just being able to run the court. The fast pace that we do – I love that style of basketball. Coach pulls the team together and he knows exactly what will work in different situations. It’s just been awesome.”

So who’s running the show now that point guard Shelby Quinn has moved on, you ask? Olson might just hand the keys over to true freshman Taylor Cockerill. The 2016-17 GPAC coach of the year can’t even hide his excitement over the Waverly High School product. She’s gone toe-to-toe with the veteran players in practice without giving an inch. Her talent is obvious to the upperclassmen. Says Hoppes, “It’s been so fun to play with Taylor. It’s frustrating when you’re not on her team. She just has such a quick step. She can get to the hoop so well and finish. It’s awesome to have her as a teammate. She has such a sweet spirit yet she has a way of playing the point guard role and commanding the floor. That’s going to be so awesome to see her develop and gain confidence as she goes through the season.”

Olson will also have experience off the bench in long and athletic guards Brenleigh Daum (149 career 3-point field goals) and Sydney Feller (5.0 ppg over 69 career games), both seniors who have been regulars in the rotation. Sophomore Colby Duvel will also be in the mix. She’s a scrapper who never stops hustling.

Sophomore MacKenzie Helman figures to get opportunities at point guard after being acquainted with the college game last season. There may also be minutes to go around for other returners such as sophomore Maggie Goltz and the Pollman sisters, juniors Shelby and Sidney, and sophomore Riley Sibbel.

There’s no shortage of talent. No wonder Olson lined up nonconference games with four teams ranked in the top eight of the 2016-17 postseason national poll.

“Every team is unique,” Olson said. “Every team is different even though we bring back so many past players. This team is really fun to be with. It’s almost like nothing has changed from last year. They picked up right where they left off. We had this two-on-two rebounding drill at practice and it was amazing to see them battling each other and competing at such a high level. To me it just looked like this incredible, competitive team.”

The 2017-18 season will officially tip off on Friday, Nov. 3 when Concordia hosts Viterbo University (Wis.) as part of the annual Cattle Classic.

Bulldogs open 2017-18 at No. 3 in national poll

2017-18 NAIA DII WBB preseason poll

SEWEARD, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s basketball program will begin the 2017-18 season with the same national ranking it was left with when the dust settled on the 2016-17 campaign this past March. A 2017 national semifinalist and defending GPAC champion, the Bulldogs checked in at No. 3 in the 2017-18 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll released on Tuesday (Oct. 24). Very few things changed from the 2016-17 postseason poll.

The Bulldogs have been ranked in every national poll since the start of the 2011-12 season (75-consecutive poll releases). Three-straight senior classes have played each game in their careers for ranked Concordia squads. During that time, the Bulldogs have risen as high as No. 1, appearing at the top spot for the first four polls of the 2012-13 campaign. Head coach Drew Olson has led the program to national semifinal appearances in three of the past six seasons. Concordia is the only program in the nation with three semifinal trips since 2012.

Olson’s teams have finished inside the top 25 in eight of his first 11 seasons. The highest final national ranking was a No. 2 placement in 2015 after a national runner-up claim. Both the 2011-12 and 2016-17 squads were ranked third at the close of their seasons. The Bulldogs have finished inside the top 10 in four of the past six years.

The women’s basketball program has held the No. 1 ranking a total of 11 times, including the final seven polls of the 2002-03 season. The 2014-15 Bulldogs became the first in program history to reach the national title game and was the fourth Concordia women’s basketball team to advance to the national semifinals. The fifth semifinal appearance came this March.

Olson’s group will open up the 2017-18 season at next week’s annual Cattle Classic (Nov. 3-4). On the first day of the event, the Bulldogs will host Viterbo University (Wis.) with tipoff set for 6 p.m. CT.

Preseason rankings under Olson
2017-18: 3
2016-17: 14
2015-16: 4
2014-15: 9
2013-14: 5
2012-13: 1
2011-12: 22
2010-11: 11
2009-10: 22
2008-09: 7
2007-08: NR
2006-07: NR

Final end of season rankings under Olson
2016-17: 3
2015-16: 19
2014-15: 2
2013-14: 13
2012-13: 9
2011-12: 3
2010-11: NR
2009-10: NR
2008-09: 8
2007-08: 10
2006-07: NR

Previewing the 18th annual women's basketball Cattle Classic

SEWARD, Neb. – The 18th annual Cattle Classic is set to tip off on Friday afternoon inside Walz Arena. The basketball classic features a total of four men’s games and four women’s games over the course of the two-day extravaganza. The event, co-sponsored by Concordia and The Cattle National Bank & Trust Co., raises money and food for the Blue Valley Community Action's Food Pantry. Pac N Save of Seward will match all canned food donations.

Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods in exchange for admission. Ten canned items will get an adult a weekend pass. Complete admission information for the Cattle Classic can be found HERE.

2017 CATTLE CLASSIC SCHEDULE

Friday, Nov. 3

• Women: Doane University vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.), 1 p.m.
• Men: Midland University vs. Evangel University (Mo.), 3 p.m.
• Women: Concordia vs. Viterbo University (Wis.), 6 p.m.
• Men: Concordia vs. Mount Mercy University (Iowa), 8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 4

• Women: Doane University vs. Viterbo University (Wis.), 10 a.m.
• Men: Midland University vs. Mount Mercy University (Iowa), 12 p.m.
• Women: Concordia vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.), 3 p.m.
• Men: Concordia vs. Evangel University (Mo.), 5 p.m.

The Women’s Field

Concordia University
Head coach: Drew Olson, 12th season
2017-18 Record: 0-0
2016-17 Record: 34-3
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Seward, Neb.
Top Player: Based upon last year’s honors, the choice is sophomore Philly Lammers, a second team All-America selection as a freshman. Senior Mary Janovich and junior Quinn Wragge also collected honorable mention All-America recognition in 2016-17. During last season’s GPAC championship season, Lammers put forth one of the top rookie seasons in school history. She averaged 13.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals on her way to being named the conference’s freshman of the year. Lammers is the type of player many of Olson’s best teams have been missing – a dominant presence in the post. The Omaha native is bound to wreak plenty of havoc on both ends of the floor again in 2017-18.
Overview: Indications from preseason scrimmages are that this team is good, really good. That’s to be expected of a squad that returns four starters from a team that reached the national semifinals. For the most part, even when the names and faces do change, Olson has molded teams into GPAC title contenders and legitimate national threats. Other than perhaps a little more depth in the frontcourt, Concordia has all of the pieces to make another lengthy postseason run. Saturday’s matchup between the third-ranked Bulldogs and No. 5 University of St. Francis (Ill.) may end up as the showcase contest of the entire Cattle Classic weekend.

Doane University
Head coach: Tracee Fairbanks, 19th season
2017-18 Record: 16-16
2016-17 Record: 0-0
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Crete, Neb.
Top Player: Senior guard McKenna Dodd stands alone as the only returning starter from last season’s team that went 16-16 overall. Dodd averaged 9.9 points but shot only 35.3 percent from the floor as a junior. The Tigers struggled offensively last season even with GPAC player of the year Hannah Barnard (20.9 ppg) running the show. It would be a lot to ask of Dodd to try to impersonate Barnard.
Overview: There are a lot of unknowns facing this year’s Doane women’s basketball team. Most of its key components will be players that were either in high school last season or had very light roles on the 2016-17 squad. Head coach Tracee Fairbanks relied heavily upon the starting group last season, though role players such as guards Emma Areman and Bailey Zarybnicky are back in the fold. Seward High School product Hannah Core is a freshman on the roster. The Tigers appeared at No. 8 in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll.

University of St. Francis
Head coach: Steve Brooks, 1st season at St. Francis (coached at Indiana Wesleyan for 17 seasons)
2017-18 Record: 34-2
2016-17 Record: 0-0
Conference: Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Location: Joliet, Ill.
Top Player: This appears to be senior guard Kamari Jordan’s year to shine with the program having graduated first team all-conference guard Charnelle Reed. Jordan should have no problem in a go-to role considering she’s piled up 1,146 points over her first three collegiate seasons. She’s also knocked down 223 career 3-point field goals. A solid post presence also returns in the form of 6-foot Kaitlin Aylward, who averaged 10.7 points and 5.6 rebounds last season as a freshman.
Overview: St. Francis replaced 2016-17 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference coach of the year Samantha Quigley Smith with Steve Brooks, one of the most successful head coaches in NAIA Division II women’s basketball history. Brooks won national championships in 2007 and 2013 at Indiana Wesleyan University, where he spent 17 seasons. He now takes command of another program with a winning tradition. The Fighting Saints lost a couple of key players from last season’s national semifinalist team, but Brooks appears to have inherited a squad capable of making a deep postseason run. Brooks’ teams at Indiana Wesleyan were known for playing tenacious defense.

Viterbo University
Head coach: Bobbi Vandenberg, 25th season
2017-18 Record: 3-28
2016-17 Record: 0-2
Conference: North Star Athletic Association
Location: La Crosse, Wis.
Top Player: Sophomore Alyssa Nilssen appears to be a rising star for the V-Hawks. She averaged 12.2 points and 7.4 rebounds as a freshman last season when she earned honorable mention all-conference accolades. She began this season by exploding for 24 points and 11 rebounds in Viterbo’s 68-59 season opening loss to 11th-ranked Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.). Nilssen started 29 of 31 games during her rookie campaign.
Overview: The V-Hawks are looking to regroup following a 3-28 season in 2016-17. The biggest issues last season came on the offensive end where Viterbo shot only 33.0 percent from the field and averaged 50.6 points per game. The progression of Nilssen’s game provides optimism for the V-Hawks under head coach Bobbi Vandenberg, who is in the beginning of her 25th season in La Crosse. Viterbo was picked eighth (out of nine) in the North Star Atheltic Association preseason coaches’ poll. The V-Hawk starting lineup includes two seniors, one junior and two sophomores.

Pressure D overwhelms Viterbo at Cattle Classic

SEWARD, Neb. – A new season and new squad opened up on Friday night (Nov. 3) at the 18th annual Cattle Classic, but the Concordia University women’s basketball team was up to its old tricks. The third-ranked Bulldogs hit visiting Viterbo University (Wis.) hard with their pressure defense and raced out to an 18-0 advantage in a contest that was put away quickly. The defending GPAC champions won in a boat race, 101-43.

The season opener did nothing to damper the huge expectations that greet the program in its 12th season being led by head coach Drew Olson. At least for 40 minutes on Friday, Concordia looked like a team deserving of the top spot in the conference’s preseason poll.

“I was looking for us to play really hard and continue to focus on our defensive pressure,” Olson said. “I thought we did a great job of that. We did kind of speed them up more than what they wanted to and caused a lot of turnovers. There are some little things that we can work on, but overall it was really good.”

Seven-and-a-half minutes elapsed before Viterbo even scored its first points of the game. By that point it was essentially over. Like a lot of nonconference visitors, the V-Hawks were unaccustomed to the relentless zone press featured by the Bulldogs. The result was 37 Viterbo turnovers and many races to the other end for transition buckets.

Friday also offered a first look at Waverly High School product Taylor Cockerill, who was much too quick for any Viterbo guards to hang with. Cockerill went for 14 of her game high 20 points in the first half while showing the ability to score off the dribble and to drain outside jumpers. She and sophomore MacKenzie Helman (five points, five assists, two steals) will make for a lethal duo at the point guard spot.

Concordia’s defensive pressure provides such margin for error that it shot 39.6 percent (38-for-96) from the floor and still made it look like the Golden State Warriors were playing against their local YMCA. All 12 Bulldogs who suited up got a chance to contribute. Returning All-American Philly Lammers notched six points, 11 rebounds and five steals. Off the bench, Sidney Pollman lit it up with five 3-point field goals on her way to 17 points.

“Coach Olson always says, ‘Shooters shoot,’” Pollman said. “Brenleigh (Daum) always tells us, ‘Just keep chucking.’ If you’re not shooting well, you just have to keep chucking so I just kept chucking.”

The list goes on. No Bulldog got more than 19 minutes of playing time, allowing for plenty of balance. Junior Quinn Wragge topped the starting five with 13 points. Off the bench, sophomore Colby Duvel (eight points, 10 rebounds) just missed a double-double. Collectively, Concordia picked up 24 steals and went 17-for-50 from 3-point range. This was another move towards developing depth behind a much accomplished group of starters. Said Olson, “I think it’s a good step for them growing up a little.”

The V-Hawks (0-3) shot just 28.1 percent from the floor. They were paced by the seven points and 10 rebounds by top player Alyssa Nilssen.

A tough test awaits at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday when the Bulldogs will conclude the Cattle Classic by hosting fifth-ranked University of St. Francis (Ill.) in a showdown between top-five teams that both reached the 2017 national semifinals. In Friday’s action, the Fighting Saints were upset by Doane, 63-61. St. Francis is coached by Steve Brooks, who previously won two national championships leading the Indiana Wesleyan University women’s basketball program.

Bulldogs blitz fifth-ranked St. Francis

SEWARD, Neb. – If you’re not going to bring your ‘A’ game into Walz Arena, you’re going to get run right out of the gym by this Concordia University women’s basketball team. After the opening weekend of the 2017-18 season, it’s quite clear that the Bulldogs have another team capable of making big time noise. In Saturday’s (Nov. 4) action at the 18th annual Cattle Classic, Concordia motored past fifth-ranked University of St. Francis (Ill.), 96-67.

For the second day in a row, 12th-year head coach Drew Olson mixed and matched by using the entire roster to great success. Olson’s squad dominated the Cattle Classic, winning its two games by a combined score of 197-110.

“St. Francis played really well at the beginning. They did a great job breaking our zone the first few possessions and got the lead early,” Olson said. “I was really proud of how we responded. We went on a big run with our pace and having kids step up and hit big shots, especially Brenleigh (Daum). She was phenomenal today.”

What makes this weekend even scarier is the fact that the Bulldogs are playing without GPAC defensive player of the year Mary Janovich (held out due to injury). That simply gave Concordia the opportunity to showcase its well-stocked artillery. On this day, Daum came off the bench and tore it up, going for 18 points while draining five shots from beyond the arc.

Also off the bench, freshman Taylor Cockerill again made herself comfortable. She posted a line of 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists and earned All-Cattle Classic honors along with teammate Quinn Wragge. The steady Wragge posted 13 points in Friday’s blowout of Viterbo and then added 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals on Saturday. The array of talent creates matchup nightmares for opponents.

“It’s a lot of fun (playing this style),” Cockerill said. “I came for the CIT tournament (last season) and that was like, ‘Wow.’ That was a huge eye opener. It’s so fun to play this style where everyone’s always looking out for each other. We just work together as a team. It’s great.”

The Fighting Saints (0-2), smarting from a 63-61 upset loss to Doane on Friday, gained a very early 5-1 lead. It was short-lived. Less than five minutes into the game, Concordia had already come roaring back to gain a double-digit lead. A trey by Daum to beat the first quarter buzzer provided a 28-17 advantage. St. Francis never got back within single digits and the margin ballooned to 32 (60-28) by halftime.

Sydney Feller (11 points, four assists) joined Daum, Cockerill and Wragge in double figures in the scoring column. The Bulldogs shot 50.8 percent (30-for-59) overall and 38.7 percent (12-for-31) from 3-point range. Meanwhile, St. Francis shot a respectable 44.4 percent (24-for-54), but committed 26 turnovers. The Fighting Saints were paced by the 18 points from Kaitlin Aylward.

The first road tests of the 2017-18 season are coming up next week with a trip up to North Dakota. Another contest against a top 10 team will take place when the Bulldogs play at No. 9 University of Jamestown next Friday (Nov. 10). Concordia will also be at Mayville State University (N.D.) (just outside the top 25) the following day (Nov. 11).

All-Cattle Classic Team
Adriana Acosta, St. Francis
Taylor Cockerill, Concordia
McKenna Dodd, Doane
Alyssa Nilssen, Viterbo
Quinn Wragge, Concordia

Lammers pours in 31 in OT win at No. 9 Jamestown

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – The third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team waited until overtime to take its first post-halftime lead in a nailbiter at No. 9 University of Jamestown (N.D.) on Friday (Nov. 10) evening. With the help of Philly Lammers’ toughness inside, the Bulldogs passed their first road test, 91-83, prevailing in an extra session.

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad moved to 3-0 and already owns a pair of victories over top 10 nationally-ranked opponents having also defeated No. 5 University of St. Francis (Ill.). Concordia had to rally back from an 11-point first-half deficit in order to remain unbeaten.

“I was extremely, extremely impressed with our group,” Olson said. “Jamestown is a great team with super fast guards. It took us out of our press and our zone. We just found ways to stay in the game and made some big plays down the stretch. Obviously Taylor’s (Cockerill) free throws to get it to overtime were big. There were a lot of hustle plays on offensive rebounds and Brenleigh (Daum) hits a three in overtime. Dani’s (Hoppes) defense was phenomenal and Philly and Quinn (Wragge) were just the best players.”

As mentioned by Olson, the Bulldogs had to adjust on the fly in order to escape glitzy Harold Newman Arena with a victory. Bryn Woodside and the Jimmie backcourt were ready for Concordia’s zone press. Olson switched to man-to-man after a wealth of early Jamestown buckets off the press break. The Bulldogs were in the red in turnover margin (20-15).

Of course, it helps to have a dominant post player to count on. Lammers dropped in 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end. Lammers and company ruled the Jimmies on the boards, 57-39, and held them to 38.4 percent shooting (28-for-73). Playing the role of frontcourt sidekick, Wragge posted 19 points and eight rebounds.

Somehow, Concordia pulled out a road win while trailing for 9:59 of game time in the fourth quarter. In a pressure situation, Cockerill got fouled and drained two free throws to tie the game, 75-75, with just :1.1 left in regulation. Cockerill finished with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. The Bulldogs never trailed again, jumping out to an overtime advantage thanks to a Wragge offensive board and put back and the proceeding Daum triple.

But the star of the show was Lammers, a second team All-American as a freshman. Her 31 points surpassed a career high by eight and her 14 boards equaled a career best.

“She was just incredible,” Olson said. “You could see her try to take over. Her effort is always there. It was extremely magnified when we got down with her pursuit of the ball on offensive rebounds. She was very aggressive looking to score. She’s capable of this a lot if we give her those kinds of minutes. This game required her to play those minutes (40).”

Hoppes put up 10 points in 39 minutes of action. On the other side, Jamestown (4-2) got 21 points from Paige Emmel and 14 points and seven assists from Woodside. The Jimmies, who will join the GPAC next season, are 2-2 against GPAC teams with wins over No. 17 Northwestern and Dordt.

The Bulldogs will remain in North Dakota for Saturday’s action at Mayville State University (4-0). Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT from Mayville, N.D. The Comets already own victories over two GPAC opponents: Dordt and No. 17 Northwestern.

Bulldogs bury Mayville State in 3-point flurry

MAYVILLE, N.D. – A day after a tense overtime win at No. 9 University of Jamestown, the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team continued its North Dakota swing with a thumping of host Mayville State University. The Bulldogs buried the Comets early while throwing in 16 treys on their way to a breezy 93-58 win on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 11).

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad is working on an impressive early-season résumé that includes two victories over top 10 opponents and now one over a Mayville State team situated just outside the national poll in the preseason. Concordia is 4-0 after another crisp performance.

“They play the exact same we do so we kind of figured some things out that hurt us and did it back to them,” Olson said. “It obviously helped that we were just red hot. Dani (Hoppes), Sydney (Feller) and Brenleigh (Daum) just could not miss in that first half.”

This contest was over early. It really wasn’t even fair. The Bulldogs drilled six triples in the opening nine minutes while rolling up a 30-9 lead. During that stretch, Hoppes dropped in three treys and Feller knocked in 3-point field goals on back-to-back possessions. By halftime, the lead ballooned to 63-28. Daum ended the half by rattling off eight points in the closing three minutes before the break.

Hoppes went 5-for-7 from 3-point range and topped all players with 15 points. Feller (4-for-5), Daum (3-for-9) and Shelby Pollman (2-for-4) also chipped in multiple triples as part of the flurry. Feller posted 14 points while Daum and Pollman added 11 apiece. Off the bench, Colby Duvel registered six points and six rebounds. Concordia shot 47.9 percent (34-for-71) overall.

But it wasn’t just about offense. The nasty Bulldog defense pestered Mayville State (4-1) into 32.7 percent (17-for-52) shooting and 29 turnovers. Five Concordia players plucked two or more steals with three coming from sophomore guard MacKenzie Helman.

“I just thought our kids had really good focus to just come off a game that was really emotional and draining,” Olson said. “Then we get back on the road and drive another hour and stay in a hotel. We came ready to play and did what we’re capable of doing – taking care of the basketball, knocking down shots and playing really good defense.”

After playing 40 minutes and racking up career highs of 31 points and 14 rebounds at Jamestown, sophomore Philly Lammers enjoyed much more of a breather on Saturday. Though she played in only 18 minutes, she still managed another double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds). With Lammers controlling the paint, the Bulldogs again dominated on the boards, 53-27, in an all-around sparkling team performance.

Members of the North Star Athletic Association, the Comets are hardly a slouch. Last weekend they polished off home wins over Dordt and No. 17 Northwestern. Nothing went right for them on Saturday. Fresh off a 28-point performance in the victory over the Red Raiders, Andi Gayner went just 3-for-10 from the field and had 10 points while faced with Concordia’s intense pressure defense. Mayville State had scored 88 points or more in each of its first four games this season.

Next week will bring about the start of conference play. Midland (2-1) will visit Walz Arena for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff on Wednesday (Nov. 15). The Bulldogs own a 23-game home win streak.

Third-ranked Concordia carries unbeaten record into GPAC action

SEWARD, Neb. – A pair of wins during last week’s North Dakota swing kept the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team unbeaten through four nonconference tilts. Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has already made victims of two opponents ranked in the top 10 nationally: No. 5 University of St. Francis (Ill.) and No. 9 University of Jamestown (N.D.). Another date with a top 10 foe looms this weekend.

This week’s schedule
Wednesday vs. Midland (3-2), 6 p.m. CT
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
Saturday at (8) Dakota Wesleyan (5-0), 2 p.m. CT
-Webcast: Stretch Internet

The Bulldogs have won three games in blowout fashion, triumphing by margins of 58, 29 and 35 points, respectively. The other victory was not nearly as breezy. A second team All-American last season, Philly Lammers posted career highs of 31 points and 14 rebounds in the 91-83 overtime win over Jamestown on Nov. 10. Lammers is averaging 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds and should be a candidate for GPAC player of the year. Senior Sydney Feller (58.8 percent from beyond the arc) has helped pick up the slack with Mary Janovich sidelined. Freshman standout Taylor Cockerill is averaging 14.5 points off the bench.

Concordia has scored at least 91 points in each outing this season. The Bulldogs are shooting 44.3 percent from the floor, 37.7 percent from 3-point range and 69.2 percent from the free throw line. Sharpshooter Dani Hoppes and company have already drained 52 treys. They have forced their opponents into an average of 26.8 turnovers per game and are limiting them to 36.0 percent shooting and 62.8 points per game.

Midland possesses one of the GPAC’s most experienced backcourts with seniors Joelle Overkamp (13.3 ppg) and Megan Kucks (10.5 ppg) leading the charge. Overkamp has tallied 1,208 points over 93 career games as a Warrior. Head coach Shawn Gilbert’s squad participated in the Viterbo Invitational last week when it dropped a 74-69 game with Clarke University (Iowa) and then defeated St. Ambrose University (Iowa), 82-75. Midland is coming off a 15-15 season and eighth-place GPAC finish in 2016-17.

The rivalry between Concordia and Dakota Wesleyan has intensified in recent seasons. The last time these two teams met, the Bulldogs survived a last second field goal attempt and eked out a 78-77 home win in the 2017 GPAC tournament championship game. Head coach Jason Christensen returned nearly every key piece from last season’s 27-win team. The unbeaten Tigers have not had a close call yet, winning each of its five games by margins of at least 18 points. Dakota Wesleyan is averaging 96.6 points while shooting 54.8 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.

The only contest on next week’s Thanksgiving break schedule will be a home game with Mount Marty on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Projected lineups

Concordia (4-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 1.5 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.8 rpg, 1.8 spg, .182 fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 9.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.3 apg, .382 fg%, .429 3-pt fg%
G – Sydney Feller: 9.0 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2.3 rpg, .571 fg%, .588 3-pt fg%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.3 spg, .543 fg%, .750 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 14.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.0 spg, 0.8 bpg, .481 fg%, .700 ft%

Midland (3-2)
G – Joelle Overkamp: 13.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 spg, .400 fg%, .867 ft%
G – Megan Kucks: 10.5 apg, 4.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.0 spg, .333 fg%, .385 3-pt fg%
G – Madison Severson: 4.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.0 spg, .545 fg%
G – Amanda Hansen: 11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, .333 fg%, .278 3-pt fg%
F – Maddie Egr: 10.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .615 fg%, .800 ft%

Dakota Wesleyan (5-0)
G – Rylie Osthus: 10.2 ppg, 4.4 apg, 4.4 rpg, 3.2 spg, .656 fg%
G – Kynedi Cheeseman: 15.8 ppg, 4.6 apg, 3.6 rpg, 1.4 spg, .476 fg%, .375 3-pt fg%
G – Chesney Nagel: 3.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.2 spg, .500 fg%
F – Amber Bray: 15.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.4 spg, .659 fg%, .895 ft%
F – Ashley Bray: 14.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.4 apg, .542 fg%, .391 3-pt fg%

GPAC opener brings another blowout victory

SEWARD, Neb. – A flurry to end the first half propelled the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team to yet another blowout victory. In Wednesday night’s (Nov. 15) GPAC opener, the Bulldogs thumped visiting Midland, 85-63, inside Walz Arena, a consistent house of horrors for the opposition. Concordia has won each of its last 24 contests at home.

Still undefeated, 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has moved to 5-0 overall. Two of those victories have come against teams ranked in the top 10 nationally. The latest triumph dealt a loss to solid conference foe that had won three of its first five games.

“We’ve got to keep getting better every game. That’s what we told our kids after the game,” Olson said. “We still have stuff to build on and hopefully this is a good learning lesson for us. Our focus and our energy level just wasn’t where it needs to be.”

“Just keep chucking” (13 3-point field goals on Wednesday) is the motto used by this Bulldog hoops team that continues to feature a gnat-like zone pressure. Once it turns you over, Concordia wants to score easy buckets in transition and pull the trigger on plenty of long-range bombs. A movie we’ve seen before played out again inside Walz. Six different Bulldogs nailed at least one triple and every player who suited it up saw action.

Concordia simply had Midland (3-3, 0-1 GPAC) outclassed. Point guard MacKenzie Helman had a nice night, totaling 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. She’s started each of the first five games at the point, a spot held down last season by Shelby Quinn.

“I tried to take as much information from Shelby Quinn as possible,” Helman said. “She was an amazing point guard. I try to distribute the ball to our great shooters like Mary (Janovich) and Dani (Hoppes) and then get it in to Quinn (Wragge) and Philly (Lammers). Of course we have Taylor (Cockerill) which is just a different look at the point guard position. I think it will really benefit us this year.”

After Midland led 9-7 midway through the opening quarter, the Bulldogs said enough was enough. They ended the period on a 12-0 run and gained a 19-9 advantage. The lead ballooned to as many as 20 points in the opening half as Concordia put together its best stretch of play on this particular night. Four Bulldogs other than Helman reached double figures: Brenleigh Daum (17 points), Quinn Wragge (15 points, six rebounds), Dani Hoppes (13 points, 3-for-7 from 3-point range) and Sydney Feller (10 points).

Continued development of younger players like Helman will make this team even more dangerous. Said Olson of Helman, “She’s someone that can really help us because she’s a really good shooter and a really good passer. She’s just got to keep getting more experience and get that confidence. Tonight was a really good night for her.”

There were positives, but Olson also expects his team to be better next time out. It committed 16 turnovers and scored only one point over the final six minutes of the game. The Bulldogs were plus-seven in turnovers and held a slight 45-44 advantage on the boards.

Midland marquee player Joelle Overkamp paced her squad with 17 points. Former Bulldog Maddie Egr started the game and chipped in 10 points and five rebounds. The Warriors were held to 37.1 percent (23-for-62) shooting.

A pair of unbeaten teams will meet on Saturday when a road showdown with No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan (6-0, 1-0 GPAC) will tip off at 2 p.m. CT in Mitchell, S.D. The home team won each of last season’s three meetings, including the GPAC tournament championship game played in Seward. In Wednesday’s action, the Tigers toppled Dordt, 85-55, at The Corn Palace.

Wragge powers third win over top 10 foe

MITCHELL, S.D. – Two of the nation’s highest scoring teams got together at the Corn Palace. The result was a defensive slugfest that featured Quinn Wragge playing the starring role in a 70-66 Bulldog victory over eighth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S.D., on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 18). Both sides entered the weekend without a blemish on their records.

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has already defeated three opponents with top 10 national rankings. The defending GPAC champions moved to 6-0 overall and to 2-0 inside the conference.

“I just think we came in with a really good focus aided by us not playing well here last year and our game against Midland (on Wednesday),” Olson said. “Because of those things we had a little more sense of urgency and a little more focus going into the game.”

Wragge carried third-ranked Concordia through its offensive struggles against a big and physical Tiger team. Dakota Wesleyan (6-1, 1-1 GPAC) couldn’t find anyone to hang with the Crofton, Neb., native, who went off for a game high 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting from the floor. Wragge ended the afternoon with 993 career points.

“Quinn was big time,” Olson said. “She was ready to play and ready to be aggressive. She was locked in and able to knock down some big shots.”

Even with Wragge’s dominant performance, this game required the assistance of several teammates to pull out a road win at a visitor unfriendly venue. With the Bulldogs trailing 65-64 in the final minute-and-a-half, ready-for-primetime freshman Taylor Cockerill whirled a backdoor pass to Dani Hoppes for the go-ahead layup. Concordia proceeded to get crucial stops on the next two Tiger possessions and put the game away by sinking 4-of-6 free throws in the closing 30 seconds.

The Bulldogs shot a so-so 43.3 percent (26-for-60) from the field, but they were up to the task on the other end of the floor. Dakota Wesleyan settled for plenty of long jumpers while attempting to probe Concordia’s zone defense. The Tigers shot just 33.3 percent (20-for-60) on a tough day for guards Kynedi Cheeseman (3-for-17) and Rylie Osthus (5-for-16). Head coach Jason Christensen’s squad managed to limit its turnovers to 14.

Sophomore Philly Lammers did most of her damage in the opening quarter when she tallied eight of her 10 points. She also grabbed a game high eight rebounds. Hoppes went 6-for-8 from the floor and contributed 14 points. Cockerill added 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Included in her day was a slick step back triple.

Dakota Wesleyan had won each of its first six games by margins of at least 18 points. The Tigers lost only once at home during the entire 2016-17 season. Osthus’ 19 points were a team best. Amber Bray followed with 14 points. Concordia won two of its three 2016-17 matchups with Dakota Wesleyan, including the 2017 GPAC tournament championship game.

“This is definitely a hard place to come and play,” Wragge said in a postgame radio interview. “They are a really, really good team. Coach told us, ‘That was good basketball.’ It was a fun game and an awesome win for us.”

It would be difficult to find any team with a better early season résumé than the Bulldogs, who trampled fifth-ranked University of St. Francis (Ill.) at home before claiming road wins over No. 9 University of Jamestown in overtime and then No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan. Concordia also owns a victory over a Mayville State University team that appeared just outside the preseason top 25.

The Bulldogs will be back at home on Tuesday night (Nov. 21) when Mount Marty (5-2, 0-2 GPAC) visits Walz Arena for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff. Concordia has won each of its last 24 games played on its home court. The Lancers began the season with five-straight wins before dropping GPAC games to No. 10 Morningside and No. 20 Hastings. Tuesday has been declared Seward County Appreciation Night. No admission will be charged.

Wragge looks to join 1,000-point club in matchup with Mount Marty

SEWARD, Neb. – Before filling up on any Thanksgiving feasts, the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team hopes to remain unbeaten when it hosts Mount Marty at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday. It will be Seward County Appreciation Night inside Walz Arena. As a result, no admission will be charged. The contest will also be featured live on theConcordia Sports Network and 104.9 Max Country radio.

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad opened up conference play last week by claiming a home win over Midland, 85-63, and a road victory over eighth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan, 70-66. The Bulldogs (6-0, 2-0 GPAC) have already made victims out of three opponents ranked inside the top 10 of the NAIA Division II preseason poll: No. 5 University of St. Francis (Ill.), No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan and No. 9 University of Jamestown (N.D.). Concordia has jetted out to its first 6-0 start since 2012-13 thanks in part to its 3-point shooting (11.7 3-point field goals per game) and another star-studded cast of characters led by returning All-American Philly Lammers.

Junior Quinn Wragge entered the week on the brink of becoming the 25th member of the program’s 1,000-point club. She put up 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting from the field while powering the Bulldogs to victory at the Corn Palace. Wragge has totaled 993 points over 75 games as a Bulldog. She’s the team’s leading scorer this season at 15.7 points per game. Four teammates are also averaging in double figures: Taylor Cockerill (12.5), Lammers (12.3), Dani Hoppes (10.8) and Brenleigh Daum (10.0).

Mount Marty (5-2, 0-2 GPAC) has had a solid program under head coach Tom Schlimgen, who took the Lancers to the national semifinals in 2016. Mount Marty began this season at 5-0 before suffering back-to-back losses to No. 10 Morningside and No. 20 Hastings last week. Like Concordia, the Lancers aren’t afraid to pull the trigger from long distance. They rank second nationally in 3-point field goal makes per game (11.9). Their top scorer is sophomore guard Ali Kuca, who averages 14.6 points. So far, Mount Marty has limited its opponents to 37.3 percent shooting.

The Bulldogs will enjoy Thanksgiving weekend off. Following Tuesday’s contest, Concordia will look forward to welcoming College of Saint Mary to Seward on Nov. 29.

Tuesday’s projected lineups

Concordia (6-0, 2-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 2.8 ppg, 3.8 apg, 1.5 spg, .316 fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 10.8 ppg, 1.8 spg, 1.2 rpg, .453 fg%, .438 3-pt fg%
G – Sydney Feller: 8.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, .425 fg%, .419 3-pt fg%
F – Quinn Wragge: 15.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.8 spg, .596 fg%, .852 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 12.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.7 spg, .443 fg%, .786 ft%

Mount Marty (5-2, 0-2)
G – Molly Koisti: 8.6 ppg, 4.4 apg, 4.4 rpg, .415 fg%, .857 ft%
G – Ali Kuca: 14.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.9 spg, .465 fg%, .492 3-pt fg%
G – Kaylee Granum: 5.4 ppg, 2.6 apg, 2.3 rpg, .417 fg%, .500 3-pt fg%
F – Karissa Chamley: 9.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, .429 fg%, .439 3-pt fg%
F – Sarah Castaneda: 8.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.9 spg, .558 fg%, .737 ft%

Wragge nets GPAC player of the week honors

GPAC release

SEWARD, Neb. – An offensive outburst in the win at eighth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan propelled junior Quinn Wragge to GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors, as announced by the conference on Tuesday (Nov. 21). This is the first GPAC basketball player of the week award handed out by the league for the 2017-18 season.

A native of Crofton, Neb., Wragge combined for 42 points and nine rebounds while leading the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team to victories over Midland and No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan. On the week, Wragge went 15-for-22 (.582) from the field and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line. Her 27 points at Dakota Wesleyan were two shy of a career high. She currently leads the team in scoring with an average of 15.7 points per game.

A two-time first team All-GPAC selection, Wragge needs seven more points to become the 25th member of the program’s 1,000-point club. In addition her 993 points, Wragge has accumulated 477 rebounds, 141 steals, 119 assists and 43 blocks over 75 games as a Bulldog.

Head coach Drew Olson’s squad will return to action tonight (Nov. 21) and host Mount Marty (5-2, 0-2 GPAC) at 6 p.m. CT. Concordia (6-0, 2-0 GPAC) remains unbeaten and has already defeated three opponents with top 10 national rankings.

Bulldogs feast in pre-Thanksgiving appetizer

SEWARD, Neb. – Senior Mary Janovich made her season debut and the third-ranked women’s basketball team faced little resistance in its efforts to extend a home win streak that has now grown to 25. The Bulldogs stifled one of the nation’s most prolific 3-point shooting teams and built a 50-18 halftime lead on the way to an 84-42 win over visiting Mount Marty on Tuesday night (Nov. 21).

Five wins for 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad have come by margins of greater than 20 points. Concordia kept its unbeaten record intact at 7-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play.

“We had really good focus and good maturity coming into this game,” Olson said. “We took every possession and valued it. I thought defensively we were awesome in that first half. We held them to 18 points and that’s a really, really good shooting team. I thought we did a great job.”

On this night, the Bulldogs were without the services of junior Quinn Wragge, but a focused squad didn’t seem to miss a beat. Concordia’s defensive pressure bullied another opponent that shot only 27.3 percent (15-for-55) for the game. The Lancers (5-3, 0-3 GPAC) entered the night ranked second nationally for most 3-point field goals per game, but they made only 4-of-20 (.200) attempts from long range on Tuesday. They also committed 26 turnovers.

It made for a Bulldog feast. Mount Marty enjoyed a 4-1 lead out of the gate, but any actual enjoyment was short lived. A Sydney Feller bucket in the paint ignited a 10-1 run to end the opening quarter. Feller also drained a triple to cap the first 10 minutes. Concordia then tallied the first eight points of the second stanza and it was a walk from that point on.

There was not even a hint of a letdown just three days after a significant 70-66 win at No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan. The 2017-18 Bulldogs are showing the same game-to-game focus that the 2016-17 edition displayed.

Said sophomore Colby Duvel, “We were coming off a big win, but our motto is, we win, we lose, we go home and we get ready for the next game. We have five days off here to just rest after this game so we wanted to give our all and get this win.”

Duvel contributed nine points and six rebounds as part of the bench mob that comes after opponents in persistent waves. Philly Lammers (13 points, eight rebounds, four blocks) and Feller (13 points, 5-for-11 shooting) topped the team in scoring. Also off the bench, freshman Rebecca Higgins chipped in 10 points in just seven minutes of action. Janovich made 3-of-4 shots and totaled eight points in her first action of the season.

Janovich’s health will be a key moving forward, especially when going up against other highly rated foes late in the season.

“It was good to see that she was aggressive and got to the basket a couple times,” Olson said. “I think she would agree that she probably looked a little out of shape at times. She’s going to get there and she’s going to make a big impact for us.”

The Lancers got a team high 12 points from guard Karlee McKinney. Mount Marty has also suffered conference losses to No. 10 Morningside and No. 20 Hastings in a grueling start to GPAC play.

The Bulldogs will have seven days off from competition before returning to action next Wednesday (Nov. 29) when they will host College of Saint Mary (0-8, 0-3 GPAC) at 7 p.m. CT. The Flames fell on their home court, 74-69, on Tuesday.

CSM, Dordt up next for unbeaten Bulldogs

SEWARD, Neb. – It’s back to business for the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team, which has been off since its 84-42 blowout win over Mount Marty on Nov. 21. Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad took some time off during Thanksgiving break. It now looks forward to hosting College of Saint Mary at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday.

This week’s schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 29 vs. College of Saint Mary (0-8, 0-3), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 2 at Dordt (5-6, 1-2), 2 p.m.

This should be the week the 2017-18 Bulldogs finally have their entire arsenal together. Concordia (7-0, 3-0 GPAC) played its first six games without reigning GPAC Defensive Player of the Year Mary Janovich. She returned to the lineup last week and totaled eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the floor. While Janovich made her season debut, junior Quinn Wragge did not play. She will be back this week. Without Wragge, Olson used a four-guard lineup that included Janovich in addition to three backcourt players that have started every game: Sydney Feller, MacKenzie Helman and Dani Hoppes.

Named the GPAC Player of the Week on Nov. 21, Wragge’s membership into the program’s 1,000-point club was put on delay. She enters this week with 993 points over 75 career collegiate games. She is the team’s leading scorer this season with an average of 15.7 points. Wragge and company have been especially dominant at home, where they have won each of their last 25 games, dating back to the final four home games of the 2015-16 season. Over four games inside Walz this season, the Bulldogs have an average victory margin of 37.8 points.

College of Saint Mary remains in search of its first victory of the season. In their last time out, the Flames fell at home, 74-69, to Dordt despite a 32-point performance by senior guard Miranda Acuna. Head coach Jesse Flanagan’s squad has been playing without leading scorer Tyler Sumpter (14.8 ppg) since Nov. 7. CSM has tested itself with a challenging schedule including five teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in the preseason national poll. The Flames have been outscored on average, 83.1 to 61.6.

Dordt rebounded from conference losses to No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan and Briar Cliff with last week’s victory over CSM. Sophomore point guard Annie Rhinesmith, who did not play in the latest outing – a 74-52 loss to Valley City State University, has been the team’s brightest star. She leads the Defenders in scoring (14.7), assists (4.7) and steals (2.0). Rhinesmith, Rachel Evavold (14.2 ppg) and Erika Feenstra (12.3) each average double figures in scoring.

The Concordia Sports Network will provide a live webcast on Wednesday. Next week’s lone contest will be a home date with No. 20 Hastings (6-1, 2-1 GPAC) at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday (Dec. 6).

Projected lineups

Concordia (7-0, 3-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 2.9 ppg, 3.9 apg, 3.0 rpg, 1.7 spg, .350 fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 9.7 ppg, 1.6 spg, 1.3 rpg, .455 fg%, .441 3-pt fg%
G – Mary Janovich: 8.0 ppg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 rpg, .750 fg%
F – Quinn Wragge: 15.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, .596 fg%, .852 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 12.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.6 spg, 1.3 bpg, .444 fg%, .778 ft%

College of Saint Mary (0-8, 0-3)
G – Alyssa Laudato: 5.0 ppg, 3.3 apg, 1.6 rpg, 1.3 spg, .413 fg%
G – Miranda Acuna: 14.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 spg, .340 fg%, .878 ft%
G – Keona Cadore: 5.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .354 fg%
F – Lacey Knudsen: 6.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.9 spg, .373 fg%
F – Ashley Nelson: 3.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 spg, .273 fg%

Dordt (5-6, 1-2)
G – Annie Rhinesmith: 14.7 ppg, 4.7 apg, 4.2 rpg, 2.0 spg, .484 fg%, .400 3-pt fg%
G – Payton Harmsen: 7.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.9 spg, .289 fg%, .273 3-pt fg%
G – Erika Feenstra: 12.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, .483 fg%, .387 3-pt fg%, .929 ft%
F – Rachel Evavold: 14.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.5 bpg, .479 fg%
F – Baylee Tetzlaff: 6.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.8 spg, .362 fg%

Wragge joins 1,000-point club in thrashing of CSM

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s basketball team got the entire band back together on Wednesday night (Nov. 29). The results were about what one would have expected in a GPAC conflict between the nation’s second-ranked team and another that still has yet to claim victory this season. The Bulldogs poured in a preposterous 39 points in the opening quarter on the way to a 114-56 rout of visiting College of Saint Mary.

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad, which moved up a spot to No. 2 in this week’s national poll, motored to 8-0 overall and to 4-0 in conference play. Junior Quinn Wragge and company did not take the Flames lightly.

“Coach did a good job leading up to this,” Wragge said. “Going into the game today, he said we need to focus on us. What can we do to get better today? It’s not about the score. It’s about whether we get better or not. That was our emphasis going into the game.”

The only drama centered upon how long it would take Wragge to join the program’s 1,000-point club. The answer: not long. Red hot right out of the gate, the Bulldogs obliterated any dreams the Flames had of ending the home win streak. Needing seven points to notch 1,000 for her career, Wragge cracked quadruple digits with a layup at the 2:16 mark of the opening quarter.

Concordia essentially named the score by doing as it pleased on the offensive end. It racked up 11 3-point field goals in the opening 20 minutes. Philly Lammers nearly had a double-double in the first half (13 points, nine rebounds) and finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds in 17 minutes of action. The Bulldogs shot 49.4 percent (44-for-89) for the game. What could Olson really nit-pick about on this night? Well, his team did allow 19 points in the opening quarter.

Otherwise, the night went as scripted. Wragge (10 points, five assists, four steals) did not disappoint friends and family members who came with signs or even painted their chests in honor of the career milestone.

“It was a little bit of pressure but at the same time, I was like, ‘It’s fine. Just go out and play your game. It’s going to come,’” Wragge said. It was a lot of fun though. The people were awesome.”

This was the first time this season that Olson could unleash his full arsenal upon an opponent. Reigning GPAC Defensive Player of the Year Mary Janovich sat out the first six games due to injury and Wragge missed last week’s blowout of Mount Marty. Regardless of the lineup, Concordia has overwhelmed nearly every opponent, with the exception of close road victories over No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan and No. 9 University of Jamestown.

The wide spreads have allowed for playing time up and down the roster. Senior Sydney Feller came off the bench for the first time this season and lit up from deep (4-for-5 from beyond the arc) and tallied 14 points. Thirteen different Bulldogs found their way into the scoring column, including reserves Taylor Cockerill (10 points, five assists) and Colby Duvel (nine points, seven rebounds). As a team, Concordia knocked down 18 treys on 46 tries (39.1 percent).

It’s been a struggle for College of Saint Mary (0-9, 0-4 GPAC), which has already played three ranked foes and another three “receiving votes” squads. Keona Cadore and Corryne Millett shared a team high with 12 points apiece on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs will hit the road on Saturday for a trip to Dordt (6-6, 2-2 GPAC). The matchup in Sioux Center, Iowa, is set for 2 p.m. CT. Concordia has won each of the last 10 meetings with the Defenders, who topped Mount Marty, 72-57, in Wednesday’s action.

Balance, pressure D overwhelm Defenders

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Senior Mary Janovich began the afternoon with an 8-0 run all by herself, setting the stage for yet another blowout victory for the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team. The Bulldogs put up more than 30 points in the opening quarter for the second outing in a row and rolled to a 101-55 win at Dordt in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Saturday (Dec. 2).

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has won seven times this season by margins of greater than 20 points. Concordia remains unbeaten at 9-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play.

“Our press is pretty hard and pretty brutal on some teams,” said senior Sydney Feller in a postgame interview with 104.9 Max Country radio. “They couldn’t handle the ball as well as they needed to. Mary and Dani (Hoppes) had the pressure all over them and the second group came in and we continued the pressure.”

Immediately after the opening tip, Concordia turned Saturday’s contest into a track meet. The host Defenders (6-7, 2-3 GPAC) did not have the athletes to keep up. The Bulldog pressure devastated Dordt, which turned it over 30 times, fueling an offensive onslaught on the other end. Janovich kick started the day with a pair of threes from the right corner and then an uncontested layup in transition.

Uncontested shots came by the bushel basket. Feller went 3-for-4 from 3-point range on her way to 13 points as one of the ringleaders for a balanced attack. Feller and four teammates reached double figures in scoring: Taylor Cockerill (14), Brenleigh Daum (11), MacKenzie Helman (11) and Janovich (10). Their cumulative efforts resulted in a slicing and dicing of a Dordt team that yielded 50.7 percent shooting (37-for-73). Helman enjoyed a fine day at the point, adding six rebounds and five assists.

This one got out of hand quickly. By the 3:22 mark of the second quarter, the Bulldogs had already built a 40-point advantage (56-16) on the strength of another Feller triple. Concordia splashed in 16-of-33 (.485) attempts from beyond the arc. Seven different Bulldogs knocked in at least one 3-point field goal while Concordia outnumbered the Defenders in bench scoring, 58-13.

Dordt, which owns GPAC wins over College of Saint Mary and Mount Marty, was paced by the 18 points and seven rebounds from Rachel Evavold. She went 9-for-14 from the floor, however, her teammates were a combined 10-for-40 (.250) on field goal attempts. The Defenders played without sharpshooting guard Annie Rhinesmith, who sat out with an injury.

“We try to work on taking away what they want to do and try to force them to do something they’re not used to or don’t want to do,” Feller said. “We’re continuously getting better and better at our press as the season goes on.”

All 13 Concordia players to see action found the bottom of the net at least once on Saturday. Freshman Rebecca Higgins continues to use her minutes efficiently, totaling five points, on 2-for-2 shooting, and three rebounds. Sophomore Colby Duvel was perfect from the floor (2-for-2) and free throw line (2-for-2) while chipping in six points, five rebounds and four steals.

The Bulldogs will attempt to extend their active 26-game home winning streak on Wednesday (Dec. 6) when 19th-ranked Hastings (8-1, 3-1 GPAC) makes a visit to Walz Arena. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT. Concordia has won each of the last three meetings with the rival Broncos.

Top 20 matchup looms Wednesday

SEWARD, Neb. – On the heels of three lopsided GPAC wins in a row, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team expects a serious challenge on Wednesday evening when No. 19 Hastings invades Walz Arena. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs, who will have this weekend off from competition, have won each of the last three meetings with the rival Broncos.

Teams currently in the back half of the league standings have been pummeled by 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad. In its last three outings, Concordia has defeated Mount Marty, 84-42, College of Saint Mary, 114-56, and Dordt, 101-55. Those spreads have pushed the Bulldogs up to No. 1 nationally in scoring margin (33.6). At 9-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play, the Bulldogs are one of eight undefeated teams remaining in NAIA Division II. The latest win was a milestone achievement for four-year seniors like Brenleigh Daum and Mary Janovich, who have helped the program to a record of 100-16 since the start of the 2014-15 season.

Last week Quinn Wragge (team’s leading scorer with 13.8 ppg) became the 25th member of the program’s 1,000-point club. Wragge has tallied 1,009 points over 77 career collegiate games. Wragge could soon be joined on the 1,000-point list by teammates such as Mary Janovich (918), Dani Hoppes (860), Brenleigh Daum (719) and Philly Lammers (603). Olson has coached eight of the school’s 1,000-point scorers. Only a sophomore, Lammers played a combined 33 minutes last week and still managed to pile up 27 points and 18 rebounds. She’s leading the GPAC in rebounding average (9.0).

Hastings (8-1, 3-1 GPAC) is in the midst of its own run of blowout victories. During their four-game win streak, the Broncos have won by margins of 45, 26, 27 and 31. The team’s only loss this season came by a 70-63 score versus No. 17 Northwestern on Nov. 21. Hastings has been an exceptional defensive team, holding opponents to an average of 46.0 points per game and to 35.7 percent shooting. Just two Broncos average double figures in scoring: Shandra Farmer (13.6) and Mackenzie Willicott (11.8).

Wednesday’s action will be covered live by the Concordia Sports Networkand by 104.9 Max Country radio. The Bulldogs will wait to return to action until a Dec. 15 road trip to Northwestern following Wednesday’s tilt.

Projected lineups

Concordia (9-0, 5-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.1 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.3 rpg, 1.7 spg, .394 fg%, .375 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 9.2 ppg, 1.6 spg, 1.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, .425 fg%, .409 3-pt fg%
G – Mary Janovich: 9.3 ppg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg, .579 fg%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.3 spg, .612 fg%, .833 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 12.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.4 spg, 1.4 spg, .490 fg%, .692 ft%

Hastings (8-1, 3-1)
G – Shandra Farmer: 13.6 ppg, 3.8 spg, 3.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, .500 fg%, .250 3-pt fg%
G – Holly Hild: 6.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 spg, .362 fg%, .778 ft%
G – Jordan Johnson: 5.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 spg, .405 fg%, .346 3-pt fg%
F – Rachel Jelden: 6.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.0 spg, .333 fg%, .700 ft%
F – Mackenzie Willicott: 11.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 spg, .544 fg%, .783 ft%

Bulldogs survive scare, pull away late from Broncos

SEWARD, Neb. – The second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team found itself in a dogfight like it hadn’t yet seen this season when playing inside friendly Walz Arena. Despite relinquishing the first nine points of Wednesday’s (Dec. 6) rivalry contest with No. 19 Hastings, the Bulldogs withstood a spirited effort from the visitors and won, 77-65.

The home win streak lives on having now grown to 27. Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad stayed perfect at 10-0 overall and at 6-0 in conference play. During some tense moments, that unblemished mark appeared in jeopardy.

“I just felt like we settled down a little bit, got a little bit tougher,” Olson said. “They did a great job keeping us out of rhythm. I felt like we were turning the ball over too much and giving them too many offensive rebounds. That allowed them to get the lead. Once we stopped doing those things, good things started to happen for us.”

There are teams that crumble right from the opening tip while consumed by the Walz walls, but the Broncos (8-2, 3-2 GPAC) brought the fight to Concordia. Led by point guard Shandra Farmer, Hastings hit the Bulldogs with some in-your-face defense of their own. Concordia went just 3-for-19 from the floor in the opening quarter and stared down an unfamiliar 20-8 deficit.

The Bulldogs happen to feature a playmaking guard of its own in freshman Taylor Cockerill, whose lightning quick drives to the bucket were much needed to break down one of the nation’s toughest defensive teams. Not only that, many of the late hustle plays seemed to go Concordia’s way. Colby Duvel made the crowd come alive with a blocked shot in transition and then a 3-point play off a put back.

“We had to start playing like ourselves and win the hustle plays,” Cockerill said. “We just had to work together as a team.”

It took a while, but the Bulldogs eventually gained control. The game’s key sequence came late in the third quarter when sophomore Philly Lammers’ tough scoring inside initiated an 8-0 run that turned a two-point deficit into a 57-51 lead. Hastings nearly came all the way back, trailing 64-63, before Concordia rattled off the next six points. With under 30 seconds remaining, Dani Hoppes neglected to wait for a Bronco foul and instead drained a dagger of a trey from the left corner.

Cockerill finished with a game high 18 points while playing 27 minutes off the bench. Lammers (16 points, nine rebounds) just missed a double-double before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Quinn Wragge (13 points, seven rebounds) and Hoppes (10) also reached double figures in scoring.

Farmer was nearly pesky enough to lift her side to a road upset. She put up 17 points and burned the Bulldogs with four steals. Teammates Mackenzie Willicott (12) and Holly Hild (11) joined Farmer in double figures. Hastings shot 41.4 percent compared to 40.6 percent shooting by Concordia, one of its lowest percentages all season.

“Farmer is a fantastic on-the-ball defender,” Olson said. “They did a great job denying us at times. We just have to do a better job at getting open, handling pressure and being tougher mentally. It’s definitely something we’ll learn from and get better from.”

The Bulldogs will now have eight-consecutive days without a game before returning to action with a road trip to Northwestern (7-4, 4-1 GPAC) on Friday, Dec. 15. Tipoff from Orange City, Iowa is set for 6 p.m. CT. Concordia has won each of the last four meetings with the Red Raiders with three of those matchups coming last season.

Grueling December road swing begins Friday

SEWARD, Neb. – The only NAIA Division II program in the nation to make three national semifinal trips over the past six seasons, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball outfit scheduled like the elite outfit it has become. A treacherous December road stretch begins on Friday with a visit to No. 18 Northwestern for a 4 p.m. CT tipoff in Orange City, Iowa.

Live coverage: 104.9 Max Country | Webcast

This month’s slate will also feature the Bulldogs on the home court of No. 1 Saint Xavier University (Dec. 29) and No. 4 College of the Ozarks (Dec. 19). Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s program won’t dodge anyone. Concordia’s schedule to date ranks as the fifth toughest among all NAIA teams, Division I or II, according to Massey Ratings.

In last week’s only outing, the Bulldogs (10-0, 6-0 GPAC) overcame a 20-8 first quarter deficit while recording their fourth win of the season over a nationally-ranked opponent. Like its previous two series meetings, Concordia dominated the fourth quarter against Hastings on the way to a 77-65 triumph. Playmaking freshman guard Taylor Cockerill totaled 18 points and star post Philly Lammers added 16 points and nine rebounds. Only Morningside’s Sierra Mitchell (14.1 ppg) ranks above Cockerill (12.4 ppg) in terms of scoring average among GPAC freshmen.

The Bulldogs are 10-0 for the second time during Olson’s head coaching tenure, which began with the 2006-07 season. The longest unbeaten run to open a season during the Olson era occurred during the 2012-13 campaign when Concordia started out 15-0 and carried the No. 1 ranking into the month of January. The longest overall win streak for an Olson-coached team came last season when the Bulldogs rattled off 26 victories in a row following a loss to begin the year. This year’s squad could wind up in the discussion with past teams of glory. Despite the daunting slate, the Bulldogs rank second nationally in scoring margin (+31.4).

The Red Raiders (8-4, 5-1 GPAC) will be a worthy adversary. Head coach Chris Yaw’s squad is just one game behind Concordia in the league standings with its lone league loss being a 76-65 decision at then 10th-ranked Morningside. Northwestern features the league’s second- and third-ranked scorers in Kassidy De Jong (18.3) and Darbi Gustafson (17.3). A junior, De Jong has already piled up 1,269 career points. The Red Raiders, who sport national rankings of seventh in field goal percentage (.461) and 19th in scoring offense (76.7), will provide a significant test for Concordia’s aggressive defense.

Four nonconference games will follow Friday’s action. The next contest will be the journey to Point Lookout, Mo., for a top-five clash with College of the Ozarks.

Projected lineups

Concordia (10-0, 6-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 3.7 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.0 rpg, 1.6 spg, .371 fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 9.3 ppg, 1.6 spg, 1.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, .420 fg%, .429 3-pt fg%
G – Mary Janovich: 8.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg, .520 fg%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.2 spg, .592 fg%, .853 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 13.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.3 spg, 1.5 bpg, .486 fg%, .676 ft%

Northwestern (8-4, 5-1)
G – Renee Maneman: 9.2 ppg, 7.3 apg, 4.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, .451 fg%, .667 ft%
G – Paige Danner: 9.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.8 spg, .409 fg%, .379 3-pt fg%
G – Kassidy De Jong: 18.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.3 spg, .441 fg%, .800 ft%
F – Haley Birks: 8.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg, .534 fg%, .850 ft%
F – Darbi Gustafson: 17.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 0.8 bpg, .569 fg%, .800 ft%

Second-ranked Bulldogs find a way in Orange City

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – If the Concordia University women’s basketball team is to repeat as GPAC champions, it’s going to have to make some great escapes and avoid tripping over landmines on the road. Even head coach Drew Olson wondered aloud afterwards how his team pulled this one out. Despite trailing by double digits in the second half, the Bulldogs toppled host Northwestern, 84-80, inside the Bultman Center on Friday (Dec. 15) evening.

Olson’s squad remains unbeaten at 11-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play. That unblemished mark appeared in serious jeopardy throughout most of Friday’s affair. This program just knows how to win.

“Northwestern was phenomenal. They played so well,” Olson said. “Really it came down to our kids just staying composed and getting a little bit grittier defensively. We were able to cause a lot of turnovers in the second half. That’s really the only way we were able to get stops and that was allowing us to get easy baskets.”

All evening, the Red Raiders (8-5, 5-2 GPAC) seemed to have an answer any time Concordia threatened to wipe away its deficit. The Bulldogs waited until the 2:30 mark of the fourth quarter to finally take their first lead of the game. It came as a result of a backdoor layup by Dani Hoppes off the feed from Janovich as part of a 13-2 run that defined the game. Six different Concordia players scored during the splurge that provided a 73-71 lead.

Only when Philly Lammers drained a pair of free throws in the closing seconds could the Bulldogs finally breathe easy. In the final minute, Concordia went 7-for-8 from the foul line and got an uncontested layup from Quinn Wragge to ultimately fend off a Red Raider team that played plenty well enough to claim victory.

The biggest wart on the stat sheet for Northwestern was its minus-14 turnover margin. Point guard Renee Maneman committed seven of the team’s 24 turnovers – 18 of which came after halftime. Those miscues were too much to overcome despite the Red Raiders’ sizzling 56.3 percent shooting (27-for-48) from the floor. Northwestern managed only 34 points in the second half.

“They played a really good game against us,” Wragge said. “When it came down the stretch, we just dug in and had some big stops and made some big plays. It wasn’t the most conventional way to win a game but when it came down to it, we got it done.”

Wragge is a big time player. She went off for 27 points in a Nov. 18 win at eighth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan. She was similarly effective on Friday, using her quickness to get to the bucket and pour in a game high 20 points. Lammers finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Four of the team’s five starters pilfered at least three thefts. Janovich proved guilty of larceny on four occasions. Taylor Cockerill (12) and Hoppes also found themselves into double figures in scoring.

Out of the break, Concordia tightened the screws on post player Anna Kiel, also a standout on the volleyball court. Kiel put up 14 of her team high 19 points in the first half. Returning All-American Kassidy De Jong added 17 points and seven rebounds.

The Bulldogs will be back on the road next week when they journey to Point Lookout, Mo., for a top-five clash with fourth-ranked College of the Ozarks (13-0) in a battle of undefeated clubs on Dec. 19. Tipoff from Keeter Gymnasium is set for 6 p.m. CT. Concordia also met the Bobcats in Hawaii last season with the result being a 78-68 Bulldog victory. The Bulldogs own noteworthy road wins over No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan and No. 9 University of Jamestown in addition to Friday’s victory.

Said Wragge, “I think it’s going to be fun going down there. It’s a lot of team bonding. We have six games in a row on the road against good teams. We’re just going to prepare for those games one-by-one and keep going.”

Top five clash looms for unbeaten Concordia

SEWARD, Neb. – The second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team has already proven itself to be cut out for life on the road. Last week the Bulldogs escaped Orange City, Iowa, with a victory while recording their third road win this season over a nationally ranked opponent. Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad will aim for another on Tuesday when it visits No. 4 College of the Ozarks in a clash between two undefeated teams. That matchup highlights this week’s action on the road.

This week’s slate
Tuesday at College of the Ozarks, 6 p.m.

Wednesday at Haskell Indian Nations, 5:30 p.m.

Concordia fought back from double-digit deficits on the way to claiming wins in each of its last two outings. The Bulldogs have made it a common theme to turn on the jets in the fourth quarter. In wins over No. 19 Hastings and No. 18 Northwestern in recent action, Concordia outscored its opponents by a combined total of 52-32 in the final period. Those wins allowed the Bulldogs to find some breathing room in the conference standings in a league that appears to have a clear cut top five: Concordia (7-0 GPAC), Morningside (6-1), Dakota Wesleyan (5-2), Hastings (5-2) and Northwestern (5-2).

Eventually, the Bulldogs seem to wear out their opponents with a balanced squad that has been led in scoring by six different players through the first 11 games. A +14 turnover margin at Northwestern proved to be a major factor in allowing Concordia to pull out a victory despite being outshot, 56.3 to 40.0 percent. The Bulldogs now rank fifth nationally in turnover margin (+8.5). That figure compares favorably with each of the three teams Olson has led to the national semifinals: 2016-17 (+8.6), 2014-15 (+10.2) and 2011-12 (+9.7). Offensively, seven players average 7.8 points or more, led by Quinn Wragge’s scoring average of 14.3.

Concordia and College of the Ozarks (13-0) are two of the five remaining unbeaten teams left in NAIA Division II. Like the Bulldogs, the Bobcats have been dominant in the early going. Head coach Becky Vest’s squad ranks ninth nationally in scoring margin (+21.7) and owns a win over Morningside, which is currently ranked sixth in the NAIA coaches’ poll. Ozarks also features balanced scoring with all five of its starters averaging 8.7 points or more. Returners Kelsie Cleeton (third team) and Cassidy Johnson (honorable mention) both received some form of All-America recognition last season.

Haskell (4-13) has struggled mightily in its two contests against GPAC opponents, falling by scores of 93-65 to Morningside and 72-41 to Hastings. The program reached the national tournament as recently as 2016. Despite getting 16.4 points per game from post player Keli Warrior, the Indians have struggled offensively. They average 63.3 points and shoot 36.5 percent from the floor. Haskell is located in Lawrence, Kan.

The Bulldogs took on both College of the Ozarks and Haskell on neutral courts last season. Concordia defeated Haskell, 99-44, in Bellevue, Neb., on Nov. 25, 2016. Later at the Hoop N Surf Classic, the Bulldogs downed the then eighth-ranked Bobcats, 78-68, in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Dec. 20, 2016. Concordia and College of the Ozarks have also met twice in the national tournament with the Bobcats coming out on top both times.

The Bulldogs will be idle for more than week following Wednesday’s contest in Lawrence. They are scheduled to journey to Chicago for a classic hosted by Saint Xavier University Dec. 28-29.

Concordia (11-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.1 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.9 rpg, 1.7 spg, .400 fg%, .393 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 9.4 ppg, 1.5 spg, 1.5 rpg, .400 fg%, .397 3-pt fg%
G – Mary Janovich: 7.8 ppg, 2.6 apg, 2.2 rpg, 1.8 spg, .469 fg%, .500 3-pt fg%
F – Quinn Wragge: 14.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.3 spg, 2.2 apg, .591 fg%, .850 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 13.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.4 spg, 1.5 bpg, .475 fg%, .698 ft%

College of the Ozarks (13-0)
G – Madi Brethower: 8.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, .353 fg%, .356 3-pt fg%, .862 ft%
G – Kelsie Cleeton: 13.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, 3.3 spg, .438 fg%, .405 3-pt fg%, .756 ft%
G – Cass Johnson: 15.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 spg, .416 fg%, .406 3-pt fg%, .829 ft%
G – Shelby Roberts: 13.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.4 spg, .508 fg%, .532 3-pt fg%, .697 ft%
C – Lakin Simmerman: 13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 0.8 bpg, .624 fg%, .691 ft%

Haskell Indian Nations University (4-13)
G – Janee Bates: 5.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 spg, 1.9 apg, .319 fg%, .322 3-pt fg%
G – Justina Coriz: 6.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.7 spg, .300 fg%, .282 3-pt fg%, .632 ft%
G – Tiana Guillory: 9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.0 spg, .350 fg%, .685 ft%
G – Sierra Penn: 4.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.3 spg, .296 fg%, .220 3-pt fg%
C – Keli Warrior: 16.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.6 bpg, .500 fg%, .724 ft%

Drama-filled battle of powerhouses goes to Bulldogs

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – This one had the drama and the high-level play you might expect to see in a late round game at the national tournament. Two top five teams. Both undefeated. What more could you ask of a mid-December showdown? Overtime? You got it. In an all-time classic for regular-season play, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team broke No. 4 College of the Ozarks’ heart with a 103-101 overtime victory in Point Lookout, Mo., on Tuesday evening (Dec. 19).

No deficit has phased 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad. For the third game in a row, the Bulldogs brushed aside a double-digit hole on the way to victory. At 12-0, Concordia is one of only two undefeated teams still standing in NAIA Division II.

“That was an incredible game,” Olson said. “Both teams played great basketball. In the first half they did such a good job against our press. They handled it and shot incredible. We went into halftime and Coach (Tae’lor) Purdy-Korell came up with the adjustment: ‘Hey, let’s go 3-2 zone.’

“That was a big part of our success in the second half. We played with more focus knowing shooters. I really felt like Mack (MacKenzie Helman) set the tone for us. She really brought us back into the game. Then we just had a lot of people step up and make plays in the second half.”

This Concordia team has some cockroach-like qualities in that you just can’t kill it. In what looked like a last chance opportunity with the Bulldogs down three (91-88) in the final half minute of regulation, junior Quinn Wragge drilled a game-tying trey from the left wing, forcing the extra session. Wragge played huge down the stretch, putting up 10 of her 22 points during a five-and-a-half minute capsule that spanned the end of the fourth quarter and overtime.

Trailing 97-96 with less than 2:30 left in the extra period, freshman Taylor Cockerill nailed a triple that wound up being the most critical shot in overtime. A key stop on the next possession and two Mary Janovich free throws pushed the lead to 102-98 with :5.1 remaining. Once again, the Bulldogs could not be killed.

This game was eerily similar to the 91-83 overtime win at then ninth-ranked University of Jamestown on Nov. 10. Just like that outing, Concordia faced a double-digit deficit. It stared down an 11-point disadvantage in the opening moments of the third quarter. That’s when Helman went on a personal 8-0 run that slashed the Lady Bobcat lead to 53-50. From there it became a fight to the finish. The Bulldogs took their first lead of the second half on a Janovich bucket that made it 76-75 at the 6:25 mark of the fourth quarter.

In a Keeter Gym that has housed many years of NAIA Division II men’s basketball national tournament games, this particular matchup felt a little bigger than a typical December nonconference tilt.

“It maybe more so (felt like a national tournament game) for me because I’ve been here for many national tournaments,” Olson said. “I got that feeling during the shoot around. When the game started you could just tell: these are two really good teams. It turned out to be a great basketball game.”

Dani Hoppes drained her first three attempts from long range while helping Concordia jet out to a 10-0 lead. She equaled Wragge’s team high of 22 points. That number is a career best in a Bulldog uniform for Hoppes. Three other Concordia players reached double figures: Cockerill (17), Janovich (15) and Helman (11). Hoppes added four steals and Janovich dished out five assists. The Bulldogs had to win it in crunch time without Colby Duvel and Philly Lammers, who both fouled out.

Coached by Becky Vest, College of the Ozarks (13-1) is a perennial power used to making deep national tournament runs. The Lady Bobcats were paced by 24 points from Cassidy Johnson. Do-everything point guard Kelsie Cleeton posted 22 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Ozarks slipped from 54.5 percent (18-for-33) shooting in the first half to 35.3 percent (12-for-34) shooting in the second half. On the other end, Concordia shot a sizzling 56.5 percent (39-for-69) on the evening.

The road swing continues on Wednesday with a visit to Lawrence, Kan., location of Haskell Indian Nations University. The Bulldogs and Indians (4-13) will tip off at 5:30 p.m. CT. The two sides also met last season in Bellevue, Neb., with the result being a 99-44 Concordia win.

Concordia moves to 13-0 with win at Haskell

LAWRENCE, Kan. – A day after rallying for a memorable overtime win at No. 4 College of the Ozarks, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team had to come down from an emotional high and refocus. The Bulldogs weren’t as crisp offensively, but they flustered host Haskell Indian Nations University into 28 turnovers in what amounted to an 82-75 win in Lawrence, Kan., on Wednesday evening (Dec. 20).

After Tuesday’s taxing win in Point Lookout, Mo., 12th-year head coach Drew Olson just wanted to see his team finish out the trip with another win – and keep everyone heatlhy. Concordia will return home with a perfect 13-0 record for the second best unbeaten run to begin a season during Olson’s tenure.

“You have this instant classic and you’re on this emotional high and it’s like, oh yeah, we still have to play another game,” Olson said. “It’s a game that we’re supposed to win. We played them last year and beat them handily, but this was a much, much better Haskell team. They kept making shots. It ended up being closer than it should have been, but we were able to play a whole bunch of players and get them experience.”

This won’t go down as one of their prettiest wins of the campaign, but the Bulldogs got the job done on Wednesday while using all 15 players that made the trip. Concordia turned a tie game (17-17) late in the opening quarter into a 45-29 halftime advantage. The lead ballooned to as many as 21 points early in the third quarter. To its credit, Haskell (4-14) never quit. It got within six points (77-71) in the final couple minutes following a three-point play from standout Keli Warrior.

The Bulldogs just had too much of an advantage in the talent department to see their perfect season fall by the wayside. Four different Concordia team members registered in double figures in scoring: Brenleigh Daum (12), Dani Hoppes (12), Quinn Wragge (12) and Philly Lammers (11). MacKenzie Helman (nine) and Taylor Cockerill (nine) weren’t far behind. Helman nailed a triple in the final minute that snuffed out any potential upset bid that had lingered.

In some ways, Olson liked seeing the game tighten up down the stretch to see how some of his reserves would react. The Bulldog bench mob combined for 32 points. Sophomore Taryn Schuette got into the act with a 3-point shot that helped provide some breathing room in the fourth quarter.

“I was happy to see Taryn step up and hit a three, which turned out to be a pretty big shot to extend the lead and keep us with a comfortable double-digit lead,” Olson said. “Then Riley (Sibbel) had a great drive and finish. It was good to see those kids make some plays.”

Only two Bulldogs saw more than 20 minutes of action. On the other side, the Indians rode a starting five that averaged out to nearly 30 minutes per person. Warrior notched a game high 18 points while adding five steals. Point guard Justina Coriz played all 40 minutes and put up a line of 16 points, seven assists, five rebounds and seven turnovers. Haskell shot 43.3 percent (26-for-60) compared to 44.8 percent (26-for-58) shooting by Concordia.

The season will resume prior to New Year’s Day with a trip to the Windy City for the Saint Xavier University Classic, held Dec. 28-29. The Bulldogs will take on Robert Morris University (4-7) on the event’s first day before a much-anticipated matchup with top-ranked Saint Xavier (11-1) the following day. Concordia and Saint Xavier met in the 2017 national semifinals.

Break ends with SXU Holiday Classic in Chicago

SEWARD, Neb. – The second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team will end a stretch of more than a week off when it takes the floor at the Shannon Center on Thursday for the Saint Xavier University Classic in Chicago, Ill. During their stay in the Windy City, the undefeated Bulldogs will take on two members of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Robert Morris University (Thursday) and host and top-ranked Saint Xavier University (Friday).

Saint Xavier Holiday Classic
Thursday, Dec. 28 vs. Robert Morris (5-8), 3 p.m. CT
Friday, Dec. 29 at No. 1 Saint Xavier (11-1), 12 p.m. CT

Both of this week’s games can be viewed live online via Saint Xavier’s Stretch Internet portal. The same site will also disseminate live statistics.

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson will advise his team not to overlook Thursday’s matchup, which precedes another road battle with a top-10 opponent. Concordia (13-0) entered the Christmas week having played the most difficult schedule of any NAIA women’s basketball program, according to Massey Ratings. As part of the team’s most recent road trip, Dani Hoppes and Quinn Wragge totaled 22 points apiece in an instant classic 103-101 overtime victory at No. 2 College of the Ozarks on Dec. 19. Olson’s squad has slayed seven teams currently ranked nationally, including five away from home.

Two Bulldogs are approaching milestones that are likely to be reached after New Year’s. Earlier this season, Wragge (currently at 1,076 points) eclipsed 1,000 career points. Teammate Mary Janovich (950 points) should be next to join the program’s 1,000-point club. Meanwhile, Olson needs five more victories to become the second basketball coach in school history to reach 300 in a career. The only other is Grant Schmidt (443 wins in 23 years as men’s coach), who coached Olson from 2000-03. Janovich, who averages 8.6 points, ranks fifth on the team in scoring behind Wragge (14.8), Philly Lammers (12.6), Taylor Cockerill (12.5) and Hoppes (10.5).

Janelle Hughes is in her second season as head coach at Robert Morris, a program that last reached the national tournament in 2015. The Eagles feature 6-foot senior forward Jannah Mahmoud, who averages 15.3 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. Mahmoud and Robert Morris outrebound their opponents on average, 49.2 to 41.8, for a more frontcourt-oriented squad. The Eagles shoot only 25.8 percent from 3-point range. They average 66.6 points and allow 74.4 points to their opponents.

The Cougars took over the No. 1 spot in the national poll on Nov. 28 and have held it ever since. Head coach Bob Hallberg’s squad jetted out to a 10-0 start before an 84-77 neutral court loss to NAIA Division I fifth-ranked Wayland Baptist University (Texas) on Dec. 19. The next day, Saint Xavier rebounded with a 55-52 victory over NAIA DI No. 21 Carroll College (Mont.). The Cougars also own a win over then 10th-ranked Morningside. The headlining performer for Saint Xavier is star guard Kara Krolicki, who earned NAIA Division II National Player of the Year accolades last season. She dropped 26 points in the Cougars’ 91-83 win over Concordia in the 2017 national semifinals.

The Bulldogs will return to conference play after finishing up action at the Saint Xavier Classic. Concordia will play at Doane (5-9, 1-7 GPAC) on Jan. 3.

Projected lineups

Concordia (13-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 5.0 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.6 rpg, 1.6 spg, .451 fg%, .447 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 10.5 ppg, 1.6 spg, 1.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, .420 fg%, .423 3-pt fg%
G – Mary Janovich: 8.6 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.0 rpg, 1.7 spg, .523 fg%, .428 3-pt fg%
F – Quinn Wragge: 14.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.1 spg, .624 fg%, .833 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 12.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 spg, 1.7 bpg, .466 fg%, .709 ft%

Robert Morris (5-8)
G – Alondra Chavarria: 4.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, .297 fg%, .538 ft%
G – Shamara Glover: 8.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, .376 fg%, .655 ft%
F – Champale Grays: 10.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.8 spg, 1.0 bpg, .381 fg%
F – Jannah Mahmoud: 15.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 0.9 spg, .452 fg%, .633 ft%
F – Linsey Masnari: 7.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, .343 fg%, .793 ft%

Saint Xavier (11-1)
G – Chanel Fanter: 13.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.8 bpg, .481 fg%, .366 3-pt fg%
G – Kara Krolicki: 21.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.6 spg, .490 fg%, .456 3-pt fg%, .842 ft%
G – Maddie Welter: 11.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.3 spg, .416 fg%, .375 3-pt fg%
F – Janie McCloughan: 3.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.8 spg, .400 fg%
C – Brittany Collins: 13.9 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 3.8 bpg, 1.4 spg, .528 fg%, .700 ft%

Bulldogs shoot down Eagles, ready for matchup vs. No. 1

CHICAGO, Ill. – Coming off a run of seven-consecutive days without a game, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team had to be careful not to overlook Thursday’s opponent with another much-anticipated clash coming up on Friday. On day one in Chicago, the Bulldogs looked like a team starving for a return to the court. Concordia rolled up a 113-83 rout of Robert Morris University on Thursday afternoon (Dec.28).

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad had not seen game action since its 82-75 win at Haskell Indian Nations University (Kan.) on Dec. 20. One of two undefeated teams left in NAIA Division II, the Bulldogs stand at 14-0 overall.

“I thought we played really well. We made some adjustments in our half-court defense that helped and made some adjustments in our press that helped,” Olson said. “We brought really good focus into the game. Obviously it helps to shoot well. Part of that is that our kids were ready to go. It’s a good sign to come off a break that well.”

Concordia was utterly dominant for the first three quarters of Thursday’s contest at the Saint Xavier University Holiday Classic. Sophomore MacKenzie Helman (game high six assists) opened up the scoring with a trey and the Bulldogs were never seriously threatened the rest of the way. A 3-point basket by Mary Janovich at the 2:21 mark of the opening quarter opened up a 35-8 spread. Off the bench, senior Brenleigh Daum fired off 16 shots and put up a game high 22 points in 17 minutes of action.

The Eagles (5-9) were yet another nonconference opponent overwhelmed by the Concordia press. Robert Morris committed 23 first half turnovers (33 for the game) while falling victim to the aggressiveness of the likes of Philly Lammers (six steals) and Helman (three thefts). The Eagles ended up with six double-figure scorers, but a good deal of their damage was done in the fourth quarter after the Bulldogs had constructed an insurmountable 46-point advantage. Concordia took the press off after halftime.

Three teammates joined Daum (9-for-16 from the floor) with 10 or more points: Janovich (14), Lammers (13) and Taryn Schuette (11). Lammers also grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with her six steals. Sydney Feller and Rebecca Higgins contributed eight points apiece in reserve roles while Dani Hoppes added eight points and three assists from the backcourt. Concordia outshot Robert Morris, 45.1 to 35.0 percent from the floor. The Bulldogs also knocked home 17 triples compared to just two 3-point field goals by the Eagles, who were paced by the 14 points from Champale Grays.

Now it’s time to look forward to Friday’s big showdown with top-ranked Saint Xavier (12-1), which demolished Goshen College (Ind.), 105-53, on Thursday. All games at the SXU Classic are being held at the Shannon Center in Chicago. The Cougars, spearheaded by 2016-17 national player of the year Kara Krolicki, ended Concordia’s season this past March in the national semifinals in a game decided by a 91-83 final score.

The Bulldogs went 1-1 last season against teams with No. 1 national rankings. The victory came against then top-ranked Dakota Wesleyan on Dec. 3, 2016.

“I think both teams are looking forward to the game tomorrow,” Olson said. “Both teams played really well today. I thought the two games were very similar. We both came out and shot really well, got up by 30-plus in the first half and kind of put it on cruise control in the second half.”

Friday’s game is set to tip off at 12 p.m. CT.

Lammers, Dawgs dominate No. 1 Saint Xavier

CHICAGO, Ill. – From a Bulldog perspective, the first quarter was ugly, but the rest of the game was a thing of beauty. In a highly anticipated battle between the top two rated squads in NAIA Division II, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team emerged with a surprisingly lopsided 81-60 win over No. 1 Saint Xavier University inside the Shannon Center in Chicago, Ill., on Friday (Dec. 29).

While thumping the host Cougars over the final 30 minutes of action, 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad avenged a national tournament semifinal loss to Saint Xavier this past March. Owners of eight wins over teams currently ranked in the NAIA top 25 poll, the Bulldogs remain unbeaten at 15-0.

“I didn’t expect it to be like that,” Olson said of the 21-point spread. “In the second quarter I just kind of knew: we’re going to win this game. We just had a good plan of attack. Once our kids stuck with it and settled down after getting behind, we were in pretty good shape.

“Truthfully, I was kind of shocked. We took out their will and that’s really hard to do against a great team. I was kind of shocked. At the same time, we kind of had their number. We knew how to defend them and we knew how to attack them.”

In last season’s meeting at the national tournament, Concordia watched as Saint Xavier nailed 16 treys and national player of the year Kara Krolicki went off for 26 points in a 91-83 Cougar win. This time around, the Bulldogs hounded Krolicki and company into committing 28 turnovers. During a 14-0 Bulldog third quarter run that made the score 56-43, Saint Xavier went more than four minutes without tallying a single point.

Olson gave plenty of credit to guards Taylor Cockerill and Dani Hoppes for shutting down Krolicki. A day after she became her program’s all-time leading scorer, Krolicki finished with twice as many turnovers (seven) as points (three).

“I thought Dani and Taylor did a great job of denying her and really making her work to get the ball,” Olson said. “Then we had really good help side any time she did get the ball on the drive. Those two were definitely very good defensively, but it was a team effort to be able to shut somebody that good down.”

The star of the afternoon turned out to be Philly Lammers, named to the SXU Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team. Lammers totaled game highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds in another outing that showed why she deserves mention among the nation’s top players. In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, Lammers scored inside on three occasions and swatted a shot as Concordia mounted its biggest lead of 23 points (73-50).

Junior Quinn Wragge turned in another nice game with 16 points and a pair of steals. Off the bench, Brenleigh Daum struck for 10 points, including a pretty baseline floater and a corner three as part of the team’s big third quarter push. In addition to her tenacious defense, Cockerill added eight points and six rebounds.

The Bulldogs ended up shooting 42.9 percent (33-for-77) from the field despite going 1-for-10 out of the gate. The Cougars (12-2) jumped Concordia and led 17-9 at the close of the first quarter. That lead quickly evaporated when the Bulldogs began the next stanza with an 8-0 run. Though Saint Francis star post player Brittany Collins wound up in foul trouble, she still managed to play 30 minutes like each of the team’s five starters. Chanel Fanter and Meg Knutson shared a Saint Xavier high with 12 points apiece.

Considering Olson’s squad has played the most challenging schedule of any NAIA women’s basketball program to date, the 15-0 record is especially impressive.

“It’s amazing what they have accomplished so far,” Olson said. “At the start of the year, you look at the schedule and make some guesses where you might be. To be 15-0 after playing all these great teams, a lot of them on the road, just shows the toughness they have and it shows their confidence and how much they care.”

The Bulldogs will ring in 2018 with a return to conference play on Wednesday (Jan. 3) when they will step foot on the home court of rival Doane (5-9, 1-7 GPAC). Tipoff from the Haddix Center is set for 6 p.m. CT. The lone Tiger victory inside league play came over Mount Marty on Dec. 9. In Concordia’s two wins over Doane last season, its average margin of victory was 22.5 points.

Sizzling Concordia looks to maintain first place perch in 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – It’s time for the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team to come down from the high of dethroning the No. 1-ranked team last week in Chicago. With the calendar flipped to 2018, the Bulldogs now refocus on conference play with a trip to Doane coming up on Wednesday. Then on Saturday, two GPAC powerhouses will clash inside Walz Arena when sixth-ranked Morningside makes its way to Seward.

This week’s schedule
Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Doane (6-10, 1-7), 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, Jan. 6 vs. No. 6 Morningside (13-4, 6-1), 2 p.m. CT

Both of this week’s games will be carried live by 104.9 Max Country radio. The Concordia Sports Network will provide coverage on Saturday.

At 15-0, Concordia has equaled the longest unbeaten run to begin a season during head coach Drew Olson’s 12-year tenure with the Bulldogs. Eight victories have come against teams currently ranked in the national top 25 poll, with six occurring on the road. Sophomore Philly Lammers hasn’t seemed to mind playing against the nation’s most challenging schedule. In the win at top-ranked Saint Xavier University, the Millard West High School product recorded 22 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. Meanwhile, teammate Mary Janovich has a shot at reaching 1,000 career points this week. She has tallied 968 points over 95 collegiate games.

It’s been a struggled for Doane since it opened up its season by defeating then fifth-ranked University of St. Francis and Viterbo University at Concordia’s Cattle Classic. This is the 19th season of head coach Tracee Fairbanks’ tenure. She has another senior guard to lean on in McKenna Dodd, who last week poured in a combined 60 points in games against Kansas Wesleyan University and McPherson College. The Tigers have typically played in low scoring affairs this season. They average 63.6 points and allow 66.7.

Head coach Jamie Sale has operated a monster of a program in Sioux City, Iowa. Sale led the Mustangs to national championships in 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2015. At 6-1 in conference play, Morningside sits just a game behind first place Concordia. At last week’s Briar Cliff Holiday Classic, the Mustangs pummeled No. 23 Mayville State University, 89-56, before a 78-74 loss to sixth-ranked Jamestown. Madison Braun (47.4 percent from 3-point range) and company can light it up from deep. They rank third nationally in 3-point field goal makes per game (11.2).

In next week’s action, the Bulldogs will welcome Briar Cliff (6-11, 3-4 GPAC) to town on Jan. 10 and then travel to Mount Marty (9-7, 1-7 GPAC) on Jan. 13.

Projected lineups

Concordia (15-0, 7-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.9 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.6 rpg, 1.7 spg, .413 fg%, .400 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 10.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.5 spg, .401 fg%, .400 3-pt fg%
G – Mary Janovich: 8.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 1.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, .526 fg%, .500 3-pt fg%, .800 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 14.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.9 spg, .622 fg%, .833 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 13.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.7 spg, 1.7 bpg, .477 fg%, .696 ft%

Doane (6-10, 1-7)
G – Cortney Arkfeld: 8.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.1 spg, .402 fg%, .185 3-pt fg%, .660 ft%
G – McKenna Dodd: 15.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.3 spg, .393 fg%, .346 3-pt fg%, .897 ft%
G – Bailey Zarybnicky: 4.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.2 spg, .321 fg%, .286 3-pt fg%
F – Haylee Heits: 8.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.9 spg, .510 fg%, .767 ft%
F – Alea Shaner: 7.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .427 fg%, .577 ft%

Morningside (13-4, 6-1)
G – Madison Braun: 18.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.8 spg, 2.5 apg, .512 fg%, .474 3-pt fg%, .867 ft%
G – Grace Meyer: 2.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.6 apg, .357 fg%, .318 3-pt fg%
G – Sierra Mitchell: 12.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.9 spg, .382 fg%, .358 3-pt fg%, .885 ft%
G – Jordyn Moser: 5.6 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1.9 rpg, 1.0 spg, .463 fg%, .385 3-pt fg%, .733 ft%
F – Sydney Hupp: 13.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.3 spg, 1.0 bpg, .571 fg%, .763 ft%

Toppling of No. 1 nets Lammers national, GPAC awards

GPAC release | NAIA release

SEWARD, Neb. – A dominant performance in a victory over No. 1 Saint Xavier University led to major honors for sophomore Philly Lammers. On Tuesday (Jan. 2), the Millard West High School product garnered both NAIA National Division II Women’s Basketball Player of the Week and GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades. She is the second Bulldog this season to pick up a weekly award. Teammate Quinn Wragge collected GPAC player of the week recognition on Nov. 21.

A second team All-American last season, Lammers got the upper hand while up against another star post player in Brittany Collins of Saint Xavier. Lammers put up 22 points and 10 rebounds while spearheading the 81-60 win in the Windy City on Dec. 29. A day earlier, Lammers totaled 13 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and a pair of blocked shots in a 113-83 victory over Robert Morris University.

Lammers is averaging 13.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks this season. She tops the GPAC in rebounding. Lammers ranks in the top 20 nationally for number of blocks (26), steals (41) and rebounds (130). She is the program’s first national player of the week since Mary Janovich picked up the same honor on Dec. 6, 2016.

Lammers and the Bulldogs (15-0, 7-0 GPAC) return to conference play on Wednesday with a visit to Doane (6-10, 1-7 GPAC). Tipoff from the Haddix Center is set for 6 p.m. CT.

Relentless pressure staves off upset bid in Crete

CRETE, Neb. – Tenacious pressure defense and a massive second half performance by Quinn Wragge helped the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team escape a serious push from Doane inside the Haddix Center on Wednesday night (Jan. 3). The Bulldogs made use of 31 Tiger turnovers while pulling away late for a 76-63 victory.

In action for the first time in 2018 and for the first time since toppling No. 1 Saint Xavier University, 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad moved to 16-0 overall and to 8-0 in conference play.

“Doane did a great job with their press break and did a great job executing against our defense,” Olson said. “They hit shots early on and got to us. It kind of affected us more offensively than it really should have. I just thought Doane was really prepared.

“Our kids finally settled in and figured out how we needed to get stops against them. Once we got stops we could run the floor and get easy baskets. Dani (Hoppes) hits a couple big threes and I thought Colby’s (Duvel) effort on both ends was really big.”

The Tigers (6-11, 1-8 GPAC) gave Concordia their best shot. Doane shot 55.2 percent in the opening half and led for the entirety of the second and third quarters. Entering the night averaging 63.6 points, the Tigers needed to somehow keep this one in the sixties. Eventually they succumbed to the Bulldog zone press and what had been a 10-point Doane lead crumbled into a double-digit disadvantage.

Thankfully for Concordia, it did not have to sweat out the closing minutes. The Bulldogs hit hard to open the fourth quarter, going on a 16-4 run that provided a 70-58 lead. Highlights of the splurge included back-to-back all-net treys by Hoppes and the relentless hustle of Duvel, who chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Playing without standout freshman Taylor Cockerill for the first time this season, Concordia used its depth to make up for it. Of course, the monster third quarter from Wragge (12 points) didn’t hurt. Wragge outscored Doane by herself during a third period that saw her side climb right back into it. Meanwhile, the Tigers couldn’t find a go-to option down the stretch. Star guard McKenna Dodd was held to nine points on 3-for-12 shooting.

“I think we just needed to take a deep breath and play our game,” Hoppes said. “We came out a little hesitant. We didn’t just take it at them and play like ourselves. We showed we could be more aggressive, get more steals and get stops on defense.”

Effort wasn’t the issue for Concordia, which had to overcome a solid game plan from the opposition. These Bulldogs have many ways to skin a cat – or a Tiger in this case. Even though national player of the week Philly Lammers turned it over eight times, she made her presence felt with 14 rebounds while turning in another double-double. Wragge, Hoppes (14), Mary Janovich (12), Lammers (11) and Duvel (10) all reached double figures in scoring. Janovich added four steals.

Doane fell despite outshooting the Bulldogs, 46.2 to 39.7 percent. The Tigers got team highs of 14 points and seven rebounds from Haylee Heits.

At long last, the Bulldogs will finally entertain an opponent at home when action unfolds beginning at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday inside Walz Arena. Sixth-ranked Morningside (13-5, 6-2 GPAC) will try to put a stop to a Concordia home win streak that currently stands at 27. The Bulldogs swept last season’s pair of matchups with the Mustangs.

Bulldogs throttle No. 6 Mustangs, extend home win streak

SEWARD, Neb. – A few days after a sluggish start in a win at Doane, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team raced out to a 12-0 lead and never looked back while dominating a battle between perennial GPAC titans. The Bulldogs were particularly untouchable in the third quarter while handling No. 6 Morningside, 95-64, inside Walz Arena on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 6).

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad continues to pile up impressive wins. Concordia has defeated nine teams currently ranked in the national top 25 poll (including six on the road). The Bulldogs now stand at 17-0 overall and at 9-0 in conference play after claiming their 28th-straight home victory.

“I thought we played really, really hard,” Olson said. “Colby (Duvel) and Philly (Lammers) were just grinders down there. That was a big difference and that’s how we were able to play fast in transition, especially in that third quarter.”

Dani Hoppes (team high 18 points) got going early and the Mustangs (13-6, 6-3 GPAC) just couldn’t keep Lammers or Duvel off the boards. Everything came unraveled in the third quarter for Morningside, which was outscored 32-9 over that 10-minute stretch. Concordia unleashed its cavalcade of stars. Seven Bulldogs tallied at least seven points on the afternoon.

The Mustangs had no way of keeping up on a day when Concordia turned in one of its better efforts of the season from a half-court defensive perspective. Morningside made only three field goals the entire third quarter and finished with a shooting percentage of 31.5 (23-for-73). It’s been a week of treacherous contests away from home for the Mustangs, who also were beaten handily, 82-58, at No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday.

Named national player of the week on Tuesday, Lammers got the fourth quarter off and still managed to put up 14 points, grab 15 rebounds and dish out five assists. Lammers and company served as the aggressors all afternoon. The Bulldogs outrebounded Morningside, 57-41, and collected 13 steals. That effort easily overcame a hot first half for Mustang star Madison Braun, who led her squad with 17 points.

Hoppes and Lammers were joined in double figures in scoring by Duvel (11 points, seven rebounds) and sophomore MacKenzie Helman (11 points, four assists). Quinn Wragge added six points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots and Mary Janovich chipped in seven points, seven assists and two steals. In a game Concordia dominated in virtually every statistical category, it shot 46.7 percent (35-for-75) from the field.

“The second group was awesome today,” Olson said. “Taylor’s (Cockerill) not 100 percent but she made some big plays in that first half. Sydney Feller played a phenomenal game on both ends. Brenleigh (Daum) didn’t shoot as well as she can, but she played with a lot of effort and made some hustle plays, got some deflections. That group is really big for us.”

It’s been smooth sailing for Olson’s program in recent matchups with Morningside. In last season’s two meetings, the Bulldogs won by scores of 80-52 and 90-60. Concordia just continues to knock off top-rated teams.

“One of our big motivators is to get better every day,” Duvel said. “That’s the mindset we have going into every day, whether it’s practice or a game. We just stick to it and we’re able to accomplish what we need to.”

The Bulldogs will remain at home on Wednesday (Jan. 10) and host Briar Cliff (8-11, 5-4 GPAC) in a matchup set to get underway at 6 p.m. CT inside Walz Arena. Concordia swept two meetings from the Chargers last season, including a contest in Sioux City that saw the Bulldogs clinch the GPAC regular-season title outright. A victory would give Olson the 300th of his head coaching career.

Milestones looming for team poised to take over top ranking

SEWARD, Neb. – There may not be enough superlatives to continue to describe the still undefeated Concordia University women’s basketball. Ranked No. 2 as of Monday (Jan. 9), the Bulldogs figure to rise to the No. 1 spot in the national poll when a new one is released on Tuesday. While opening up 2018, Concordia brushed off a slow start in a 76-63 win at Doane before cruising past sixth-ranked Morningside, 95-64, inside Walz Arena. The GPAC grind continues this week.

This week’s schedule
Wednesday, Jan. 10 vs. Briar Cliff (8-11, 5-4)
Saturday, Jan. 13 at Mount Marty (9-9, 1-9)

Both of this week’s games will be covered live by 104.9 Max Country radio. Additionally, live webcasts will be available via the following links:Wednesday | Saturday.

At 17-0, the Bulldogs are off to their best start during head coach Drew Olson’s 12-year tenure in Seward. Only the 2002-03 team (33-0) has put together a longer unbeaten run to begin a season in program history. Should Concordia move to No. 1 as expected on Tuesday, it will mark the program’s first top ranking since December 2012. The Bulldogs were listed at No. 1 for four polls during the 2012-13 season and for the final nine polls of the 2002-03 campaign. Olson’s 2014-15 and 2016-17 editions both rose as high as No. 2 in the national rankings.

With a victory on Wednesday, Olson would claim the 300th of his career. Over the previous 11 seasons, Olson averaged 25.6 wins per year and reached the national tournament nine times. Among Bulldog basketball coaches all-time, only Grant Schmidt (445-276) has compiled more wins than Olson. Additionally, milestones could be reached this week by Mary Janovich (987 points) and Dani Hoppes (960 points), who are closing in 1,000 career points. Named national player of the week on Jan. 2, Philly Lammers (713 points) is on a fast track to 1,000. She has grabbed 49 rebounds over the past four games.

Briar Cliff stands at 8-11 while having played an exceptionally challenging schedule. The Chargers have lost nine times to teams either ranked or receiving votes in the national poll. Head coach Mike Power’s staff includes Concordia’s all-time leading scorer Bailey Morris, who is in her first season as an assistant at Briar Cliff. The Chargers have moved on without Kailey Burke, who transferred after averaging 14.1 points as a freshman last season. Sophomore forward Johanna Vaske is the team’s leading scorer at 12.9 points per game.

Mount Marty enters the week having dropped five-straight GPAC contests. The Lancers have struggled offensively, averaging 63.4 points while shooting 38.4 percent from the floor. Their lone conference win came by a 69-59 score over College of Saint Mary on Dec. 2. In the season’s first meeting between Mount Marty and Concordia, the Bulldogs won going away, 84-42, inside Walz Arena. Concordia forced 26 turnovers and limited the Lancers to 27.3 percent shooting.

In next week’s action, the Bulldogs will continue conference play with a road trip to College of Saint Mary (2-15, 1-8 GPAC) on Jan. 17 and then welcome Dordt (8-10, 3-6 GPAC) to Walz Arena on Jan. 20.

Projected lineups

Concordia (17-0, 9-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 5.3 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 spg, .386 fg%, .373 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 10.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.5 spg, .409 fg%, .394 3-pt fg%
G – Mary Janovich: 8.8 ppg, 3.5 apg, 2.0 rpg, 1.8 spg, .528 fg%, .478 3-pt fg%, .769 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 14.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.8 spg, .620 fg%, .830 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 13.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.8 spg, 1.6 bpg, .489 fg%, .689 ft%

Briar Cliff (8-11, 5-4)
G – Alyssa Carley: 8.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, .392 fg%, .400 3-pt fg%
G – Abby Heston: 7.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 rpg, .436 fg%, .383 3-pt fg%, .692 ft%
G – Julie Targy: 4.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.3 spg, .500 fg%, .667 ft%
F – Faith Troshynski: 6.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg, .378 fg%, .438 3-pt fg%, .789 ft%
F – Johanna Vaske: 12.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, .447 fg%, .348 3-pt fg%, .643 ft%

Mount Marty (9-9, 1-9)
G – Molly Koisti: 7.8 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3.6 rpg, .412 fg%, .343 3-pt fg%, .821 ft%
G – Ali Kuca: 11.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.9 spg, .358 fg%, .381 3-pt fg%, .774 ft%
G – Mikayla Prouty: 7.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.8 spg, .444 fg%, .385 3-pt fg%, .875 ft%
F – Sarah Castaneda: 8.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, .514 fg%, .722 ft%
F – Karissa Chamley: 9.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.7 spg, .422 fg%, .442 3-pt fg%, .692 ft%

Bulldogs take over No. 1 national ranking

NAIA Division II national poll

SEWARD, Neb. – With nearly a month separating the release of NAIA Division II women’s basketball coaches’ polls, the Bulldogs were forced to wait before taking over the No. 1 national ranking. On Tuesday (Jan. 9), Concordia rose to the top spot for the first time since December 2012. Head coach Drew Olson’s squad collected 11 of 12 first-place votes while totaling 312 points in the latest coaches’ poll. The Bulldogs had been ranked second in the previous two ratings released by the NAIA.

Though it’s been more than five years since Concordia reached No. 1 in the polls, it has often hovered inside the top five. The Bulldogs are the lone NAIA Division II women’s basketball team to have made three national tournament semifinal appearances over the previous six seasons. Concordia has made a home inside the top 25 rankings for every poll since the start of the 2011-12 season, an active run of 79-consecutive polls.

This year’s team owns the most impressive résumé of any NAIA women’s basketball program. The Bulldogs have defeated nine teams that appeared inside the new top 25 poll: No. 3 College of the Ozarks (Mo.), No. 4 Saint Xavier (Ill.), No. 6 Jamestown (N.D.), No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan, No. 11 Hastings, No. 12 Morningside, No. 14 Northwestern, No. 18 St. Francis (Ill.) and No. 23 Mayville State (N.D.). According to Massey Ratings, Concordia has played the most difficult schedule in the nation among NAIA squads.

Olson’s teams have finished inside the top 25 in eight of his first 11 seasons. The highest final national ranking was a No. 2 placement in 2015 after a national runner-up claim. Both the 2011-12 and 2016-17 squads were ranked third at the close of their seasons. The Bulldogs have finished inside the top 10 in four of the past six years.

The Bulldog women’s basketball program has held the No. 1 ranking a total of 14 times, including the final nine polls of the 2002-03 season and the first four polls of the 2012-13 campaign. The 2014-15 Bulldogs became the first in program history to reach the national title game and was the fourth Concordia women’s basketball team to advance to the national semifinals. The fifth semifinal appearance came in March 2017.

Preseason rankings under Olson
2017-18: 3
2016-17: 14
2015-16: 4
2014-15: 9
2013-14: 5
2012-13: 1
2011-12: 22
2010-11: 11
2009-10: 22
2008-09: 7
2007-08: NR
2006-07: NR

Final end of season rankings under Olson
2016-17: 3
2015-16: 19
2014-15: 2
2013-14: 13
2012-13: 9
2011-12: 3
2010-11: NR
2009-10: NR
2008-09: 8
2007-08: 10
2006-07: NR

No. 1 Dawgs back up top billing; Olson picks up win No. 300

SEWARD, Neb. – Newly minted as the No. 1 team in NAIA Division II, the Concordia University women’s basketball team wore its top billing well on Wednesday night, particularly after shaking off a turnover-prone first quarter. No sweat, the sharpshooting Brenleigh Daum had her teammates’ back in what resulted in a Bulldog blowout, 95-57, over visiting Briar Cliff.

The win marked the 300th in the head coaching career of Drew Olson, who is in the middle of his 12th season leading the women’s basketball program. Another milestone was achieved late in the game when Mary Janovich joined the 1,000-point club. Olson’s squad moved to 18-0 overall and to 10-0 in conference play.

“I thought Briar Cliff came in and played really well in that first quarter,” Olson said. “We didn’t shoot well and thankfully Brenleigh did. Brenleigh came to play. Once we kind of settled in to what we should do defensively, that was the difference. That’s the thing with this team. We play a couple of minutes and figure out how we’re going to defend each team. Once we figure that out, it seems like the rest of the game goes our way.”

With more than four minutes still left in the third quarter, Daum had already surpassed a career high point total. Daum drilled three treys in the opening quarter and then contributed to a third period onslaught that buried a Walz Arena visitor for the second time in four days. As fortunate as they were to keep Philly Lammers (four points on 2-for-6 shooting) in check, the Chargers (8-12, 5-5 GPAC) were run over by Daum and by Quinn Wragge, who posted an impressive line of 17 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

After committing eight turnovers in the game’s first 10 minutes, Concordia tightened the screws and dominated the rest of the way. The Bulldogs outscored Briar Cliff over the second and third quarters by a combined score of 55-27, giving the fourth quarter the feel of a scrimmage. It’s nothing all that unusual for a Concordia squad that has won 11 times by margins of greater than 20 points.

When Daum is filling it up on the Bulldog second wave, Concordia becomes even more lethal. Daum chucked in seven triples while totaling 26 points, four more than her previous career high.

“For me personally, it was just Coach coming up to me and believing in me and having faith in me,” Daum said. “He said to me, ‘Just go out there and play great defense and shoot it.’ Whether it goes in or goes out, just play hard.”

With the game in hand after halftime, the only drama centered upon whether Janovich would get the 1,000-point mark. With just over 2:30 left to play, Olson re-inserted Janovich into the lineup with her three points away from quadruple digits. Janovich responded by nailing a long 3-pointer. The crowd reacted with its largest ovation of the night.

Immediately following the game, Olson was presented with a basketball signed by members of the athletic department. Afterwards, Olson reflected on the journey that has taken himself and the program to this point.

“I’ve been really blessed to have some incredible players throughout my career,” Olson said. “I’m so thankful for those first couple teams that kind of stuck with me. I know I wasn’t the best coach then. It’s just an incredible journey I’ve been on because of these kids and the work they’ve put in.”

Briar Cliff got a team high 15 points from Logan Ehlers off the bench. Her solid play couldn’t overcome the team’s 32 turnovers and 37.7 percent shooting. Aiding the Chargers is Concordia all-time leading scorer Bailey Morris, who is in her first season as an assistant.

The Bulldogs will be back on the road on Saturday when they journey to Yankton, S.D., for a matchup with Mount Marty (10-9, 1-9 GPAC). Please note that tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m. CT rather than the typical 2 p.m. start. In this season’s first meeting, Concordia pummeled the Lancers, 84-42, inside Walz Arena.

#Olson300: more than the wins

Back on July 11, 2006, Concordia University named Drew Olson as head coach of its women’s basketball program at the youthful age of 25. Said then athletic director and men’s basketball coach Grant Schmidt at the time, “We want a winner. As a player, he certainly was. The only thing he is lacking is experience. We're willing to look beyond that because we feel so strong about his other qualities.”

Schmidt proved spot on. Less than 12 years later, Olson claimed the 300th win of his career. He’s won more than 76 percent of his games, guided the program to nine national tournament berths, 14 national tournament wins, three national semifinal appearances and six GPAC championships (three tournament, three regular season). According to those who have played for him, coached him or worked for or alongside him, his contributions go far beyond the hundreds of wins.

President Brian Friedrich described Olson as faith-filled, humble, invested, intelligent, intense, fun and purposeful. There are many more words to describe him from some of the people who have been impacted personally and professionally by him (read below).

Significant wins in Olson’s career

Win No. 1: 56-51 at York on 11/2/06

First CIT title: def. CU-Ann Arbor, 75-55, on 1/27/08

First national tournament win: def. Union (Ky.), 84-65, on 3/13/08

100th win: def. Bethany (Kan.), 72-47, on 12/31/10

Clinched first GPAC title: def. Hastings, 70-54, on 2/14/12

Won first GPAC tournament title: def. Morningside, 73-66, on 2/28/12

Advanced to first national semifinal: def. Grand View (Iowa), 80-68, on 3/10/12

200th win: def. Doane, 62-54, on 12/3/14

Won second GPAC tournament title: def. Morningside, 80-72, on 3/3/15

Program’s first national title game appearance: def. Briar Cliff, 72-62, on 3/16/15

Clinched GPAC regular-season title: def. Briar Cliff, 90-70, on 2/11/17

Third GPAC postseason title: def. Dakota Wesleyan, 78-77 (OT), on 2/28/17

Third national semifinal appearance: def. Jamestown (N.D), 74-59, on 3/11/17

300th win: def. Briar Cliff, 95-57, on 1/10/18

Thoughts on Coach Olson ...

BRIAN FRIEDRICH, Concordia University President

Faith-filled Christian, humble, invested, intelligent, intense, fun, purposeful!

There are many words that describe Drew Olson and each of them distinguishes another layer of the amazing son, father, friend, coach and human being he is. In 2006, when then athletic director Grant Schmidt recommended that we hire Drew as the next head coach of the Bulldogs, the decision was a no-brainer, that is, unless we wanted a head coach with extensive experience and credentials as a collegiate women’s basketball coach. Drew had neither. However, he had what mattered most—ability, vision, passion, faith in Jesus and a desire to be excellent in every aspect of his service to Concordia and our students. He has returned Concordia’s investment in him at a greater and more consistent rate than the Dow Jones average during the last ten years.

It has been a thrill to watch Drew grow and develop as a student-athlete when he majored in math and played basketball and tennis for the Bulldogs and now as the head coach of one of the finest women’s basketball programs in the NAIA and beyond. I have always been proud of and thankful for Drew whether it was watching him visit with his mother, Olinda, after games or encouraging our son, Phil, when he was in grade school and serving as a Bulldog ball boy or coaching the Bulldogs to the 2015 NAIA II championship game. However, my proudest moment was in 2016 when Drew spoke to the Seward Rotary Club. The Bulldogs were in the midst of a long winning streak. I was confident he was going to spend most of his time talking about the team’s record and extensive successes. He surprised me and spent most of the time talking about values, his values and his team’s values. In rank order, he talked about the values of “faith in God, importance of family, priority of academics and then basketball and everything else.” Drew’s teams, as Drew himself, are a reflection of his values and the way in which, game after game, season after season he lives them out.

Drew has created a system, developed a staff and put in place a structure that allows his teams to succeed year after year at the highest level. His win-loss record is impressive. Winning 300 games in 12 years is an amazing accomplishment. However, both pale in comparison to the lifelong impact he has had upon the hundreds of players who have played for him who will, in turn, affect their families and communities for the future.

Drew is not caught up in the hype of headlines or the thrill of winning. After a game, win or lose, he can be found with his wife M’Leigh and their children, being husband and dad—where his record is even more impressive. It is my hope and prayer that I will someday have the opportunity to congratulate Coach Olson on his 1,000th victory as head coach of the Bulldogs. At the rate he is going, it likely will be sooner rather than later.

DEVIN SMITH, Concordia University Director of Athletics

The Concordia women’s basketball program has excelled mightily under the direction of Drew Olson. Each year, we continue to see this championship program being refined by your personal value system that perfectly aligns with Bulldogs Athletics: Family, Christ-centered, Excellence, Teamwork and Passion. It is easily noticed that you genuinely care about every single student-athlete as if they were one of your own children. You have an incredible way of personally connecting with our student-athletes with your deliberate instructional style, yet inspiring a free-flowing style of play that is contagiously fun to be a part of and watch. Drew, you are extremely self-driven, obviously enjoy your craft and successfully utilize this role to impact the lives of students. We are so proud of you, your current and former staff members and all the Bulldogs who have helped us to get to this point over the years. Athletic Leadership sees that under your guidance the Concordia Nebraska women’s basketball program consistently strives for excellence within the finest of details. Congratulations Drew and we look forward to continuing to serve alongside you!

ANGELA MULLER, Concordia University Associate AD
I once read that successful coaches all possess three major qualities – character, commitment and communication. Drew possesses all of these in addition to demonstrating so much more with his leadership. His ability to learn and develop, the respect and genuine care he displays for others and his consistency with fundamentals have elevated him to an elite level in his personal and professional life. Since meeting Drew through his interview process at CUNE, I am refreshed by his ability to listen and show others their value. His team culture is that of family and his clear expectations are unwavering. We have seen Drew make decisions of all magnitudes, and he does so by staying true to his personal values and family philosophy. We are blessed by having Drew in the Bulldog Family and we truly look forward to watching the women’s basketball team each and every time they take the floor.

GRANT SCHMIDT, former Concordia University men’s basketball coach (1989-2012)

Drew is a blessed and special man!

I made a mistake not recruiting him out of high school because I was convinced he was going to follow his brother’s example and go to Doane or go to Hastings. So I focused on other recruits. Little did I know that God had other plans and wanted Drew to be a Bulldog!

Once he transferred from Hastings it was clear that he was one of the most intelligent, insightful and passionate players that I had the privilege of coaching. He didn’t always agree with me, but he was faithful and supportive with his words and actions.

Little did he know but he made it very clear to me, as a player, that he had all the qualities of an excellent coach. All I needed was an opportunity to hire him. His faith, his commitment and his passion all outweigh his great ability as a leader and a coach. This was an easy decision for me regardless how old or experienced he was. I knew he was right for Concordia! The rest is history.

BAILEY MORRIS, 2014-15 National Player of the Year and 2015 graduate

Coach, congrats on 300 wins! I feel honored to have been a part of so many of them during my time at Concordia and can’t wait to watch you get 300 more.

Coach Olson has had an incredible impact on my life, probably more than he even realizes. As a player, he set goals for me that I would’ve never set for myself and then gave me everything I needed to reach them. He saw the best in me and got the best out of me and I won’t ever be able to thank him enough for that. Everything I earned as a player is a direct result of his belief in me and his willingness to let me push the boundaries of my game. Now that I’m a coach, he’s my go-to. If I ever have questions, doubts or need advice, he’s the first person I reach out to. The coolest part is that he doesn’t care that I’m coaching at another school in the conference. He helps me because he wants to see me succeed as a coach, and that means a lot to me. I’d run through a wall for that man.

One of his best attributes as a coach is the way he builds the culture at Concordia and his ability to get his players to buy in. Every player in that program plays for a purpose higher than basketball and when they step on the court, it shows. His teams are hard to beat because he preaches team over self and his players buy in to that. He’s clearly a great coach, but he’ll have so much more success because of who is as a person. Girls want to play for him!

WHITNEY (STICHKA) DABERKOW, played at Concordia from 2004-09
Coach Olson is an excellent coach because of his dedication, hard work and ability to produce winning seasons year after year. His former players look back on their careers so fondly because of the success he helped us achieve and the fun we had playing for him. He has created a family mentality around the basketball program, which is why so many alumni are proud to call themselves Bulldogs today. I wish him the best for this season and look forward to many more wins!

KRISTEN (CONAHAN) VOGT, played at Concordia from 2010-14

Wow, 300 wins. That’s unbelievable. Coach Olson always inspired me because of his competitive drive. His will to win always made me want to improve and to put in the extra time in the gym to be the best I could be for my team. No matter your role on the team, he expects 100 percent from you and to put the team first. That’s why Bulldog basketball is a successful program. It takes the whole team to do their part and Coach Olson knows how to get the best out of each person. That’s something I have always admired about him – how team oriented he is. Congrats, Coach O! Keep it up!!

MARY JANOVICH, current senior on Concordia women’s basketball team
Congrats Coach – what an achievement this is! I am blessed beyond belief to have been/still be a part of this journey with you.

I have always appreciated the persistence he has put into this program and especially me as a person. I know I was not the most easy recruit (or the most fun), but he stuck with me for some reason and I'm sure glad he did. I know we don't always agree and occasionally butt heads, but he still supports and encourages me every single day to be the best that I can be, on and off the court. What I admire most about Coach Olson is how he molds each team, each year, differently. He has the same values every single year, but takes the time to get to know us as people, not just players, and takes those values to another level to build team chemistry – and it's incredible how he does it. He makes us want to play for so much more than just basketball, and it takes a special person to do so. The success he has had over the years is more than deserved, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of this season has in store for all of us. Congrats again, Coach!

Lammers scores 21, top-ranked Concordia cruises

YANKTON, S.D. – This time around, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team experienced none of the occasional early turnover struggles it went through three days earlier in what culminated in a rout of Briar Cliff. In Saturday afternoon’s (Jan. 13) contest, the Bulldogs led 24-6 at the close of the first quarter and cruised to a 73-51 win at Mount Marty.

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad continues what stands as the second longest unbeaten run to begin a season in program history. Concordia has moved to 19-0 overall and to 11-0 in conference play.

“The start of our game was great,” Olson said. “I thought defensively our pressure really got to them and generated a lot of points in transition for us. That’s who we are and that’s how we’ve got to play. I’m kind of frustrated with myself. We took our foot off the gas pedal and didn’t press in the second half, which I think caused the game to be way different. We weren’t able to do what we normally do on the offensive end, because we were getting those turnovers.”

This movie has played out over and over during the past two seasons for the Bulldogs. The relentless attack, gnat-like pressure and waves of depth have a way of pulverizing overmatched opponents. The Lancers felt Concordia’s vice grip suffocate them. The game was put away in a first half that saw Mount Marty manage only 18 points while going 7-for-26 from the field and turning it over 12 times. The Bulldogs have proven capable of smothering their foes in either man-to-man or zone defense.

A dominant first 20 minutes gave way to a blah second half with the game already in hand. Concordia went 1-for-7 from the floor to open the third quarter and shot 31.6 percent in the second half (40.6 percent for the game). But the outcome was never in doubt with the lead hovering right around 20 for much of the third and fourth quarters.

It became clear that the likes of Philly Lammers and Mary Janovich provided matchup problems for the Lancers (10-10, 1-10 GPAC). Lammers finished with a game high 21 points (9-for-15 shooting) to go along with six rebounds. While Lammers dominated inside, Janovich helped Concordia get loose in transition. She went further past the 1,000-point mark by adding 13 on Saturday. She also plucked four steals and dropped a pretty dime inside to Quinn Wragge.

Colby Duvel topped the Bulldog bench mob with eight points and seven rebounds. Playing near her hometown of Crofton, Neb., Wragge chipped in six points and six boards. Dani Hoppes (975 career points) made 2-of-4 shots from downtown while recording eight points and a pair of steals.

“The great thing about this team is you don’t know who’s going to step up and be the star player that day,” Olson said. “But Philly has just been consistently dominant. Some of those games where you don’t notice her, she’s still finishing with a double-double. Today she was dominant. She performed really well in that first half. The lead got cut under 20 and that’s when she stepped up and made a couple more plays in the second half.”

Sarah Castaneda stood out from a Mount Marty perspective. She notched 13 points and seven rebounds for a Lancer squad that shot 35.8 percent (19-for-53) from the floor. Mount Marty’s only conference win came over College of Saint Mary on Dec. 2.

The Bulldogs will be on the road again their next time out when they head to Omaha for a battle with College of Saint Mary (2-17, 1-10 GPAC). Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT inside the Lied Fitness Center. In the first meeting between the these two sides, Concordia thumped the Flames, 114-56, in Seward.

Top-ranked Bulldogs ready to crack 20-win mark

SEWARD, Neb. – Following another dominant week in the GPAC, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team is poised to reach the 20-win mark for the seventh season in a row. During last week’s action, the Bulldogs (19-0, 11-0 GPAC) bludgeoned both Briar Cliff, 95-57, and Mount Marty, 73-51, while remaining unbeaten more than halfway through the conference slate. Two more GPAC games are on the docket this week.

This week’s schedule
Wednesday, Jan. 17 at College of Saint Mary (2-17, 1-10 GPAC), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. Dordt (9-11, 4-7 GPAC), 2 p.m.

The radio home of the Bulldogs, 104.9 Max Country, will feature live broadcasts throughout the week. Wednesday’s game can be seen live online via College of Saint Mary’s Stretch Internet portal. Saturday’s contest will be carried live by the Concordia Sports Network.

Head coach Drew Olson’s squad has already rolled through the most treacherous portions of its schedule, although three nationally-ranked foes are left on the remaining slate. The bad news for this week’s opponents: Concordia has defeated unranked foes by an average margin of 33.7 points per game this season. The stars of last week included Brenleigh Daum (26 points on 7-for-13 3-point shooting vs. Briar Cliff) and Philly Lammers (21 points, six rebounds at Mount Marty). Senior guard Mary Janovich, who totaled 13 points in both of last week’s outings, became the 26th member of the program’s 1,000-point club on Jan. 10. Entering the week, Dani Hoppes needs 25 more points to reach 1,000 for a career that began at Midland.

On that same night, Olson picked up the 300th win of his head coaching career. Already the winningest coach in program history, Olson has the Bulldogs on track to make their 10th national tournament during his 12-year tenure. Last week Concordia rose to the No. 1 ranking for the first time since December 2012. Now on an active run of 79-straight appearances in the national poll, the Bulldog women’s basketball program has achieved 14 No. 1 rankings during its history. The highest final ranking during Olson’s tenure was second in 2015.

Concordia defeated College of Saint Mary handily, 114-56 (Nov. 29), in this season’s first meeting between the two sides. Since then, the Flames have earned just one win – a 58-57 overtime triumph over Doane. It’s been a rebuilding season for head coach Jesse Flanagan’s offensively challenged bunch that averages 62.2 points and shoots 35.5 percent from the floor. The team’s brightest star is senior guard Miranda Acuna, who tops the team with an average of 15.6 points per contest.

Dordt’s most lopsided loss (101-55) of the season came at the hands of the Bulldogs. The Defenders had the weekend off following their 76-62 Jan. 13 home win over College of Saint Mary. Sophomore Rachel Evavold (14.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg) serves as a do-it-all post player for Kyle Lindbergh, who is titled the program’s interim head women’s basketball coach. Dordt will have two opportunities to claim a signature upset this week with eighth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan and No. 1 Concordia up next.

On paper, one of the Bulldogs’ most challenging remaining games is coming up next Wednesday (Jan. 24) when they will play at No. 11 Hastings (16-3, 8-3 GPAC). That rivalry battle precedes the 67th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament (Jan. 26-27), which will take place in Mequon, Wis.

Projected lineups

Concordia (19-0, 11-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 5.1 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.4 rpg, .370 fg%, .358 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 10.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, 1.6 apg, .406 fg%, .387 3-pt fg%
G – Mary Janovich: 9.5 ppg, 3.4 apg, 2.2 rpg, 2.0 spg, .539 fg%, .517 3-pt fg%, .800 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.6 bpg, .630 fg%, .828 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 13.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.5 spg, 1.5 bpg, .492 fg%, .692 ft%

College of Saint Mary (2-17, 1-10)
G – Alyssa Laudato: 5.1 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1.3 rpg, 1.2 spg, .381 fg% 
G – Miranda Acuna: 15.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.8 spg, 1.7 apg, .359 fg%, .297 3-pt fg%, .867 ft%
G – Tyler Sumpter: 14.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.4 spg, .426 fg%, .333 3-pt fg%
F – Lacey Knudsen: 5.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, .349 fg%, .533 ft%
F – Ashley Nelson: 3.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.7 spg, .246 fg%, .719 ft%

Dordt (9-11, 4-7)
G – Annie Rhinesmith: 12.7 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.7 rpg, 2.0 spg, .459 fg%, .384 3-pt fg%, .826 ft%
G – Kenzie Bousema: 6.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, .420 fg%, .609 ft%
G – Payton Harmsen: 7.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, .311 fg%, .298 3-pt fg%, .611 ft%
F – Rachel Evavold: 14.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 bpg, .542 fg%, .863 ft%
F – Erika Feenstra: 11.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .463 fg%, .333 3-pt fg%, .882 ft%

Bulldogs outmuscle Flames in Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. – For the 10th time in 12-year head coach Drew Olson’s tenure, the Concordia University women’s basketball team has reached the 20-win mark. Fittingly, the Bulldogs dominated in the way that so many of Olson’s past teams have done. On Wednesday (Jan. 17), top-ranked Concordia completed a season sweep of College of Saint Mary with an 86-57 win in Omaha.

Owners of the No. 1 ranking for more than a week, Olson’s squad is a perfect 20-0 overall and 12-0 in conference play. One of Olson’s challenges this week, like many others, was keeping his team focused while going up against teams the Bulldogs have already beaten soundly earlier this season.

“Sometimes we feel like a broken record. We tell our kids to keep focused and make sure we respect our opponent,” Olson said. “We go out there to play our best basketball regardless of who we’re playing, but I know (earlier results) are in the back of their minds. Hopefully we keep that focus and maturity to just go out and play really hard. When we do that, good things happen regardless of who we play.”

This one wasn’t quite as lopsided as Concordia’s 114-56 victory over the Flames (2-18, 1-11 GPAC) inside Walz Arena on Nov. 29. However, the Bulldogs used a 53-29 advantage on the boards and a hot start from Quinn Wragge (14 points, 10 rebounds) to build a healthy lead. Wragge and company led by 17 (45-28) at halftime and quickly extended the advantage with a runaway third quarter (26-6).

The final box score is reminiscent of many Concordia wins over the past two seasons. Wragge was the team’s lone double-figure scorer, though all of her teammates contributed in some way. Thirteen Bulldogs registered in the scoring column, including the likes of Taylor Cockerill (nine points, seven rebounds), Mary Janovich (nine points, two steals), Brenleigh Daum (eight points), Philly Lammers (eight points, five rebounds) and Colby Duvel (seven points, 10 rebounds).

It was mostly a workmanlike night for Concordia, which hoisted 28 more shots from the field than did College of Saint Mary. The Bulldogs were just an okay 41.7 percent from the floor, but they did force 25 turnovers and never felt especially threatened with Wragge playing solidly and Duvel continuing her brilliance off the bench.

“I thought Quinn had a great start to the game and really got us going, especially with her hustle plays,” Olson said. “Colby has just continued to play really good basketball. Her rebounding has been phenomenal with that second group.”

Corryne Millett topped the Flames with 14 points off the bench. Also in a reserve role, A’leah Davis chipped in 11 points. College of Saint Mary standout Miranda Acuna was hounded and limited to two points on 1-for-6 shooting. She committed five turnovers.

Coming up on Saturday, the Bulldogs will return to Walz Arena, where they have won each of their last 29 games. Concordia and Dordt (9-12, 4-8 GPAC) will go head-to-head in a contest set to begin at 2 p.m. CT. In this season’s first meeting between the two squads, the Bulldogs thrashed the Defenders, 101-55, in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Dec. 2.

Home win streak stretches to 30

SEWARD, Neb. – The first 17 games of the season were loaded with highly-rated opponents. But for a fourth-straight outing, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team faced a bottom-half-of-the-GPAC opponent and turned in another lopsided victory. Visiting Dordt became the latest victim in what amounted to a 107-68 Bulldog win inside Walz Arena on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 20).

At 21-0 overall and 13-0 in conference play, 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad is ready to be challenged again. Concordia has run its home win streak to an even 30.

“Our kids are doing a great job coming into each game with a good focus and good energy level,” Olson said. “We are taking care of business and just kind of wearing teams down in the second half. I think we’re doing a real good job defensively of working on some different things like we did today.”

This was really just your standard 2017-18 Bulldog performance. While the Defenders (9-13, 4-9 GPAC) hung in for a while, a late first half surge and then a solid run of play in the third quarter put the game on ice. Not only did senior Dani Hoppes move past 1,000 career points in the win, she also was a major force as a defensive pest. She plucked six steals and helped bother Dordt into committing 34 turnovers.

Saturday’s affair just felt like so many games have this season for Concordia. With less than three minutes remaining in the first half, the Bulldogs led by only six (37-31), but it seemed that the floodgates could open up at any moment – and they eventually did with the aid of six Concordia double-figure scorers: Hoppes, Taylor Cockerill (14), Quinn Wragge (13), Brenleigh Daum (11), MacKenzie Helman (11) and Colby Duvel (10). Fifty points were delivered by Bulldog reserves.

On the other side, Dordt didn’t lack in the effort department. Unlike the first matchup in Sioux Center, Iowa – a 101-55 pasting – the Defenders had point guard Annie Rhinesmith available. She recorded seven points while also turning it over six times. They were paced by the 14 points of Ebby Prewitt off the bench.

For the second time in less than two weeks, the prospect of a Bulldog reaching 1,000 career points kept the interest of the Walz crowd even with the outcome of the game already decided. Olson allowed Hoppes the opportunity to play deep into the fourth quarter in hopes of having her achieve that milestone at home. With under 2:30 left, Hoppes brought the crowd to its feet with a bomb that moved her into quadruple digits.

“It’s just really special and I feel so blessed to be surrounded by this community and my team,” Hoppes said. “The encouragement that I get from being on this team is really special.”

Hoppes totaled 436 of her points in two seasons at Midland. Since transferring, the Lincoln Christian High School product has tallied 565 points. She joins Wragge (1,175) and Mary Janovich (1,026) as Bulldogs to have eclipsed the 1,000-point mark this season.

The Bulldogs will be back on the road on Wednesday for a trip to 11th-ranked Hastings (18-3, 9-3) GPAC. Tipoff from Lynn Farrell Arena in Hastings is set for 6 p.m. CT. When the two sides met in Walz Arena on Dec. 6, Concordia rallied from a 12-point deficit to claim a 77-65 victory over the Broncos. Wednesday’s big clash will precede the 67th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament (Jan. 26-27).

Shandra Farmer and Hastings will threaten the Bulldogs’ undefeated record. Said Olson, “They’re just a really tough, gritty group, very physical and a great defensive team. They’re a really good team so we better be ready.”

Previewing CIT week on the women's side

#CIT2018
Hosted by Concordia University, Wisconsin in Mequon, Wis. (R. John Buuck Field House)

CIT links
CU-Wisconsin tournament page
Advance tickets (available until 12 p.m. Jan. 24)
Live webcasts for CIT games
Radio coverage: 104.9 Max Country
Game recaps/interviews
Info for CUNE fans attending CIT

Tickets
$20 advanced weekend pass | $25 weekend pass purchased on site | $15 day pass | children under six are free

2018 Concordia Invitational Tournament Schedule

Friday, Jan. 26

• 1 p.m. – Nebraska vs. Ann Arbor (women)
• 3 p.m. – Nebraska vs. Ann Arbor (men)
• 6 p.m. – Wisconsin vs. Chicago (women)
• 8 p.m. – Wisconsin vs. Chicago (men)

Saturday, Jan. 27

• 12 p.m. – Women’s consolation game
• 2 p.m. – Men’s consolation game
• 4 p.m. – Dance/Cheer competition
• 5:30 p.m. – Women’s championship game
• 7:30 p.m. – Men’s championship game

Watch Party at Bottle Rocket
Bottle Rocket Brewing Co. in Seward will host a watch party for all Bulldog games during CIT. The R. Bar of Staplehurst will be serving food on both days. Bottle Rocket Brewing Co. is located at 230 South 5th Street in Seward.

CIT dominance
Since seizing the program’s first CIT title in 1983, the Bulldogs have been utterly dominant in this annual event. CUNE’s 27 all-time CIT titles are far away the most in the tournament’s history, which dates back to 1973 on the women’s side. The Bulldogs have come out on top in 26 of the last 31 CITs. Head coach Drew Olson’s program owns an eight-game CIT win streak during which each of the victories have come by double-digit margins. At last year’s event in Seward, CUNE made it an anticlimactic run by pummeling both CU-Wisconsin, 107-65, and CU-Ann Arbor, 89-62. For the second year in a row, Quinn Wragge took home MVP honors. Wragge became the sixth player in school history to earn multiple CIT MVP awards, joining Bailey Morris (2014, 2015), Whitney Stichka (2006, 2008, 2009), Sarah Harrison (2002, 2004, 2005), Stacey Miller (1997, 1998) and Lynda Beck (1990, 1991).

Undefeated roll continues
The perfect season rolled through last week with the Bulldogs (21-0, 13-0 GPAC) earning lopsided wins over College of Saint Mary, 86-57, and Dordt, 107-68. At 13-0 in conference play, CUNE holds a 2.5-game lead over second-place Northwestern (10-2) atop the GPAC standings. The win at College of Saint Mary clinched the program’s 23rd 20-win season all-time. During Olson’s 12 seasons, the Bulldogs have reached the 20-win mark 10 times. In the victory over Dordt, senior Dani Hoppes became the third Bulldog this season to eclipse 1,000 career points. Hoppes, who totaled 20 points and six steals versus Dordt, tallied 436 points in two seasons at Midland and has since added 565 points in two seasons at CUNE.

Up next
On paper, this week’s biggest threat to the Bulldogs’ unblemished record is 11th-ranked Hastings. CUNE and the Broncos (18-3, 9-3 GPAC) will square off inside Lynn Farrell Arena at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday. With three conference defeats, Hastings likely is in a must-win scenario in regards to its hopes of winning the conference regular-season title. The Broncos are arguably the top defensive team in NAIA Division II, sporting national rankings of first in scoring defense (51.0) and 10th in field goal percentage defense (.354). Sophomore guard Shandra Famer (15.1 ppg) looks like an All-American candidate at the point guard spot.

The women’s CIT field

Concordia University, Nebraska
Head coach: Drew Olson, 12th year
Record: 21-0
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA Division II)
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Top player: It seems to change every game. Quinn Wragge (13.8 ppg) has been the team’s most consistent and efficient scorer (.626 field goal percentage) while Philly Lammers (12.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg) stars as one of the nation’s most dominant post players. In four career CIT games, Wragge has totaled 71 points while reeling in two CIT MVP awards.
Key stat: It’s difficult to find a more impressive small college women’s basketball team. On the national leaderboard, CUNE ranks second in 3-point field goals per game (11.4), second in scoring (90.8), third in steals per game (15.6), fifth in scoring margin (+26.2), fifth in turnover margin (+8.7) and 11th in field goal percentage offense (.451) – all while playing a schedule rated as the most difficult in all of the NAIA.
CIT titles: 27 (most recent: 2017)

Concordia University, Ann Arbor
Head coach: Thad Sankey, 5th year
Record: 15-7
Conference: Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (NAIA Division II)
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Top player: Senior guard Kari Borowiak has been a dependable scoring option throughout her Cardinal career. She’s averaging a career high 20.2 points per game this season while distributing 5.9 assists per outing. She enters the week with 1,725 career points.
Key stat: The fortunes of the program have been improving steadily over the past few seasons under CUNE alum Thad Sankey’s direction. The Cardinals have gone from 6-24 in 2014-15 to a combined 33-20 over the past two seasons. Led by Borowiak, Sankey looks to have his best team yet.
CIT titles: 2 (most recent: 2013)

Concordia University, Chicago
Head coach: Rusty Rogers, 4th year
Record: 14-2
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Top player: Senior guard Taylor Jacobsen can fill it up. She averages 20.4 points per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the floor. She has totaled 30 points on two different occasions this season.
Key stat: The Cougars enter the week riding a school record nine-game winning streak. At 14-2 overall, CUC has nearly matched its win total from last season when it went 15-11. The Cougars have been fairly dominant, winning games, on average, 81.9 to 62.9.
CIT titles: 4 (most recent: 1986)

Concordia University, Wisconsin
Head coach: Stacey Brunner-Jones, 14th year
Record: 12-5
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin
Top player: Senior post Audrey Scharmer averages a double-double (13.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg) as a force inside for the Falcons. Not just a low post scorer, Scharmer makes 80.6 percent of her free throw attempts.
Key stat: Should CUNE and CUW meet up on Saturday, it would be a clash of styles. The Falcons prefer to slow the pace. CUW and its opponents average a combined 120.6 points per game. It limits its foes to 56.5 points per contest and 37.3 percent shooting. 
CIT titles: 3 (most recent: 2007)

Janovich, Daum star in road win over No. 11 Hastings

HASTINGS, Neb. – Limit star guard Shandra Farmer to eight points and shoot 49.2 percent as a team and you’ve got a recipe for a significant road win. Up against the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense, the top-rated Concordia University women’s basketball team escaped Hastings with a 79-70 win over the 11th-ranked Broncos on Wednesday night (Jan. 24). In order to become a serious challenger for the GPAC regular-season title, Hastings (18-4, 9-4 GPAC) had to have this one.

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad keeps humming. It pushed its sparkling records to 22-0 overall and to 14-0 in conference play. The Bulldogs have won 10 times over teams ranked in the top 25 of this week’s national poll.

“Mary (Janovich) was fantastic. Defensively, that was one of her better games,” Olson said. “I thought the biggest thing was at the start of the second half. She hit a couple of threes that really settled us down. I thought it was then that our team could sense, we’re going to win this game because we got that lead early in the third quarter.”

The Broncos are one of the few teams that have been able to give Concordia a scare. In the first meeting that took place in Seward on Dec. 6 (a 77-65 Bulldog win), Concordia trailed at halftime. The same scenario played out on Wednesday. However, the Bulldogs found ways to crack Farmer and a tenacious man-to-man Hastings defense. Janovich got loose for a game high 18 points and four steals while Brenleigh Daum brought the sniper (4-for-6 from 3-point range) off the bench.

Daum and fellow sharpshooter Dani Hoppes did the duty of crippling the Broncos with back-breaking triples down the stretch. Daum’s trey at the 5:25 mark of the fourth quarter widened the spread to 11 (70-59). A few minutes later, Hoppes emerged with a 3-pointer that made for a 12-point margin (74-62). Hastings did manage to get back within six (74-68) before Concordia iced the game by going 5-for-6 from the foul line and with crucial stops in the final minute.

Leading up to the game, Olson made it a priority for his players to always be aware of Farmer’s presence on the court. The All-America candidate had much to do with the Broncos jumping out to a 20-8 lead in the season’s first matchup. With the likes of Taylor Cockerill, Hoppes and Janovich hounding her, Farmer ended up 3-for-8 from the field. She also had just one steal this time around. The Hastings backcourt trio of Farmer, Holly Hild and Jordan Johnson went a combined 10-for-29 (.345) from the floor.

Farmer’s ability to shake the press did result in Olson making some adjustments. Olson switched from man to zone defense after halftime.

“She carved us up in the press early,” Olson said of Farmer. “She got everybody else going and confident. I thought she played really well, but then we did a better job of controlling her in the press at the end of the first half. Then we took off the press and did a nice job of controlling her in the half court. If she doesn’t beat us, then we’re in really good shape.”

Janovich got the clear upper hand in the battle of the guards. Daum aided the cause in a big way with 16 points. Philly Lammers (11 points, nine rebounds) and Quinn Wragge (10 points, two blocked shots) also reached double figures in scoring. Their production helped overcome a 32-24 rebound disadvantage. On the plus side, Concordia won the turnover category (plus-five).

Now the quest for Concordia Invitational Tournament championship No. 28 in program history is on. The Bulldogs will open up play at the 67th annual event by taking on Concordia University-Ann Arbor (15-7) at 1 p.m. CT on Friday. The 2018 CIT will be hosted by Concordia University, Wisconsin, which plays its games inside R. John Buuck Field House.

Hoppes, Bulldogs mow down Cardinals at CIT

MEQUON, Wis. – Amidst the amped up environment that comes with the annual Concordia Invitational Tournament, the Bulldogs found the CUW rims to their liking. Senior Dani Hoppes drained six of her first seven 3-point attempts and the well-oiled machine chugged along with a 104-66 win over Concordia University, Ann Arbor in Mequon, Wis., on Friday afternoon (Jan. 26).

Any question about whether a quick turnaround and long road trip would wear out the top-ranked Bulldogs (23-0) was answered quickly – with a 30-point first quarter for 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad. Olson has guided teams to eight CIT championships over the previous 11 seasons.

“They brought great energy,” Olson said. “It’s just amazing every game. They have such good focus and there’s no letdown. That just shows the maturity of this group. They play really hard.”

For stretches of Friday’s contest, the Bulldogs appeared nearly unstoppable. CUNE maximized its speed and quickness advantages while seeking out Hoppes for triples early and often. She finished with a game high 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting in a frenetically paced affair. If Hoppes couldn’t find an opening, all she had to do was look inside to Philly Lammers as part of a devastating inside-outside punch.

Coached by CUNE alum Thad Sankey, the Cardinals (15-9) got within 16 (66-50) in the third quarter after trailing by 22 shortly after halftime. Things later got ugly when the Bulldogs made a patented fourth quarter explosion, rattling off the first 15 points of the period to make it another runaway. Five different players scored during the splurge that included a triple apiece by Brenleigh Daum and Sydney Feller.

CUNE’s tenacity on the defensive end has had a way of stifling the opposition’s top threat. Though Kari Borowiak and CUAA limited their turnover count to a respectable eight in the first half, things came unraveled with 24 giveaways over the final 20 minutes. Borowiak went just 1-for-8 from the floor and her four points were well below her season average (20.2).

Hoppes stole the show with shooting that bordered on ridiculousness. The transfer from Midland experienced CIT at home last season and now has gotten a taste of CIT on the road.

“It’s a lot of fun. So many people drive out – our parents and fans and everyone else,” Hoppes said. “Even though it is so far away, just the excitement that it brings is awesome.”

One-hundred point outings at CIT are not unfamiliar for the Bulldogs, who opened up the 2017 event with a 107-65 thumping of Concordia University, Wisconsin. CUNE got plenty of offense once again with 14 different players registering in the scoring column. Lammers put up 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor while Mary Janovich totaled 10 points, six rebounds and three steals. Off the bench, Colby Duvel (12 rebounds) and Shelby Pollman (10 points, 4-for-6 shooting) made significant contributions.

“It helps that we knock down shots like Dani did,” Olson said. “That’s how we want it to be. We want the pace to go on a frenzy. It’s going to wear them down quicker than us because of our depth. We don’t want to give up 19 (in the first quarter), but we know in the long run it’s going to work out.”

CUAA had no way of keeping up while mired by turnovers – and its 41.1 percent shooting paled in comparison to the Bulldogs’ clip of 50.6 percent. Hoppes and her teammates went 15-for-33 from 3-point range. The lone Cardinal to reach double figures was Michelle Murnen (13).

The 67th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament will continue on Saturday when the Bulldogs take aim at their 28th all-time CIT title and fifth in a row. In the program’s most recent CIT championship in Wisconsin, CUNE toppled CUAA in the title contest, 70-50. Saturday’s championship tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. CT. The opponent will be Concordia University, Chicago (15-3), which got past Concordia University, Wisconsin, 71-61, on Friday.

MVP Hoppes, CUNE roll to program's 28th CIT title

MEQUON, Wis. – While channeling the electricity of CIT, underdog Concordia University, Chicago hung tough through the opening quarter before talent and depth won out. The potent trio of Dani Hoppes, Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge overwhelmed the Cougars in an anticlimactic CIT championship game. The top-ranked Bulldogs claimed the program’s 28th CIT title all-time by winning on Saturday evening (Jan. 27), 102-56.

Head coach Drew Olson has steered CUNE to CIT championships in nine of his 12 seasons at the helm of the program. The Bulldogs will carry a 24-0 overall record into the stretch run of conference regular-season play.

“It’s always fun to win CIT, even though we came in expecting to do what we did,” Olson said. “It doesn’t get old and it’s something we don’t take for granted. It’s one of our goals every season. It’s a good thing that we accomplished.”

Hoppes (tournament MVP) picked up where she left on Friday, when she nailed six 3-point shots, and Lammers and Wragge seemed capable of scoring in the lane just about any time they felt like it. They inflicted significant destruction upon a CUC program enjoying one of its best seasons in many years. A day earlier, the Cougars (16-4) halted a CIT drought by toppling conference rival Concordia University, Wisconsin, 71-61.

No team has the horses to keep up with CUNE so far this 2017-18 season. As long as the Bulldogs did not look past their CIT opponents, a perfect weekend was close to a given. The way Hoppes and company performed at R. John Buuck Field House, it was no contest. In Saturday’s championship, Hoppes (14), Lammers (16) and Wragge (24) combined for 54 points while going a collective 23-for-34 from the floor.

In Olson’s eyes, Hoppes’ contributions defensively were every bit as important as her prolific shooting (10-for-19 from 3-point range on the weekend). Among this group of gnat-like defenders, Hoppes stands out as one of the peskiest.

“Dani was phenomenal in both games,” Olson said. “This game tonight she didn’t score as much as she did yesterday, but defensively she was awesome again. She still hit double figures. She just gets us going early in games and I think our team feeds off that.”

As the clock ticked down to zeroes on Saturday, one photographer was heard saying, “I was waiting for the rush.” There were no wild celebrations for a team that expected to retain the massive CIT trophy. However, members of the team appreciate what it feels like to have earned a championship. They hope there are more of those to come.

“It was a lot of fun. It really doesn’t get old,” Wragge said. “At the beginning of the season Coach asks what our goals are. Every single time, winning CIT is on that goal list. It’s an incredible atmosphere. Game-by-game, we scouted them and knew what we had to do. We executed the game plan.”

CUC trailed just 27-23 at the conclusion of the first quarter. The rest of the game was completely one-sided. CUNE outscored the Cougars by double-digit margins in each of the second, third and fourth quarters. The Bulldogs were underwhelming shooting the three (10-for-41), but they owned enormous advantages in turnovers (26-14) and rebounding (56-37).

No player was more valuable off CUNE’s bench during CIT than Colby Duvel, who had 12 rebounds on Friday and then 10 points and 13 rebounds on Saturday. Though she did not score, Sydney Feller chipped in five rebounds and four assists. On the other side, Cougar standout Taylor Jacobsen paced her squad with 16 points (4-for-14 from the field).

CUNE has now won 10 CIT games in a row. Over the past two events, the Bulldogs’ average margin of victory has been 38.3 points per game.

The remaining six games left on the regular-season slate will all be played against conference opponents. The Bulldogs will head to Fremont on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. CT battle with Midland (11-14, 6-9 GPAC). In this season’s first meeting, CUNE toppled the Warriors, 85-63, in Seward on Nov. 15.

CIT All-Tournament Team
MVP: Dani Hoppes, CUNE
Kari Borowiak, CUAA
Taylor Jacobsen, CUC
Philly Lammers, CUNE
Audrey Scharmer, CUW

CIT champs look to strengthen hold on first place

SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off the 28th Concordia Invitational Tournament title in program history, the top-ranked Bulldogs now enter the stretch run of conference play with their unbeaten season still intact. With six regular-season games remaining, CUNE (24-0, 14-0 GPAC) owns a two-game lead over No. 10 Northwestern (12-2 GPAC) atop the league standings. Before looking ahead to Saturday’s showdown with the Red Raiders, the Bulldogs have their sights set on claiming a win in Fremont on Wednesday.

This week’s schedule
Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Midland (11-14, 6-9 GPAC), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. No. 10 Northwestern (17-5, 12-2 GPAC), 2 p.m.

Live radio coverage of this week’s action will be provided by 104.9 Max Country with Tyler Cavalli again on the call. Midland will feature a live webcast on Wednesday HERE while the Concordia Sports Network will carry Saturday’s game HERE.

NOTE: The first 100 students at Saturday’s game will receive a free T-shirt, courtesy of the women’s basketball program. The contest has been declared a white out.

Head coach Drew Olson has been at the controls for nine CIT titles since beginning his tenure prior to the 2006-07 season. Over the past five years, the Bulldogs have taken ownership of CIT, winning all 10 games at the event while doing so by an average margin of 30.8 points. Behind 2018 CIT MVP Dani Hoppes, CUNE trounced Concordia University, Ann Arbor, 104-66, and then Concordia University, Chicago, 102-56. Philly Lammers joined Hoppes on the all-tournament team. Hoppes went 10-for-19 from 3-point range while playing stellar defensively over the CIT weekend. Meanwhile, Lammers piled up 31 points in just 35 minutes of action.

No. 11 Hastings (18-5, 9-5 GPAC) posed a much more serious threat, among last week’s opponents. Mary Janovich (18 points, four steals) starred in what resulted in the Bulldogs’ 10th win this season over teams currently ranked in the top 25 national poll. In regards to the national rankings, CUNE checked in at No. 1 for the second-straight poll, as announced in a release on Jan. 23. The Bulldogs earned 11 of 12 first-place votes while continuing to maintain the top resume of résumé of any NAIA women’s basketball team. CUNE has played the nation’s No. 1-ranked schedule.

The Bulldogs cruised to an 85-63 win over Midland in Seward on Nov. 15. One of the Warriors’ top players has been former Bulldog Maddie Egr, who averages 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The junior has started all 25 of the team’s games. Midland’s top player is Joelle Overkamp, who puts up 16.5 points per outing and shoots 40 percent from 3-point range. Head coach Shawn Gilbert’s group is still looking to get over the hump against the conference’s top five teams, all nationally ranked.

CUNE felt fortunate to escape Orange City, Iowa, with an 84-80 win on Dec. 15. The Red Raiders held a lead as late as the 2:30 mark of the fourth quarter before the Bulldogs edged them out late. Since then, Northwestern has rattled off nine wins in a row, including three over ranked conference foes: No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan, No. 11 Hastings and No. 13 Morningside. Head coach Chris Yaw’s squad features a dynamic trio of Kassidy De Jong (18.0 ppg), Anna Kiel (14.8 ppg) and Darbi Gustafson (14.8 ppg).

Concordia will spent plenty of time in Sioux City, Iowa, next week with trips to Briar Cliff (8-16, 5-9 GPAC) on Feb. 7 and to No. 13 Morningside (18-7, 11-4 GPAC) on Feb. 10 upcoming.

Projected lineups

Concordia (24-0, 14-0)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.8 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.3 rpg, 1.8 spg, .348 fg%, .337 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 11.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.8 spg, 1.5 apg, .416 fg%, .385 3-pt fg%
G – Mary Janovich: 9.6 ppg, 3.1 apg, 2.5 rpg, 2.2 spg, .519 fg%, .465 3-pt fg%, .826 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.7 spg, .643 fg%, .825 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 12.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.4 spg, 1.3 bpg, .504 fg%, .698 ft%

Midland (11-14, 6-9)
G – Amanda Hansen: 10.4 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg, .392 fg%, .254 3-pt fg%, .611 ft%
G – Megan Kucks: 9.2 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.6 rpg, 1.0 spg, .357 fg%, .391 3-pt fg%, .791 ft%
G – Joelle Overkamp: 16.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.2 spg, .454 fg%, .400 3-pt fg%, .841 ft%
G – Madison Severson: 7.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg, .410 fg%, .456 3-pt fg%, .808 ft%
F – Maddie Egr: 12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.0 spg, .538 fg%, .679 ft%

Northwestern (17-5, 12-2)
G – Renee Maneman: 8.9 ppg, 8.7 apg, 4.0 rpg, 1.9 spg, .471 fg%, .696 ft%
G – Paige Danner: 7.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.5 spg, .371 fg%, .351 3-pt fg%, .938 ft%
G – Kassidy De Jong: 18.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.3 spg, .484 fg%, .780 ft%
F – Haley Birks: 8.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.2 bpg, .567 fg%, .857 ft%
F – Darbi Gustafson: 14.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, .587 fg%, .788 ft%

Stunned in Fremont

FREMONT, Neb. – It’s not supposed to be easy all the time, but the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team has made it seem that way for most of the 2017-18 season. No one outside the Midland locker room likely expected the Bulldogs to fall on Wednesday night (Jan. 31), but upsets of stunning magnitudes sometimes happen in sports. The Warriors shocked Concordia, 86-77, in Fremont.

In the few instances this season where a loss seemed inevitable, the Bulldogs always found a way. Not this time. Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad now stands at 24-1 overall and at 14-1 in conference play. Olson had never lost to Midland during his head coaching career.

“We didn’t make plays. We didn’t step up defensively and get stops,” Olson said. “I thought ultimately we lost our composure. They outplayed us today. They stepped up and hit big shots. They made the plays to win the game. You can make excuses about our sickness, but honestly, we didn’t play well enough. We weren’t focused enough.”

With an unblemished record and No. 1 national ranking, Concordia couldn’t expect to see anything other than the opposition’s best shot. There were uncharacteristic mistakes made by the Bulldogs, who turned it over 20 times and missed too many shots right near the bucket. But to be frank, Midland’s star players outplayed Concordia’s standouts.

Joelle Overkamp exploded for 27 points to power the Warriors (12-14, 7-9 GPAC) to their first win this season over a ranked opponent. Overkamp, Amanda Hansen and Madison Severson combined to go 9-for-18 from 3-point range and former Bulldog Maddie Egr served as the team’s lone effective post presence. She piled up 19 points and eight rebounds.

Freshman Taylor Cockerill (all 15 points in the second half) did her best to lead the Bulldogs back for yet another comeback win on the road. Concordia had already turned in memorable road rallies for victories at No. 9 Jamestown and No. 4 College of the Ozarks. But in this case, Concordia dug an 11-point hole quickly out of the gate in the second half and never recovered. The dagger came from Hansen with 1:33 left when she buried a trey to extend the Midland lead to 11 (78-67).

The Warriors pulled off the stunner despite being outrebounded, 50-30. However, they did well to limit their turnovers to 17 and to avoid being victimized by Philly Lammers (2-for-7 from field), who played under the weather. Midland also had a big edge at the free throw line (23-for-35 compared to 14-for-17) and knocked down 11 3-point field goals.

Cockerill equaled Mary Janovich’s 15 points for a team high. Quinn Wragge added 10 points and eight rebounds. A beast on the boards, sophomore Colby Duvel (13 rebounds) recorded double figures in rebounds for the third-straight outing.

The Bulldogs will look to extend their 30-game home win streak on Saturday when 10th-ranked Northwestern (18-5, 13-2 GPAC) pays a visit to Walz Arena. Tipoff in Seward is set for 2 p.m. CT. Concordia is encouraging fans to wear white to support the ‘white out.’ The first 100 students will receive a free T-shirt. In addition, it will be a special alumni day for the Bulldog women’s basketball program.

In this season’s first meeting held in Orange City, Iowa, Concordia rallied to clip the Red Raiders, 84-80, on Dec. 15. Northwestern sits just one game behind the Bulldogs atop the conference standings.

“Our goal was not to go undefeated this season,” Olson said. “Our goal is other things. We have to keep getting better each day. The ultimate goal is still there, but I hope this is something that we can learn from.”

Bulldogs reassert control of GPAC title race

SEWARD, Neb. – The perfect season may have fallen by the wayside in a stunner on Wednesday, but the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team has reasserted control of the GPAC regular-season title race. The Bulldogs rebounded on Saturday (Feb. 3) with an 80-67 win over No. 10 Northwestern in a battle between the top two teams in the conference standings. The sky is not falling.

The victory gave 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad some breathing room atop the GPAC. At 25-1 overall and 15-1 in conference play, Concordia owns a two-game lead over two teams tied for second, the Red Raiders (18-6, 13-3 GPAC) and Dakota Wesleyan (22-4, 13-3 GPAC).

The Bulldogs did not let the loss at Midland beat them twice. Concordia got back to being the elite team it has proven to be.

“Just their mindset and their focus going into the game,” Olson said of what differed from three days ago. “They did a phenomenal job executing the game plan. Then they had confidence in that second half to step up and hit big shots.”

Still feeling under the weather, All-American Philly Lammers did not start. Her status gave reason for concern considering Northwestern’s talented frontcourt features 6-0 Haley Birks, 6-1 Darbi Gustafson and 6-1 Anna Kiel. They didn’t have an answer for Lammers in the second quarter when she tallied 10 of her 15 points and helped the Bulldogs build a double-digit lead. At a height disadvantage while standing 5-9, Concordia’s Colby Duvel played taller, checking in with 13 points and nine rebounds.

The game’s defining stretch came during the third quarter when a nine-point Concordia halftime lead morphed into a two-point deficit. Dani Hoppes got loose. Like a microwave oven, Hoppes seared to the sizzle of eight points in a one-minute span. Suddenly, the Bulldogs had regained an eight-point lead (59-51). Northwestern failed to hold another advantage the rest of the way.

Duvel and her teammates never panicked after Wednesday’s surprising result in Fremont. Said Duvel, “We have two big quotes this year. We win, we lose, we go home, we get ready for the next game. The next one is to get better every day. Come Thursday’s practice, this team really focused in and that’s what we needed to win this game.”

Olson’s fears of being outplayed in the paint were discredited by Duvel and company, who outrebounded the Red Raiders, 42-33. The bulk of Northwestern’s offensive output came from the duo of Renee Maneman (23 points, six assists) and Kassidy De Jong (16 points, four rebounds). Few buckets came easy for the Red Raiders (36.4 percent shooting), who faced zone heavy looks from Concordia.

Northwestern’s two most recent losses have both come at the hands of the Bulldogs, who also earned an 84-80 win in Orange City, Iowa, on Dec. 15. Between defeats, the Red Raiders went on a 10-game winning streak.

Meanwhile, Concordia bumped its home win streak to 31 and greatly improved its chances of claiming a GPAC regular-season title for the fourth time under Olson. On Saturday, Hoppes led the way with 17 points (5-of-9 from 3-point range). She was joined by Lammers, Duvel, Quinn Wragge (11) and Taylor Cockerill (10) in double figures in scoring. They collaborated on the team’s 11th win this season over opponents currently included in the national top 25 poll.

“That’s a big-time effort from Philly and Quinn,” Olson said. “They are not well and they stepped up to the challenge. We had a lot of kids step up. Dani hit the big shots. Colby was phenomenal throughout the whole game. Just really proud of our defensive effort.”

The Bulldogs begin a two-game swing in Sioux City, Iowa, on Wednesday (Feb. 7) with a contest at Briar Cliff (9-17, 6-10 GPAC). Tipoff from the Newman Flanagan Center is set for 6 p.m. CT. In this season’s first meeting that took place in Seward, Concordia routed the Chargers, 95-57, on Jan. 10.

Sioux City week greets Bulldogs

SEWARD, Neb. – There’s a lot the Concordia University women’s basketball team hopes to accomplish in Sioux City, Iowa, both this week and this upcoming March. The Bulldogs desire to maintain their grip upon first place in the GPAC while visiting Briar Cliff on Wednesday and 13th-ranked Morningside on Saturday. Concordia bounced back nicely from its first loss of the season by toppling Northwestern, 80-67, on Feb. 3 in a matchup between teams that held the top two spots in the league standings.

This week’s schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 7 at Briar Cliff (9-17, 6-10 GPAC), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10 at No. 13 Morningside (18-8, 11-5 GPAC), 2 p.m.

The unbeaten season may have went out the window, but 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has put itself in the driver’s seat for a second GPAC regular-season title in a row. The Bulldogs (25-1, 15-1 GPAC) own a two-game lead over Dakota Wesleyan (13-3) and Northwestern (13-3) atop the standings. The Red Raiders missed a chance to pull even with Concordia when they saw their 10-game winning streak end inside Walz Arena. On the other hand, the Bulldogs proved that their confidence had not been rattled by their surprising 86-77 loss at Midland earlier in the week.

The days leading up to Wednesday’s contest will give players like Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge an opportunity to recover from sicknesses they have been battling recently. Lammers did not start versus Northwestern, but came off the bench to put up 15 points. In Lammers’ place, sophomore Colby Duvel made her first career start. Duvel has been on a rebounding tear, pulling down 47 over the past four games. She went for 13 points and nine rebounds versus Northwestern. A critical stretch in that game occurred late in the third quarter when Dani Hoppes went on a personal 8-0 run in a one-minute span.

Briar Cliff has won only once in its last seven outings. Included in that run was a 95-57 loss at Concordia on Jan. 10. In their most recent outing, the Chargers shot only 34.0 percent from the floor in a 69-48 home defeat versus Dakota Wesleyan. In terms of percentage, Briar Cliff is one of the nation’s top 3-point shooting teams with a clip of 37.7 percent. Head coach Mike Power is in his 18th season (two separate tenures) for the Chargers. He has led the program to three national semifinal appearances.

Morningside currently resides in a tie for fourth place in the league standings. The Mustangs will attempt to avenge a 95-64 loss to the Bulldogs that came back on Jan. 6. Morningside fell just short of picking off No. 11 Hastings last week on the road in a 73-72 defeat. Saturday’s matchup will feature two of the conference’s top freshmen in Taylor Cockerill for Concordia and Sierra Mitchell for Morningside. Mitchell (11.6 ppg) ranks third on the team in scoring behind star senior guard Madison Braun (19.5 ppg) and sophomore Sydney Hupp (12.8 ppg). Both the Bulldogs (90.3 ppg) and Mustangs (81.0 ppg) rank inside the top 10 nationally in scoring average.

Concordia will be at home for the final week of the regular season. The Bulldogs will entertain Doane (7-18, 2-15 GPAC) on Feb. 14 and No. 12 Dakota Wesleyan (22-4, 13-3 GPAC) on Feb. 17. The Doane game will serve as senior day for the program.

Projected lineups

Concordia (25-1, 14-1)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.7 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.2 rpg, 1.7 spg, .344 fg%, .337 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 11.3 ppg, 1.8 spg, 1.7 rpg, 1.4 apg, .417 fg%, .397 3-pt fg%
G – Mary Janovich: 9.8 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.5 rpg, 2.2 spg, .535 fg%, .458 3-pt fg%, .846 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.6 spg, .640 fg%, .821 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 12.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.3 spg, 1.2 bpg, .502 fg%, .700 ft%

Briar Cliff (9-17, 6-10)
G – Julie Targy: 4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.2 spg, .506 fg%, .684 ft%
G – Taylor Wagner: 8.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.6 spg, .425 fg%, .231 3-pt fg%, .741 ft%
F – Faith Troshynski: 7.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .392 fg%, .417 3-pt fg%, .769 ft%
F – Johanna Vaske: 12.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, .438 fg%, .354 3-pt fg%, .663 ft%
C – Taylor Vasa: 5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 bpg, .447 fg%, .740 ft%

Morningside (18-8, 11-5)
G – Madison Braun: 19.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.9 spg, 2.3 apg, .486 fg%, .452 3-pt fg%, .905 ft%
G – Sierra Mitchell: 11.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, .376 fg%, .354 3-pt fg%, .871 ft%
G – Jordyn Moser: 6.2 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.7 rpg, .465 fg%, .400 3-pt fg%, .714 ft%
F – Rachelle Housh: 5.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.1 apg, .389 fg%, .294 3-pt fg%, .667 ft%
F – Sydney Hupp: 12.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.2 apg, .571 fg%, .772 ft%

Outside shooting, transition buckets power road blowout

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – This time out on the road, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team easily avoided the upset push from a combatting home underdog. A hot start by senior Brenleigh Daum and another smothering defensive effort spurred the Bulldogs to a 106-67 win at Briar Cliff on Wednesday night (Feb. 7).

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad is on a mission to wrap up a second GPAC regular-season title in a row. At 26-1 overall and 16-1 in conference play, Concordia needs one more win to clinch at least a share of the GPAC title and two more to lock up an outright championship.

“I couldn’t stress it enough tonight. The more we looked for steals and were aggressive, we were the better basketball team,” Olson said. “When we sit back on our heels and get a little passive, that’s when we’re not very good. Our kids realized it was OK to gamble and miss. Hopefully our kids continue to get better at that.”

The Bulldogs unleashed their full arsenal at the Newman Flanagan Center. Daum (5-for-7 from 3-point range) and Mary Janovich (4-for-6 from 3-point range) put on an outside shooting display. When things are clicking like they were on Wednesday, the opposition has little chance of keeping up. Concordia shot 47.9 percent from the floor, 45.5 percent from beyond the arc and 91.3 percent from the free throw line.

Just when the Chargers (9-18, 6-11 GPAC) had sprung to life in the third quarter, the Bulldogs went on a soul crushing 15-0 run that turned a 14-point game into an insurmountable 74-45 advantage. Janovich buried a pair of treys during the splurge that put the contest out of reach. The lead kept growing despite 22 Bulldog giveaways. It just didn’t matter. Concordia hammered Briar Cliff in points off turnovers, 42-19.

It seems as though Daum has a beef with the Chargers. Whatever the case, Daum has poked holes all over their zone defense. She piled up a game high 21 points on Wednesday after going off for a career high 26 points in the 95-57 win over Briar Cliff on Jan. 10. She was one of six Bulldogs to knock down at least one trey on the evening.

“Hopefully she thinks everybody is Briar Cliff from here on out,” Olson joked in a postgame radio interview. “She played fantastic. With her it’s about that preparation going into games, getting in the extra shots. Her practice yesterday, defensively, was phenomenal. It came through again today. When she slows herself down, she can make a ton of shots.”

Daum paced a squad that had five players reach double figures in scoring, including Quinn Wragge (15 points, four rebounds), Janovich (14 points in only 14 minutes), Taylor Cockerill (13 points, 6-for-6 foul shooting) and Philly Lammers (10 points, nine rebounds, two steals). Fourteen Concordia players found their way into the scoring column.

The Chargers played shorthanded with their second and third leading scorers sidelined in the form of Logan Ehlers (10.8 ppg) and Taylor Wagner (8.7 ppg). Without them, Briar Cliff shot 41.0 percent (25-for-61) from the floor and committed 30 turnovers. Off the bench, Alyssa Carley topped the team with 13 points. Taylor Vasa blocked three shots.

The Bulldogs will head back to Sioux City, on Saturday for a matchup with No. 14 Morningside (18-9, 11-6 GPAC). Tipoff from the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center is set for 2 p.m. CT. The two sides also met inside Walz Arena on Jan. 6 with the result being a 95-64 Concordia win. The Mustangs slipped to 9-3 at home this season after Wednesday’s 92-77 loss to 10th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan.

Concordia locks up share of GPAC title at Morningside

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – An incredible run through the road portion of the 2017-18 regular-season schedule is complete for the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team. Despite being without all-conference guard Mary Janovich, the Bulldogs held off 15th-ranked Morningside, 88-80, inside the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center in Sioux City, Iowa, on Saturday. The victory completed a regular-season sweep of the Mustangs.

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has recorded 11 wins over teams that appeared in this week’s national rankings. Concordia now stands at 27-1 overall and at 17-1 in conference play. With a two-game lead atop the conference standings, the Bulldogs can do no worse than share the GPAC regular-season title.

“That was a really hard fought win. I thought Morningside was really tough today,” Olson said. “Our kids stepped up in so many big ways. I could not be prouder. The shot making that we had in the second half, overcoming Mary Janovich not being here and Philly (Lammers) and Colby (Duvel) being in foul trouble – it was an amazing effort in the second half.”

Different players alternated stretches of dominant play. Brenleigh Daum came out firing with eight points in the first quarter. Philly Lammers beasted for 10 points in the second quarter while Dani Hoppes buried a pair of treys early in the third quarter. Concordia held leads as large as 14 in the first half and 13 in the second half. Morningside (18-10, 11-7 GPAC) always kept coming, but the Bulldogs always had an answer.

In the fourth quarter, Madison Braun (22 points while playing all 40 minutes) and company twice cut their deficit down to four only to watch Concordia respond with a critical bucket or free throws to stamp out the host’s upset bid. One of the game’s most crucial hoops came at the 4:20 mark when Sydney Feller’s three-point play pushed a four-point lead to seven (79-72). The Bulldogs later came up with key stops defensively and nailed each of their four free throw tries in the final 30 seconds.

Lammers led the way with 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals on the strength of her big second quarter. Hoppes added 15 points while going 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Taylor Cockerill (15 points, six rebounds, four assists) and Daum (11 points, 3-for-6 3-point shooting) provided solid production off the brench. In place of Janovich, Sydney Feller got the start. Janovich missed the game to attend her brother’s wedding. While playing 29 minutes, Feller chipped in eight points and three rebounds.

Said Olson, “I thought Sydney Feller did an awesome job stepping up in any kind of role that we asked of her. We had her playing a lot of different positions. We had her guard a big post. She did a fantastic job.

“Philly was a beast. She was that good. She showed why I think she’s the most dominant player in our conference.”

Head coach Jamie Sale’s squad has dropped each of its first three games in February – all against teams ranked inside or near the top 10 nationally. Morningside managed to commit only 15 turnovers but had disadvantages in shooting percentage (43.9 to 42.6) and rebounding (39-33).

Olson has now led the program to either outright or shared GPAC regular-season titles in 2011-12, 2013-14, 2016-17 and 2017-18. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Concordia has won a combined seven GPAC regular season or postseason championships. The tournament championships came in 2012, 2015 and 2017.

All that remains on the regular-season schedule is next week’s pair of home games. The Bulldogs will celebrate senior day on Wednesday (Feb. 14) when Doane (7-19, 2-16 GPAC) visits Walz Arena, where Concordia has won each of its last 31 games. Game time is set for 6 p.m. CT in Seward.

Final regular-season action looms for accomplished seniors

SEWARD, Neb. – A second outright GPAC title is within the grasp of the Concordia University women’s basketball team, which enters the final week of the regular season needing one more win to make it a reality. The Bulldogs are ready to be back at home where they have won each of their last 31 games – a run that includes a 10-0 home mark this season. Concordia (27-1, 17-1 GPAC) will be seeking season sweeps of both Doane and No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan.

This week’s schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 14 vs. Doane (7-19, 2-16 GPAC), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan (24-4, 15-3 GPAC), 4 p.m.

Both games this week will be carried live by 104.9 Max Country and by the Concordia Sports Network. Fans are encouraged to wear red on Wednesday to support the 'red out.'

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has already clinched at least a share of the fifth GPAC regular-season title in program history (others occurred in 2002-03, 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2016-17). The Bulldogs are also four-time GPAC tournament champions (2005, 2012, 2015 and 2017). Of those nine total GPAC titles, Olson has been the head coach for seven. The past two seasons have been particularly dominant with Concordia going a combined 39-2 against GPAC opponents.

The list of seniors to be recognized as part of Wednesday’s ceremony includes Brenleigh Daum, Dani Hoppes, Mary Janovich and Sydney Feller. Daum and Janovich are the only two to have played all four years at the varsity level as Bulldogs. Feller has played three while Hoppes has played two at Concordia since transferring from Midland. Daum and Janovich have been around for one of the winningest four-year periods in program history. The Bulldogs are 118-17 since the start of the 2014-15 campaign (the 2001-05 seasons produced 123 wins and the 2011-15 seasons resulted in 119 victories). Hoppes (1,088) and Janovich (1,100) have both surpassed 1,000 points in their careers.

Doane has just two conference wins, one over Mount Marty and another over College of Saint Mary. The Tigers enter the week having dropped nine of their last 10 games. That stretch began with a 76-63 home loss to Concordia in which Doane took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter. The primary scorer for 19th-year head coach Tracee Fairbanks’ squad is senior guard McKenna Dodd (15.1 ppg). Scoring has been an issue for a team that averages 62.6 points (10th in the GPAC).

Dakota Wesleyan can share the conference title by winning twice and by having the Bulldogs lose twice this week. The Tigers ride a nine-game winning streak into a challenging final week of the regular season. Dakota Wesleyan will host No. 9 Northwestern on Wednesday before traveling to Seward on Saturday. Head coach Jason Christensen oversees a seasoned group that has knocked off seven top 25 opponents. One of the nation’s top offensive teams, the Tigers sport national rankings of second in field goal percentage (.490), fourth in free throw percentage (.784), and seventh in scoring (82.3).

Dates for the GPAC tournament that begins next week are Feb. 21, 24 and 27. Concordia has already locked up the No. 1 seed and will host as long as it remains alive in the tournament.

Projected lineups

Concordia (27-1, 17-1)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.6 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.2 rpg, 1.6 spg, .352 fg%, .347 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 11.1 ppg, 1.8 spg, 1.6 rpg, .421 fg%, .401 3-pt fg%, .588 ft%
G – Mary Janovich: 10.0 ppg, 3.1 apg, 2.4 rpg, 2.0 spg, .537 fg%, .481 3-pt fg%, .857 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 spg, .630 fg%, .476 3-pt fg%, .812 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 12.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.3 spg, 1.2 bpg, .493 fg%, .718 ft%

Doane (7-19, 2-16)
G – Cortney Arkfeld: 9.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, .415 fg%, .189 3-pt fg%, .679 ft%
G – McKenna Dodd: 15.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.9 spg, .381 fg%, .347 3-pt fg%, .850 ft%
G – Julia Reed: 4.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, .364 fg%, .333 3-pt fg%, .714 ft%
F – Alea Shaner: 6.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .426 fg%, .563 ft%
F – Nicole White: 4.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .452 fg%, .686 ft%

Dakota Wesleyan (24-4, 15-3)
G – Kynedi Cheeseman: 14.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.3 apg, .415 fg%, .333 3-pt fg%, .838 ft%
G – Chesney Nagel: 3.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.3 spg, .302 fg%, .702 ft%
G – Rylie Osthus: 9.6 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.3 rpg, 1.6 spg, .511 fg%, .351 3-pt fg%, .688 ft%
F – Amber Bray: 14.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, .558 fg%, .507 3-pt fg%, .864 ft%
F – Ashley Bray: 15.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, .567 fg%, .477 3-pt fg%, .875 ft%

Bulldogs fend off feisty Tigers, claim outright GPAC title

SEWARD, Neb. – It hasn’t exactly been pretty when the Concordia University women’s basketball team and Doane have gotten together this year. Despite a closer-than-expected clash between rivals, the second-ranked Bulldogs emerged as outright GPAC regular-season champions for the second year in a row. On Wednesday night (Feb. 14), Concordia fended off the Tigers, 68-59, inside Walz Arena.

Even if the latest outing was less than a work of art, the big picture looks pretty swell for 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad. For the fifth time in in program history, the Bulldogs can call themselves GPAC regular-season champs. Concordia has moved to 28-1 overall and to 18-1 in conference play.

“That’s a pretty impressive feat,” Olson said of the program’s run of four conference regular-season titles in a seven-year span. “It takes a lot of hard work from those kids. They come in with a lot of talent, but they work really, really hard to achieve that success.”

In both meetings this season, Doane has taken a one-point lead to the fourth quarter. Offensive woes plagued the Bulldogs, who missed numerous layups that were a big factor in the team’s cold 34.3 percent shooting from the floor. In several instances, the Tigers just seemed to have more energy. Their relentlessness helped them earn a 49-38 advantage on the boards.

This one was uncomfortable for the better part of 38 minutes. Breathing room existed only in the final few minutes. Concordia built its first double-digit lead of the game with under a minute remaining. An 11-2 run turned a one-point deficit into an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“It’s a little frustrating to be in that situation again,” Olson said. “We’re a team where we feel like we should be better than that. We have to keep getting better, improving and learning and having that focus and killer instinct going into every game, regardless of the opponent.”

The Bulldogs did just enough behind Philly Lammers (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Colby Duvel (12 points), who went 8-for-8 from the free throw line. A loss just wasn’t happening on senior day.

“They came out ready to play,” said senior guard Mary Janovich. “We didn’t necessarily come out playing the way we need to play, but we found a way to win. That says a lot about our team.”

There’s just something about a feisty Doane team that has given Concordia fits. Up 38-30 in the third, the Bulldogs surrendered a 16-6 run that allowed the Tigers to gain a 46-44 lead. Ultimately, Doane couldn’t overcome its 33 turnovers and a rash of fourth quarter miscues brought about in part by a more aggressive Concordia defense. The Tiger standouts on this night, McKenna Dodd (16 points) and Alea Shaner (12 points, 10 rebounds), were not immune to mistakes. They combined for 15 giveaways.

Although one home regular-season game remains, the Bulldogs chose Wednesday to honor their four seniors: Brenleigh Daum, Sydney Feller, Dani Hoppes and Janovich. Over the past four seasons, the program has gone a combined 119-17 with four total GPAC championships.

With the end still hopefully well off in the distance, it’s difficult to put all the achievements into perspective – or to comprehend the fact that this is the last stand.

Said Daum, “I thought about it today. It was a little sad, but we still have a month left. I think it will hit me when the season is completely over.”

The Bulldogs will close out the regular season on Saturday when No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan (25-4, 16-3 GPAC) visits Walz Arena for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff. Concordia clipped the Tigers, 70-66, in Mitchell, S.D., on Nov. 18. In Wednesday’s action, Dakota Wesleyan ran away with an 81-60 win in a clash with ninth-ranked Northwestern at the Corn Palace.

Gnats at a picnic make return in defensive masterpiece

SEWARD, Neb. – The gnats at a picnic are back. After a so-so performance in Wednesday’s win over Doane, the GPAC champion Concordia University women’s basketball team sought to conclude the regular season by returning to its dominant self. An increase in defensive pressure helped the second-ranked Bulldogs take care of No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan, 55-42, inside Walz Arena on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 17).

The final GPAC standings show 12th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad three games above Dakota Wesleyan and Northwestern atop the conference. Concordia will enter the postseason at 29-1 overall and at 19-1 in GPAC play.

“That was incredible effort,” Olson said. “I just thought we were really focused and locked in on the scouting report. We did a great job of taking away a lot of their shooters. They did get a couple good looks in the fourth quarter. Thankfully they just didn’t hit them. It was a great effort for our team.”

The Bulldogs owned the day in a game in which they shot only 33.3 percent (20-for-60) from the floor. What Concordia did best was squeeze the life out of the physically imposing Tigers (25-5, 16-4 GPAC). Dakota Wesleyan managed only five points for the entire third quarter. The Tigers’ three leading scorers this season, Ashley Bray, Amber Bray and Kynedi Cheeseman, went a combined 8-for-26 from the floor for 21 points.

The best offensive player on either team was easily Brenleigh Daum, who knocked down four of her first five attempts from 3-point range. She was also active on the other end, recording three steals while also blocking a pair of 3-point attempts. One of those blocks led immediately to a Duam layup in transition as part of her 19-point outburst.

It was a good thing Concordia brought its ‘A’ game defensively because it waited until the 1:44 mark before recording its first field goal of the fourth quarter. After halftime, there were only 35 combined points scored. The shooting percentages were unsightly over the third and fourth quarters – 24.1 percent for the Bulldogs and 23.1 percent for the Tigers.

In the end, it was a beautiful 13-point win behind another tenacious defensive effort. The press is back on.

“Coach had mentioned wanting to save our legs a little with not pressing,” said sophomore guard MacKenzie Helman. “It was fun to get back after them and really show them what we can do when we pressure.”

While Daum far-and-away topped Concordia in scoring, five teammates notched either six or seven points: Mary Janovich (seven), Philly Lammers (seven), Taylor Cockerill (six), Helman (six) and Quinn Wragge (six). In 21 minutes of action, Helman did not commit a single turnover while making 2-of-4 shots from the floor.

Walz Arena is where opposing win streaks go to die. Dakota Wesleyan entered the day having won nine in a row since a mid-January loss at Northwestern. The Tigers never found any sort of rhythm. Even their 11-1 run in the second half came in a methodical manner and still failed to cut the deficit under 10. Dakota Wesleyan turned the ball over 22 times compared to 14 giveaways by Concordia. Riley Osthus (10 points, nine rebounds) was the lone Tiger to reach double figures.

“Our kids just want to keep getting better,” Olson said. “They want to win every game. It wasn’t like we had something to prove. It was another challenge and another opportunity for us to play basketball.”

Postseason play begins at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday (Feb. 21) when the top-seeded Bulldogs will host eighth-seeded Briar Cliff (10-20, 7-13) in the quarterfinals of the GPAC tournament. Concordia also earned the No. 1 seed last season and defended its home court with three conference postseason wins that earned it the program’s fourth GPAC tournament championship.

GPAC's top seed readies for postseason run

SEWARD, Neb. – With 30 games in the books, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team hopes to carry its regular-season success over to the postseason. The GPAC champion Bulldogs will welcome Briar Cliff to Walz Arena for Wednesday’s GPAC quarterfinal tilt. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT for the third matchup this season between the team sides.

GAME INFO
Wednesday, Feb. 21
Briar Cliff (10-20, 7-13) at No. 2 Concordia (29-1, 19-1), 7 p.m.
Seward, Neb. | Walz Arena
Admission: $8 for adults, $3 for students (GPAC students free with ID)
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 Max Country

The GPAC postseason title road leads to Seward, where head coach Drew Olson’s program has been close to unbeatable. Over the past seven seasons (2011-12 to the present), Concordia owns a home record of 99-9 (.917) and carries a 33-game home win streak into the conference tournament. In the final week of regular-season action, the Bulldogs protected the Walz court with wins by finals of 68-59 over Doane and 55-42 over 10th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan. Concordia forced a combined 55 turnovers in those wins. The Bulldogs have now recorded 12 wins over teams currently in the national rankings.

A run at the program’s fifth GPAC tournament title (won championships in 2005, 2012, 2015 and 2017) will have to begin with a win over Briar Cliff. The Bulldogs blew out the Chargers in Seward, 95-57, and in Sioux City, 106-67, during the regular season. In those games, senior Brenleigh Daum has posted her two highest single-game scoring totals of the season – 26 and 21 points. She’s been on a roll lately, averaging 14.5 points while going 13-for-26 (.500) from 3-point range over the last four outings. Daum and Mary Janovich have been key contributors during what’s currently the second winningest four-year stretch in school history (120 wins compared to 123 from 2001-05).

Briar Cliff’s lone wins over its last 11 games have come on the road against Doane and Mount Marty. The last time the Chargers met Concordia they were without two of their top players in Logan Ehlers and Taylor Wagner. The team’s most reliable player has been Johanna Vaske, who averages 12.2 points per game. Head coach Mike Power’s squad ranks eighth in the GPAC in scoring offense (66.37). Briar Cliff (20.7 turnovers per game) will have to take better care of the ball to hang in the game on Wednesday.

The winner will advance to Saturday’s semifinal game and play either fourth-seeded Hastings (24-5, 15-5 GPAC) or fifth-seeded Morningside (20-10, 13-7). The highest remaining seeds earn the right to host each round.

2018 GPAC Women’s Basketball Tournament

Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 21
No. 8 Briar Cliff (10-20, 7-13) at No. 1 Concordia (29-1, 19-1), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Morningside (20-10, 13-7) at No. 4 Hastings (24-5, 15-5), 7 p.m.
No. 6 Midland (14-16, 9-11) at No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan (25-5, 16-4), 6 p.m.
No. 7 Dordt (14-16, 8-12) at No. 2 Northwestern (21-7, 16-4), 6 p.m.

Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 24
No. 1/8 winner vs. No. 4/5 winner, Time TBA
No. 2/7 winner vs. No. 3/6 winner, Time TBA

Championship – Tuesday, Feb. 27
Hosted by highest remaining seed, Time TBA

Projected lineups

Concordia (29-1, 19-1)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.6 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.2 rpg, 1.6 spg, .346 fg%, .340 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 10.5 ppg, 1.7 spg, 1.5 rpg, .402 fg%, .378 3-pt fg%, .632 ft%
G – Mary Janovich: 9.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.3 rpg, 2.0 spg, .521 fg%, .467 3-pt fg%, .867 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.6 spg, .610 fg%, .455 3-pt fg%, .812 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 12.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.3 spg, 1.2 bpg, .487 fg%, .726 ft%

Briar Cliff (10-20, 7-13)
G – Abby Heston: 6.1 ppg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 rpg, .388 fg%, .351 3-pt fg%, .688 ft%
G – Julie Targy: 4.2 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.8 apg, 2.1 spg, .464 fg%, .705 ft%
F – Faith Troshynski: 7.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, .373 fg%, .371 3-pt fg%, .829 ft%
F – Johanna Vaske: 12.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, .436 fg%, .338 3-pt fg%, .667 ft%
C – Taylor Vasa: 5.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.9 bpg, .463 fg%, .741 ft%

Lammers dominates, Bulldogs move to GPAC semifinals

SEWARD, Neb. – From the outset, it seemed it was a matter of time before the depth and relentlessness of the Bulldogs wore down eighth-seeded Briar Cliff in a GPAC quarterfinal tilt inside Walz Arena on Wednesday night (Feb. 21). Based on regular-season meetings, anything else would have been a surprise. The second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team withstood a commendable push from Briar Cliff and claimed an 80-64 win.

While the season ended for the visitors, this was the beginning of what 12th-year head coach Drew Olson hopes to be a long postseason run. At 30-1 overall, the Bulldogs have recorded the sixth 30-win season in program history.

“I thought Briar Cliff played really well,” Olson said. “They caused us to really have to work for every basket. Our post players played well. Philly Lammers was an absolute beast. She totally dominated that game. I think it was late the third quarter, that bench group did some nice things. They stepped up for us.”

The duo of Faith Troshynski and Taylor Wagner helped Briar Cliff hang around in the opening half until the Charger offensive attack ran dry during a pivotal third quarter stretch. Concordia had some not-so-pretty moments of its own, but the star power of Lammers was plenty enough to get by on this particular night. Lammers thrilled the crowd with a monster third-period block while totaling 23 points, 14 rebounds, five steals and two blocked shots.

With one GPAC title already in hand, Concordia has eyes on a sweep of conference regular-season and postseason championships for the second year in a row. Lammers and her teammates sound like a broken record. The company line is to focus on the next one.

“Every day in practice and every game we have is about getting better,” Lammers said. “That’s something we’ve talked about throughout the season. We’re still focusing on that – being better than we were the day before and getting the business done that we need to.”

A lack of success shooting from the perimeter (5-for-28 from 3-point range) kept the Bulldogs from making this a complete floor mopping. But they never felt seriously threatened. They led 27-16 after a quarter and never let the advantage slip to fewer than eight points. Lammers put the game away with a bucket and then two free throws that made the score 78-54 with under three minutes to go.

Lammers, Colby Duvel (15 points, four rebounds) and Quinn Wragge (12 points, seven rebounds) had their way in the paint. Concordia made up for shooting struggles by outrebounding the Chargers, 49-40, and by forcing 31 turnovers. Olson’s squad will just have to clean up some of its own miscues (25 turnovers).

“Against that zone we just wanted to get the ball inside more,” Olson said. “I felt like we missed some opportunities to go from wing to post. That’s something we have to get better at. I just thought we did a great job finishing inside tonight.”

Off the bench, Sydney Feller added 10 points and three assists for the Bulldogs while Taylor Cockerill recorded three steals. On the opposite side, Troshynski had the most success shooting from the outside. She went 6-for-10 from beyond the arc and had a team high 20 points. Eighth-seeded Briar Cliff ended its season at 10-21 overall.

Fifth-seeded Morningside (21-10) will be at Walz Arena for Saturday’s 3 p.m. GPAC semifinal tipoff. In two regular-season meetings, the Bulldogs defeated the Mustangs by scores of 95-64 in Seward and 88-80 in Sioux City. Morningside got past fourth-seeded Hastings, 69-67, in the quarterfinals with the help of a Sydney Hupp layup in the final seconds. On the other side of the conference tournament bracket, third-seeded Dakota Wesleyan (26-5) will play at second-seeded Northwestern (22-7).

No. 13 Morningside to visit Walz in semifinal clash

SEWARD, Neb. – Two perennial league powers are set to meet on the hardwood this Saturday as part of a GPAC semifinal clash inside Walz Arena. The ball will tip off at 3 p.m. CT in Seward where the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team will host No. 13 Morningside. The Bulldogs cruised to an 80-64 quarterfinal win over Briar Cliff while the Mustangs won a heart stopper, 69-67, at No. 12 Hastings. It was the only GPAC quarterfinal contest that resulted in a road team emerging victorious.

GAME INFO
Saturday, Feb. 24
No. 13 Morningside (21-10) at No. 2 Concordia (30-1), 3 p.m.
Seward, Neb. | Walz Arena
Admission: $8 for adults, $3 for students (GPAC students free with ID)
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 Max Country

For the sixth time in program history and for the fourth time under 12th-year head coach Drew Olson, Concordia has reached the 30-win mark. The latest victory featured strong play in the post that overcome the Bulldogs’ 5-for-28 efforts from 3-point range. The frontcourt trio of Philly Lammers (23 points, 14 rebounds, five steals), Colby Duvel (15 points, four rebounds) and Quinn Wragge (12 points, seven rebounds) combined for 50 points. Just a sophomore, Lammers has already surpassed 500 career rebounds and is nearing the top 20 in school history in that category (21st).

From a competitive standpoint, the two meetings this season between Concordia and Morningside have been vastly different. The matchup at Walz was decided before the fourth quarter started. The Bulldogs rattled off 32 points in the fourth quarter and rolled to a 95-64 win behind Lammers (15 points, 14 rebounds). Just over a month later, Concordia played in Sioux City without the services of Mary Janovich and grinded out an 88-80 road win. Both squads are capable of playing multiple defensive styles. The Mustangs shook things up by going to man-to-man in the Feb. 10 contest at Morningside.

Head coach Jamie Sale’s program is no stranger to deep postseason runs. Sale has led the Mustangs to four national titles and to 14 GPAC championships (nine regular season, five tournaments) during his first 16 years at the helm of the program. Morningside’s hopes of another tournament championship are bolstered by the GPAC’s leading scorer, Madison Braun (20.6 ppg). In the Mustangs’ quarterfinal squeaker at Hastings, sophomore Sydney Hupp played the role of hero. Her basket with two seconds left proved to be the game winner. It marked the fourth time this season that Morningside defeated a team with national ranking at the time of tipoff.

A win on Saturday would allow the Bulldogs to host a GPAC tournament championship game for the third time in program history. Concordia protected the home court in conference title game wins over Morningside in 2012 and over Dakota Wesleyan in 2016. Road championship victories were recorded at Morningside in 2005 and 2015.

Should the Bulldogs advance to Tuesday’s (Feb. 27) championship game, they would host the winner between second-seeded Northwestern (22-7) and third-seeded Dakota Wesleyan (26-5) at 7 p.m. CT.

2018 GPAC Women’s Basketball Tournament

Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 21
No. 1 Concordia 80, No. 8 Briar Cliff 64
No. 5 Morningside 69, No. 4 Hastings 67
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan 72, No. 6 Midland 43
No. 2 Northwestern 75, No. 7 Dordt 64

Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 24
No. 5 Morningside (21-10) at No. 1 Concordia (30-1), 3 p.m.
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan (26-5) at No. 2 Northwestern (22-7), 2 p.m.

Championship – Tuesday, Feb. 27
Hosted by highest remaining seed, Time TBA

Projected lineups

Concordia (30-1)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.5 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.2 rpg, 1.6 spg, .345 fg%, .340 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 10.2 ppg, 1.7 spg, 1.6 rpg, .397 fg%, .372 3-pt fg%, .632 ft%
G – Mary Janovich: 9.7 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.3 rpg, 1.9 spg, .518 fg%, .460 3-pt fg%, .844 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 12.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.6 spg, .612 fg%, .812 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 12.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.4 spg, 1.2 bpg, .497 fg%, .731 ft%

Morningside (21-10)
G – Madison Braun: 20.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.1 spg, 2.1 apg, .490 fg%, .455 3-pt fg%, .857 ft%
G – Sierra Mitchell: 12.0 ppg, 1.6 apg, 1.6 rpg, .386 fg%, .366 3-pt fg%, .844 ft%
G – Jordyn Moser: 6.4 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.9 rpg, 1.2 spg, .453 fg%, .346 3-pt fg%, .729 ft%
F – Rachell Housh: 4.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, .376 fg%, .274 3-pt fg%, .667 ft%
F – Sydney Hupp: 11.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.2 spg, 0.9 bpg, .550 fg%, .765 ft%

Lammers pulls in CoSIDA All-District honors

CoSIDA release

SEWARD, Neb. – A dominant force on the court, sophomore Philly Lammers is equally impressive in the classroom. On Thursday (Feb. 22), College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) named Lammers to its 2017-18 Academic All-District 3 Women’s Basketball Team of the College Division. Lammers has earned the award in her first time eligible for academic all-district status.

The CoSIDA Academic All-District® Women’s Basketball Teams have been released to recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. For more information about the Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit http://cosida.com.

A product of Millard West High School, Lammers has already earned numerous honors since joining the Bulldogs. As a freshman in 2016-17, the Omaha native garnered NAIA second team All-America, first team All-GPAC and GPAC freshman of the year accolades. Lammers is on track for more postseason honors as a sophomore. This season, she is averaging 12.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.42 steals and 1.23 blocks per game while helping Concordia to a 30-1 overall record and GPAC regular-season title. A biology and physics major, Lammers sports a spotless 4.0 cumulative grade-point average.

The College Division of District 3 includes the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be announced in March.

2017-18 Academic All-District Honorees
*Hallick Lehmann, Football
Philly Lammers, Basketball

2016-17 Academic All-District Honorees
*Amy Ahlers, Golf
*Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
Le’Dontrae Gooden, Football
*Hallick Lehmann, Football
*Sam Liermann, Track & Field
*CJ Muller, Track & Field
Lucas Wiechman, Track & Field

2016-17 Academic All-District Honorees
*Amy Ahlers, Golf
*Stephanie Coley, Track & Field
*Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
*Hallick Lehmann, Football
Adam Meirose, Football
Becky Mueller, Basketball
*CJ Muller, Track & Field
*Kim Wood, Cross Country/Track & Field

2014-15 Academic All-District Honorees
Amy Ahlers, Golf
*Brendan Buchanan, Soccer
Stephanie Coley, Track & Field
*Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
Jaydee Jurgensen, Baseball
Adam Meirose, Football
Bailey Morris, Basketball
*Rachel Mussell, Soccer
Shawn Rodehorst, Golf
Ben Sievert, Cross Country/Track & Field
Melissa Stine, Soccer

*Academic All-American

Concordia throttles Morningside, roars to GPAC title game

SEWARD, Neb. – Philly Lammers has not been kind to visitors from Sioux City, Iowa, in postseason play. With a spot in the GPAC tournament championship game riding on Saturday’s (Feb. 24) outcome, Lammers and her gnat-like teammates cruised past 13th-ranked Morningside, 106-86, inside Walz Arena. The visiting Mustangs were plagued by their 25 turnovers.

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad remains on the hunt for the program’s fifth GPAC tournament title. Second-ranked Concordia will carry a 31-1 overall record into the championship game.

“We knew we were fine (offensively),” Olson said. “Teams and players can go up and down with their shooting. We’re such a good shooting team we knew eventually it would come around. One of our mantras is just keep chucking. Our kids do that and they knew it was going to go in today.”

This matchup featured two of the league’s leading candidates for conference player of the year: Lammers for the Bulldogs and sharpshooting Madison Braun of Morningside. With two rounds of GPAC tournament action in the books, Lammers has stated a pretty convincing case as the league’s most dominant player. She totaled 10 points before Saturday’s game was even three-and-a-half minutes old while fueling a breathtaking start for Concordia.

A solid second quarter produced by the Mustangs was sandwiched between two soul crushing first and third periods that were characterized by Bulldog thievery, Morningside throwaways and 10-second violations. In addition to its typical mercilessness defensively, Concordia played one of its crisper offensive games of the season. The Bulldogs knocked down six of their first seven attempts from 3-point distance and five different players tallied at least nine points.

Lammers has been nearly unstoppable in the GPAC tournament. She totaled 23 points, 14 rebounds and five steals in the quarterfinal win over Briar Cliff and then added 20 points, six rebounds and four steals on Saturday. Over those two games, she’s made 19-of-27 (.704) shots from the field.

Said Olson, “She’s incredible. I think she’s the best player. She dominates on both ends. I’m glad she’s on our team.”

A particularly pesky press helped Concordia rack up 36 points in the opening quarter and another 37 in the third period. By that point, it was over. The Bulldogs led 86-56 while effectively responding to the Mustang push in the second quarter.

“We really played better team offense and we moved the ball a lot better,” said senior guard Sydney Feller. “I think that really got our offense going. We always say that defense leads to offense. With the press we were getting easy layups from steals. It was an all-around team win today.”

Feller, who posted nine points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals, is spot on. Lammers got plenty of aid. Brenleigh Daum poured in 19 points on 6-for-12 shooting while Quinn Wragge chipped in 18 in a 9-for-12 shooting effort. Dani Hoppes also added nine points, the always hustling Colby Duvel contributed seven points and eight rebounds and MacKenzie Helman dished out five assists and swiped four steals.

Morningside (21-11) never held a lead. It was swarmed right from the opening tip. The Mustangs fell behind 11-0 while committing turnovers on each of their first four trips down the court. Braun topped the visitors with 19 points and four steals. Sydney Hupp and Mady Maly tallied 10 points apiece. Morningside was outshot, 56.9 to 43.8 percent. Concordia also went 14-for-28 from beyond the arc.

For the second year in a row, Dakota Wesleyan will meet Concordia inside Walz Arena with a GPAC tournament title on the line. Tipoff for Tuesday’s (Feb. 27) championship game is set for 7 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs swept a pair of regular-season meetings from the third-seeded Tigers (27-5), winning by scores of 70-66 in Mitchell, S.D., and 55-42 in Seward. Dakota Wesleyan’s postseason route to the title clash has included wins over Midland, 72-43, and at No. 10 Northwestern, 73-58.

Rematch of 2017 title game set for Tuesday

SEWARD, Neb. – Conference titans will collide on Tuesday when second-ranked Concordia and eighth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan meet up in the GPAC tournament championship game for the second year in a row. Tipoff from Walz Arena is set for 7 p.m. The Bulldogs made their way to the title clash by topping Briar Cliff, 80-64, in the quarterfinals and No. 13 Morningside, 106-86, in the semifinals. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ postseason run has included wins over Midland, 72-43, and No. 10 Northwestern, 73-58.

GAME INFO
Tuesday, Feb. 27 – 7 p.m.
No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan (27-5) at No. 2 Concordia (31-1)
Seward, Neb. | Walz Arena
Admission: $8 for adults, $3 for students (GPAC students free with ID)
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Live stats: Dakstats

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has a chance to do something no other conference rival women’s basketball program has accomplished – sweep GPAC regular-season and postseason titles in back-to-back years. Concordia has already locked up consecutive regular-season championships, which hadn’t been done by the program since the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. Two other Olson teams have swept GPAC titles: the 2011-12 and 2016-17 editions. Olson has guided his teams to seven total GPAC titles (four regular season, three tournament).

Head coach Jason Christensen’s squad stands in the way of another run at a championship. The Bulldogs swept two regular-season meetings from the Tigers, winning by scores of 70-66 in Mitchell, S.D., and 55-42 in Seward. The latest matchup was an ugly one from an offensive perspective. Both teams endured a five-point quarter during the second half. Dakota Wesleyan shot just 30.8 percent and committed 22 turnovers. The Tigers will have to clean up their play and also attempt to contain Philly Lammers, who has been on a tear in postseason play. In the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds combined, Lammers has totaled 43 points, 20 rebounds, nine steals, five assists and three blocked shots.

Dakota Wesleyan is seeking its first-ever GPAC tournament championship. The Tigers’ lone conference title during the GPAC era was a regular-season championship in 2001-02. Matchups between Concordia and Dakota Wesleyan provide an intriguing contrast between the Bulldogs’ speed and athleticism and the Tigers’ physicality and size. DWU features starters Amber and Ashley Bray, twin sisters who both stand at 6-foot-1. Christensen can also bring 6-foot-4 Jessica Mieras and 6-foot Sarah Carr off the bench. The Brays are neck-and-neck in the race for the title of team’s leading scorer. They are also a significant reason why the Tigers rank third nationally in rebound margin (+12.1).

Last year’s GPAC title game resulted in a memorable classic. Concordia survived two potential Dakota Wesleyan game-winning buzzer beater attempts in overtime. The Bulldogs escaped with a 78-77 win to secure a perfect 17-0 home mark in 2016-17. The home win streak has now grown to 35.

Concordia will learn of its national tournament draw on Wednesday when the NAIA releases the bracket for the 2018 event, which will take place March 7-13 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs have locked up the 17th national tournament appearance in school history courtesy of their GPAC regular-season title.

2018 GPAC Women’s Basketball Tournament

Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 21
No. 1 Concordia 80, No. 8 Briar Cliff 64
No. 5 Morningside 69, No. 4 Hastings 67
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan 72, No. 6 Midland 43
No. 2 Northwestern 75, No. 7 Dordt 64

Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 24
No. 1 Concordia 106, No. 5 Morningside 86
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan 73, No. 2 Northwestern 58

Championship – Tuesday, Feb. 27
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan (27-5) at No. 1 Concordia (31-1), 7 p.m.

Projected lineups

Concordia (31-1)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.5 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.2 rpg, 1.7 spg, .345 fg%, .343 3-pt fg%
G – Dani Hoppes: 10.2 ppg, 1.7 spg, 1.5 rpg, .399 fg%, .376 3-pt fg%, .632 ft%
G – Mary Janovich: 9.4 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.4 rpg, 1.9 spg, .511 fg%, .446 3-pt fg%, .853 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.5 spg, .618 fg%, .812 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 13.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.5 spg, 1.2 bpg, .505 fg%, .725 ft%

Dakota Wesleyan (27-5)
G – Kynedi Cheeseman: 13.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.2 spg, .412 fg%, .337 3-pt fg%, .831 ft%
G – Chesney Nagel: 3.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.2 spg, .315 fg%, .263 3-pt fg%, .694 ft%
G – Rylie Osthus: 9.9 ppg, 5.4 apg, 4.4 rpg, 1.5 spg, .478 fg%, .333 3-pt fg%, .723 ft%
F – Amber Bray: 14.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, .563 fg%, .533 3-pt fg%, .864 ft%
F – Ashley Bray: 14.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, .552 fg%, .473 3-pt fg%, .883 ft%

Daum's game-winner lifts Concordia to drama filled GPAC title

SEWARD, Neb. – There was no way the 2018 GPAC women’s basketball tournament could match the drama and sick-to-your stomach nervousness that the 2017 GPAC women’s basketball tournament produced. Right? Well, it did. For the second year in a row, a postseason championship contest between Concordia and Dakota Wesleyan delivered. Brenleigh Daum’s darting layup in the final second lifted the Bulldogs to a 90-88 victory inside a rambunctious Walz Arena on Tuesday night (Feb. 27).

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s program becomes the first in the GPAC era (2000-present) to sweep GPAC women's basketball regular-season and tournament titles in back-to-back years. Concordia is now 32-1 overall and has completed an undefeated home season for the second year in a row.

The latest victory won’t soon be forgotten.

“That was an incredible basketball game,” Olson said. “Awesome atmosphere and two teams that played really, really well. For our kids to show that kind of toughness and fight at the end is incredible. I’m so impressed with them.”

It’s hard to imagine a better way for a senior to end the final game of her career on the home court at Walz. At one point during a postgame television interview, Daum just wanted to go celebrate. “I love my teammates,” Daum shouted just before she jumped into the middle of a dancing huddle of Bulldogs.

You can dance if you want to, Brenleigh. The best stretch of her career led into perhaps the best singular moment of her career. With exactly 4.3 seconds remaining, Olson called timeout after Ashley Bray tied the game by sinking a pair of free throws. Daum wasn’t the No. 1 option on the play that was drawn up. She received the in-bounds out top from Sydney Feller, saw an opening and accelerated into the paint and kissed the ball off the glass with the left hand.

“It was actually supposed to go to Colby (Duvel),” Daum said. “But he said if the lob wasn’t there just to get it in and try to get fouled. Luckily I just made it. I just made it.

“That was really special for me on my last night on the home court.”

This was not the knock-down, drag-out defensive battle that the two sides engaged in 10 days ago in the regular-season finale. Led by Rylie Osthus (20 points), the Tigers (27-6) couldn’t miss, particularly during a 31-point second quarter. Dakota Wesleyan shot 62.1 percent from the floor in the first half – but still couldn’t shake Concordia, which hung within four (52-48) at the break.

The Bulldogs had seemingly taken control early in the fourth quarter when Daum splashed home a trey to cap a 13-2 run. Concordia led 71-64. But the Tigers and their dead-eye free throw shooting (27-for-28) mounted a rally. An Ashley Bray three-point play with 3:53 left provided Dakota Wesleyan an 81-77 advantage. Back came Daum, who buried another triple. Neither team led by more than two points the rest of the way in a pulse pounder to the very last tick.

Daum’s final shot left 0.7 seconds on the clock. Just before the buzzer, Kynedi Cheeseman lofted a potential game-winning three that came up well short of the mark. Just like 2017, the Concordia student body stormed the floor in celebration of another win over a dejected Dakota Wesleyan team.

Daum poured in a game high 21 points while adding four assists and a pair of steals. She helped make up for the limited minutes from Philly Lammers, who fouled out after playing only 18 minutes. Lammers scored 10 of her 16 points in the opening quarter and appeared on her way to another big night before being saddled by foul trouble. Daum had her back.

“I’m so proud of her and her growth,” Olson said. “I’ve said this many times. She’s grown so much as a player and a person. I’m just so proud of what she’s become. She’s an all-conference player in my opinion.”

Mary Janovich (12), Taylor Cockerill (11), Quinn Wragge (11) and Colby Duvel (10) all reached double figures in scoring for Concordia, which shot a healthy 50 percent from the floor. Duvel added seven rebounds and five steals.

Not all is lost for the Tigers, who have earned an automatic berth to the national tournament. In addition to a big game for Osthus, Makela Karst chipped in 16 points off the bench. Dakota Wesleyan shot 52.9 percent on the night.

The Bulldogs will learn of their national tournament draw on Wednesday (Feb. 28) when the NAIA unveils its Division II women’s basketball bracket. The championship event will begin on Wednesday, March 7. All tournament games will take place at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Concordia will make its 17th all-time appearance at the national tournament.

Six Bulldogs tabbed All-GPAC; Olson voted coach of the year

Women’s Basketball All-GPAC

SEWARD, Neb. – After capturing GPAC regular season and postseason titles, the Concordia University women’s basketball team landed four players on the conference’s first or second teams and two others on the honorable mention list, as announced by the GPAC on Wednesday (Feb. 28). The pilot of another special season, 12th-year head coach Drew Olson raked in the third GPAC coach of the year award of his career.

First team honors went to sophomore Philly Lammers and junior Quinn Wragge. Second team accolades were handed out to seniors Dani Hoppes and Mary Janovich. Freshman Taylor Cockerill and senior Brenleigh Daum picked up honorable mention awards.

Since beginning his tenure prior to the 2006-07 season, Olson has led the program to a combined eight conference championships (four regular season, four tournament). The Bulldogs are now getting set to make their 10th national tournament appearance under Olson, who has guided his teams to three national semifinal advancements over the past six tournaments. Earlier this season, Olson reached 300 career victories. His overall record now stands at 314-92 (.773).

Lammers made a strong push for GPAC player of the year accolades (the honor went to Morningside’s Madison Braun). The Omaha native enjoyed a particularly dominant run through the GPAC tournament. She’ll enter the national tournament averaging 13.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.2 blocks. She is shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and 72.5 percent from the free throw line. Lammers recorded a career best 31 points in an overtime win at No. 9 Jamestown on Nov. 4. Now a two-time first team All-GPAC honoree, Lammers collected NAIA national player of the week accolades after leading Concordia to a win at then No. 1 Saint Xavier University. She was also named to the CIT all-tournament team.

Wragge, who hails from Crofton, Neb., has reeled in first team All-GPAC honors in each of her three seasons as a Bulldog. She joined the 1,000-point club early this season and now ranks 14th on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,316 career points. Over 32 games, Wragge is averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 61.8 percent from the field, 45.5 percent from the 3-point line and 80.3 percent from the charity stripe. Her 27 points in the win at Dakota Wesleyan were a season high and led to her being tabbed the GPAC player of the week.

Hoppes moved up from honorable mention last season to the second team as a senior. The Lincoln native notched CIT MVP recognition while powering the program’s 28th CIT title. The sharpshooting guard has knocked down 78 3-point field goals and has made 37.1 percent of her attempts from long distance. She is averaging 10.0 points and 1.7 steals per game. Hoppes eclipsed 1,000 career points in a 20-point outing in a home win over Dordt on Jan. 20. Her 22 points in a CIT win over Concordia-Ann Arbor were a personal best since transferring from Midland.

A four-year starter, Janovich has collected first or second team all-conference honors in each of her collegiate seasons. The Gretna, Neb., native also surpassed 1,000 career points this season as part of another stellar campaign. This season Janovich is averaging 9.5 points, 2.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. The 2016-17 GPAC defensive player of the year is shooting 51.7 percent from the floor, marking the fourth year in a row she’s shot better than 50 percent. She is also shooting 45.5 percent from 3-point range and 86.5 percent from the free throw line.

Cockerill has made a smooth transition from Waverly High School the collegiate game. She tallied a season best 20 points in her very first contest as a Bulldog. She’s averaging 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game. A four-year contributor, Daum has drained 75 3-point shots and is averaging 10.4 points and 1.2 steals per game.

The Bulldogs now look forward to the national tournament (March 7-13) in Sioux City, Iowa. The bracket will be released today (Feb. 28) by the NAIA.

No. 1 seed Concordia paired with Stillman at national tournament

BRACKET | National Tournament Press Guide (PDF)

SEWARD, Neb. – The 42nd national tournament game in the history of the Concordia University women’s basketball program will get underway at 12 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 7 when the Bulldogs take on Stillman College of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Drew Olson’s teams have now qualified for the national tournament in 10 of his 12 seasons at the helm of the program. Concordia is the top seed in the Liston Bracket.

Ranked No. 2 in the national poll released on Wednesday, the Bulldogs will enter March as one of the favorites and as a team that expects to get comfortable in Sioux City. Over the past six seasons, Concordia is the only NAIA Division II women’s basketball program to advance to the national semifinals three times. Each of those runs ultimately concluded with close defeats that left the Bulldogs agonizingly short of the ultimate prize.

Based on its unmatched pre-national tournament résumé, Concordia clearly has the makings of a team capable of playing into the middle of March. Olson has guided this year’s group to 14 wins over teams that appeared inside the top 25 of the new national poll. Ten of those wins came against top three seeds in the bracket. The Bulldogs have beaten two of the fellow No. 1 seeds – both on the road – College of the Ozarks (Mo.) and Saint Xavier (Ill.). Concordia is clearly battle tested.

Said GPAC Coach of the Year Drew Olson, “It makes us confident that we can play with anybody. Playing all those teams, especially on the road, gives us more toughness in those adverse situations.”

National tournament experience will be another factor working in the Bulldogs’ favor. Nine of the 15 players on the roster have played on the national stage. Seniors Brenleigh Daum and Mary Janovich were members of the 2014-15 squad that became the first in school history to reach the national championship game. They were also key pieces in last year’s national semifinal run. Daum appears to be playing the best basketball of her career. She emerged as the hero in Tuesday’s GPAC championship game after sinking the game-winner just before the buzzer.

Olson would not be opposed to seeing Daum’s scoring productivity continue. A second team All-American last season, sophomore Philly Lammers looked especially dominant during the GPAC tournament. Olson’s typical nine-player rotation includes a little bit of everything and has often allowed Concordia to steamroll unprepared opponents at the national tournament. The ingredients are in place, but this is the time of year when anything can happen.

“Going into the tournament, you have to have the focus of one game at a time,” Olson said. “We don’t want are kids looking too far in advance. You have to stay level-headed. You can be playing really well but it still takes a couple breaks here and there. With our team this season, we’re a little more adaptable. I think it will help in those situations where maybe things aren’t going our way.”

Stillman is a completely unfamiliar foe. The Tigers (19-11) moved from NCAA Division II to NAIA beginning with the 2016-17 academic year. The Tigers locked in a bid to the national tournament by way of a runner-up finish at the Association of Independent Institutions Tournament. Head coach Alico Dunk is in his first season at Stillman. The Bulldogs’ preferred frenetic pace will clash with the Tigers, who average 56.6 points per game and allow 55.6. Stillman opponents have shot only 35.1 percent from the floor.

The winner will move on to play either fourth-seeded Taylor (Ind.) or fifth-seeded Northwest Christian (Ore.) in the second round at 10:15 a.m. on Friday, March 9. Another semifinal advancement might require Concordia to again defeat future GPAC member Jamestown, the No. 2 seed in the Liston Bracket. The Bulldogs defeated the Jimmies in the national quarterfinals of the 2015 and 2017 tournaments.

NOTES:

• In its first 16 appearances at the national championships, Concordia has posted a record of 25-16 with five trips to the national semifinals and four quarterfinal finishes. The Bulldogs are 10-6 overall in first-round games, including a 9-4 mark in the last 13 first-round contests. All of the program’s 16 national qualifying seasons have come since 1992 – the same year the NAIA split into two divisions for both men’s and women’s basketball.
• Concordia carries a record of 14-0 this season against teams that have qualified for the national tournament. The 14 wins have come over No. 1 seeds College of the Ozarks and Saint Xavier (Ill.), No. 2 seeds Dakota Wesleyan (three times) and Jamestown, No. 3 seeds Hastings (twice) and Northwestern (twice), fourth-seeded Morningside (three times) and fifth-seeded St. Francis (Ill.).
• Nine of the 15 players on the Bulldogs’ official national tournament roster have prior experience at the national tournament. These nine individuals have combined for 43 career games over appearances from 2015 through 2017. Mary Janovich played in each of the team’s five tournament games during the 2015 run to the championship game. Then just a freshman, Janovich totaled 57 points while going 13-for-24 from 3-point range. Janovich is a career 48.9 percent 3-point shooter (17-for-35) at the Tyson Events Center. Her eight career national tournament games and 80 career points at the national tournament are team highs. Six of her teammates have at least four games of national tournament experience: Brenleigh Daum (7), Sydney Feller (5), Quinn Wragge (5), Colby Duvel (4), Dani Hoppes (4) and Philly Lammers (4).
• Hoppes earned NAIA Division II all-tournament honors last season after she poured in a combined 44 points while going 16-for-36 (.444) from beyond the arc, helping lead Concordia to the national semifinals. Lammers and Wragge have also been productive on the national stage. In her first experience at the Tyson Events Center, Lammers put up 51 points and 39 rebounds over four games. Over two separate trips to nationals, Wragge has averaged 14.6 points and 7.4 rebounds. In her first national tournament game (2016 vs. Goshen College), Wragge notched 24 points and 10 rebounds.
• In the program’s first 41 games at the national tournament, the Bulldogs have averaged 73.6 points per game (3,017 total points) while allowing an average of 65.2 points (2,672 total points). The school record for most team points scored in a single tournament game was broken last season in the 101-66 first-round win over Bryan College (Tenn.) (previous high was achieved in 2015 in the 92-82 win over College of Saint Mary). The Bulldogs’ stingiest defensive effort occurred in 2005 when they held Western Baptist to just 28 points in a 70-28 first-round victory.
• The 2015 national championships saw Concordia advance to the national title game for the first time in program history. National player of the year Bailey Morris led the way, averaging 17.6 points at the tournament in leading the Bulldogs to wins over Bryan College (76-35), College of Saint Mary (92-82), University of Jamestown (76-59) and Briar Cliff (72-62). Concordia was edged in the championship game, 59-57, by top-ranked Morningside.
• Head coach Drew Olson has been at the controls for each of Concordia’s past 10 national tournament appearances (including 2018). Olson also helped the Bulldog men to two national tournaments as a player and was part of three such trips to the grand stage as an assistant men’s coach at Bellevue University.
• Olson became the fifth coach in program history to lead the Bulldogs to the national tournament when he made his first appearance as head coach in 2008. Now with 10 national tournament appearances, Olson has seven more than Todd Voss for the most among head coaches in school history. Here are the all-time records for Bulldog coaches at the national tournament:
  • Drew Olson: 14-9 (10 appearances; one national title game appearance; three Fab Fours; two quarterfinal finishes)
  • Todd Voss: 8-3 (three appearances; two Fab Fours; one quarterfinal finish)
  • Mark Lemke: 2-2 (two appearances; one quarterfinal finish)
  • Micah Parker: 1-1 (one appearance)
  • Carl Everts: 0-1 (one appearance)
• Concordia has made a living in the NAIA national rankings. It has appeared in 84-straight top 25 polls dating back to the 2011-12 preseason rating. Throughout this season, the Bulldogs have been rated no lower than third and peaked at No. 1 (Jan. 9 and 23 polls). Concordia is aiming to finish a season with a national ranking for the ninth time under Olson. The program’s highest final ranking was No. 2 in 2015. Four-straight senior classes have played for ranked Bulldog teams for their entire collegiate careers.
• Great Plains Athletic Conference members have won 12 of the last 17 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships. Northwestern has five national titles during that stretch while Morningside has four and Hastings three. The GPAC had advanced at least two teams into the Fab Four six-straight years until the streak was snapped in 2014. Two or more GPAC teams have reached the semifinals in 13 of the past 17 years. In 2012, Concordia, Briar Cliff and Northwestern all appeared in the semifinals. Then in 2015, the semifinals were GPAC exclusive as Briar Cliff, Concordia, Hastings and Morningside were the last four left standing.

A selfless team of stars

Greatly admired Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden made famous the quote, “It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.” Such a quote perfectly embodies what the 2017-18 Concordia women’s basketball team stands for.

It’s not an easy thing to do, but 12th-year head coach Drew Olson has assembled a selfless team of stars who have taken on the personality of their coach. No need for wild celebrations after winning CIT or clinching another outright GPAC regular-season title. Those are the expectations. Win with class and never worry about who scores.

Says senior Dani Hoppes, “During a game, we’re all in for the team. We’re all in for the win and to get better in that game. Whoever’s playing well is probably going to get more minutes. The awesome part is that everyone’s OK with that on this team. We’re excited for each other.”

Go ahead and look. You won’t find any egos. A second team All-American as a freshman last season, Philly Lammers is about as humble as they come. Olson’s up-tempo system has allowed for nine Bulldogs to play more than 15 minutes per game. Selflessness is a must.

It’s obvious this team has talent, but the GPAC championship season and game-to-game excellence would not be possible without positive attitudes and a team-first approach. There are games where the matchup would seem to allow Lammers to easily score 30 or more points. She’s a dominant player, but it always comes down to: what’s best for the team?

“I think it’s a really special group,” Olson told the Lincoln Journal Star earlier this season. “It’s a group of some tough players that have experienced a lot of big-game moments, so they have great composure when the game’s on the line, and great composure when we’re down, when we’re facing adversity. And I think the biggest thing is they really love each other, and care for each other and push each other to be at their best.”

The togetherness of this team combined with the limitless number of weapons has given opponents nightmares. Lamented Morningside head coach Jamie Sale, “They’re a team with great shooters. I thought we played OK on defense and they still scored 88 points.”

It really doesn’t seem fair does it? You say you’re going to pinpoint Lammers (13.2 ppg) as the player you have to stop? You will still have to account for five other players who average 9.5 points or more per game: Quinn Wragge (13.0 ppg), Brenleigh Daum (10.4 ppg), Hoppes (10.0 ppg), Taylor Cockerill (9.6 ppg) and Mary Janovich (9.5 ppg) and. Each player has reached 18 points in a game at least once this season.

When you’re game planning against the Bulldogs, pick your poison carefully.

“We have so many girls who can play,” Wragge said. “If you’re going to say this girl is a shooter, you have to probably list six or seven. You never know who’s going to go off that night. It’s crazy. I really don’t know how teams prepare for that.”

Another aspect that has made Concordia difficult to prepare for has been its ability to change defenses on the fly. As a way of keeping his team fresh, Olson has backed down on the full-court ‘gnats-at-a-picnic’ zone press that was used for nearly all of last season. The Bulldogs are playing more man-to-man again, but they aren’t afraid to do whatever’s necessary in a particular game.

In the win at Morningside, Concordia was forced to adjust offensively while going up against a Mustang team that broke tendency and went with a man-to-man defense instead of its usual zone. A team effort helped get the job done, just as it has so many times for this program, one built upon trust.

Said Lammers, “It’s definitely a challenge sometimes to play so many defenses with so many different people. I just think about how much of a family we are and how close together we are. We know and trust each other so well that we’re able to just flow around and figure it out on the fly and work together.”

Added Wragge, “We roll with it and we change. We’re good at that. Our identity is in being able to change. We had Mary miss a game. Taylor missed a game. With everything that happens, we’ve been able to adapt and still figure out how to win and how to perform without them.”

It seems so fitting for this team that three different players have each eclipsed 1,000 points in their careers during this season. On lesser teams, 1,000-point club members like Hoppes, Janovich and Wragge would have their chance to be the star. Here, each of them is one of many – and they’re OK with that.

Said Hoppes of the flurry of 1,000-point scorers, “It shows a lot about this program and this team. We share the ball. Anyone can score on any given night. It’s a cool thing for a lot of people to accomplish that.”

The personal achievements are nice, but that’s really not what this season is about. There are bigger goals in mind – team goals. Olson hinted at that when chatting with a reporter in Sioux City, Iowa, where the team hopes to make an extended stay during the month of March.

Said Olson, “At this point we’ve won a conference title but they really didn’t care. They want the ultimate goal and hopefully we have a chance at it.”

No matter what happens this March, opponents and observers at the national tournament will see a team and program the way that Hoppes saw it during her two seasons at Midland. Said Hoppes, “I just remember there was always so much effort and there was always so much joy for each other. You could just tell it wasn’t selfish basketball. They were sharing the ball and excited for each other.”

Game preview: Bulldogs ready for 17th national appearance

Bracket | Tournament Press Guide

SEWARD, Neb. – March Madness has arrived. On Wednesday, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team will take the court for what it hopes is the beginning of another long postseason run. Tipoff of Wednesday’s first-round national tournament matchup with eighth-seeded Stillman College (Ala.) is set for 12 p.m. CT from the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides.

GAME INFO
Wednesday, March 7 – 12 p.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships (First Round)
Concordia (32-1) vs. Stillman (19-11)
Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
Buy tickets: Online order ($14 for adults, $7 for students)
*Can also be purchased on site
Webcast: NAIA Network (fee required)
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Live stats: Dakstats

GPAC Coach of the Year Drew Olson brings a battle-tested team with extensive national tournament experience into this week’s action. Nine of the 15 players on the varsity roster have played in at least one game at the national tournament. Seniors Brenleigh Daum and Mary Janovich were members of the 2015 national runner up and 2017 semifinalist squads. Not only are the Bulldogs familiar with the Tyson Events Center, they have the confidence that they can beat anyone, anywhere. Concordia owns a record of 14-0 against the national qualifying field with two road victories over fellow No. 1 seeds – College of the Ozarks (Mo.) and Saint Xavier University (Ill.).

Wednesday’s first-round matchup figures to be a clash in styles between a Concordia team that ranks second nationally in scoring (89.2) against a Stillman squad that ranks 122nd in scoring (56.6) out of 136 NAIA Division II women’s basketball programs. The Tigers will be fighting history. Olson’s teams have now earned a No. 1 seed four times in seven seasons. In those previous three runs as a No. 1, the Bulldogs have won their first-round game by an average margin of 33.3 points while advancing to at least the semifinals in each instance. Concordia is 25-16 all-time at the national championships.

Stillman, under the direction of first-year head coach Alico Dunk, is making the program’s first-ever appearance the national tournament. The Tigers qualified as the Association of Independent Institutions Tournament runner up. Concordia shares two common opponents with Stillman: Haskell Indian Nations University and College of the Ozarks. The Bulldogs won on the home court of both foes while the Tigers went 1-1 on neutral courts. Ozarks topped Stillman, 71-52, in the tournament championship game.

The Bulldogs will have to contend with 5-foot-8 senior guard Ki’Onna Likely, who averages a double-double per game (14.8 ppg, 10.3 rpg). While Stillman has been challenged offensively (36.3 percent shooting), it sports national rankings of fourth in scoring defense (55.6) and sixth in field goal percentage defense (.351). The Tigers, formerly of NCAA Division II, are located in Tuscaloosa, Ala. They are in their second season as a member of the NAIA.

The winner of Wednesday’s matchup will advance to the second round and take on either fourth-seeded Taylor (Ind.) (23-10) or fifth-seeded Northwest Christian (Ore.) (23-6) at 10:15 a.m. CT on Friday. Potential future game times and days are 3 p.m. on Saturday in the quarterfinals, 8 p.m. on Monday, March 12 in the semifinals and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13 in the championship game.

Projected lineups

Concordia (32-1)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.4 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.2 rpg, 1.7 spg, .345 fg%, .339 3-pt fg%, .500 ft%
G – Dani Hoppes: 10.0 ppg, 1.7 spg, 1.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, .395 fg%, .371 3-pt fg%, .623 ft%
G – Mary Janovich: 9.5 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.3 rpg, 1.9 spg, .517 fg%, .455 3-pt fg%, .865 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.5 spg, .618 fg%, .455 3-pt fg%, .803 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 13.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.4 spg, 1.2 bpg, .512 fg%, .725 ft%

Stillman (19-11)
G – Morgan Collins: 7.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.2 spg, .380 fg%, .273 3-pt fg%, .542 ft%
G – Ki’Onna Likely: 14.8 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.9 spg, .498 fg%, .652 ft%
G – Jalicya Lowery: 10.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, .389 fg%, .292 3-pt fg%, .699 ft%
F – Courtney Baker: 4.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.3 bpg, .300 fg%, .600 ft%
F – Tabitha Robinson: 5.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .288 fg%, .257 3-pt fg%, .538 ft%

Concordia opens national run by steamrolling Stillman

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – While playing in the first round of the national tournament on Wednesday afternoon (March 7), the Concordia University women’s basketball program did exactly what it’s done each time as a No. 1 seed under head coach Drew Olson – dominate in the opening round. The Bulldogs settled into half court man-to-man defense and stifled Stillman College (Ala.), which made its first national tournament appearance all-time. Concordia won handily, 75-52, in Sioux City, Iowa.

The victory was Olson’s 15th all-time as a head coach at the national tournament. As a program, the Bulldogs (33-1) are in the midst of their 17th trip to the national stage.

“I thought our kids played really well. They stuck to the defensive game plan,” Olson said. “When we hit some shots in the second quarter we were able to break it open. I think it’s good to just get that first one out of the way and have that confidence going into the next game.”

The atmosphere was about what could have been expected for a noon matchup between Nos. 1 and 8 seeds in the middle of the week. After a somewhat lethargic first few minutes, the Bulldogs exerted their will. On the few times when the Tigers (19-12) were able to crack the Concordia defense, they couldn’t seem to convert. When the halftime buzzer sounded, the Bulldogs owned a 43-17 lead while Stillman struggled to 20.6 percent (7-for-34) shooting.

The floodgates opened when senior Dani Hoppes got going from 3-point range. She drilled back-to-back attempts from long distance to push a three-point lead to nine (18-9). Hoppes doesn’t mind the unique backgrounds at the Tyson Events Center. She’s now 10-for-15 in her past two games at the Tyson after going 3-for-4 on Wednesday.

Concordia’s combination of defensive tenacity, shooters and the star power of Philly Lammers inside were on display. Lammers played a grand total of 13 minutes and still managed a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds). Lammers began the second half by scoring six quick points and by swatting a shot. She passed the torch to Brenleigh Daum, who splashed in 11 of her 14 points in the second half.

No matter the venue, the Bulldogs make themselves comfortable. They went from playing in a rambunctious Walz Arena, site of last week’s GPAC tournament title game battle with Dakota Wesleyan, to a much quieter environment on Wednesday.

Said Lammers, “Within our team, we try to bring our own energy and be consistent with that. Our bench energy hypes everybody up and gets us excited. That definitely helps us out.”

Concordia built a lead as large as 31 points, allowing the entire roster to get a taste of national tournament action. Entering the event, nine Bulldogs had played in at least one game on the national stage. That list includes seniors Mary Janovich and Daum, both members of the 2015 national runner up and 2017 national semifinalist squads.

Not only that, Janovich and Daum are now representatives of the winningest four-year class in program history. At 124-17 since the start of the 2014-15 season, Concordia has set a new program standard for most wins over a four-year stretch, breaking the record that had been established by the 2001-05 teams (123-21).

On the other hand, Stillman is new to the national tournament experience. The Tigers were paced by the 18 points of Ki’Onna Likely, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder all season. Stillman College is located in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Said Olson, “They’re a team that struggles from the perimeter so we wanted to make sure we took away their inside game. I thought our kids did a nice job with that.”

The Bulldogs’ hopeful march through the Liston Bracket will continue on Friday when they clash with fourth-seeded Taylor (Ind.) at 10:15 a.m. Taylor defeated fifth-seeded Northwest Christian (Ore.), 61-54, in the game that immediately followed Concordia’s win. All tournament games can be viewed live via NAIAnetwork.com (fee required). Additionally, 104.9 Max Country will be on site for live radio coverage.

Concordia, Taylor to meet in second round

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – For the third time in history, the Concordia University women’s basketball team will meet Taylor University (Ind.) at the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships. The Bulldogs advanced to the second round by throttling tournament newcomer Stillman College (Ala.), 75-52, at the Tyson Events Center on Wednesday (March 7). Concordia has eyes on moving to the quarterfinals for the 10th time in program history.

Friday, March 9 | 10:15 a.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships (First Round)
Concordia (32-1) vs. Stillman (19-11)
Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
Webcast: NAIA Network (fee required)
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Live stats: Dakstats

But first, what do the Bulldogs do with their off day on Thursday? Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson wants them to rest and recuperate – and also take advantage of a NAIA Champions of Character opportunity.

“Tomorrow we’ll have a practice and we’ll go to one of the schools here and play with the kids,” Olson said after Wednesday’s win. “And then you just give them the day off so that we can have fresh legs on Friday.”

After more than a week off since holding off Dakota Wesleyan in the GPAC championship game, Concordia looked fresh on Wednesday. Philly Lammers racked up 16 points and 10 rebounds in just 13 minutes of action and the Bulldogs dominated defensively. They led 43-17 at halftime and cruised to victory. On the perimeter, Brenleigh Daum and Dani Hoppes knocked down three treys apiece. Hoppes is now 10-for-15 from 3-point range over her last two games at the Tyson Events Center.

The Bulldogs took on Taylor in the first round of the national championships in 1997 and 2009. Both contests resulted in Concordia wins – 83-78 in 1997 and 72-53 in 2009. The fifth-seeded Trojans of Upland, Ind., rallied to beat fourth-seeded Northwest Christian (Ore.), 61-54, in the game that immediately followed the Bulldogs. Head coach Jody Martinez’s squad features star junior forward Kendall Bradbury, who entered the tournament averaging 23.5 points and 10.2 rebounds. Taylor earned a national bid as the Crossroads League tournament runner up.

Concordia is now 26-16 in 17 all-time appearances at the national tournament. Olson’s national tournament record stands at 15-9 over 10 trips to the national stage. The Bulldogs have advanced to the semifinals or further in three of their previous six national tournament runs.

The winner of Friday’s contest will move on to the quarterfinals and face either second-seeded Jamestown (N.D.) or third-seeded Indiana Tech as part of the Liston Bracket. That quarterfinal game will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Projected lineups

Concordia (33-1)
G – MacKenzie Helman, So. (Lincoln, Neb.)
G – Dani Hoppes, Sr. (Lincoln, Neb.)
G – Mary Janovich, Sr. (Gretna, Neb.)
F – Quinn Wragge, Jr. (Crofton, Neb.)
F – Philly Lammers, So. (Omaha, Neb.)

Taylor (24-10)
G – Abby Buchs, So. (Angola, Ind.)
G – Josie Cobb, Sr. (New Holland, Ohio)
G – Aubrey Wright, Jr. (Columbia City, Ind.)
F – Kendall Bradbury, Jr. (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
F – Cassidy Wyse, Sr. (Archbold, Ohio)

Wragge, defensive wizardry move Bulldogs to quarterfinals

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Through two outings at the national tournament, the second-ranked Bulldogs look like a team on a mission. Fifteenth-ranked Taylor University (Ind.) became the latest team to run into the brick wall in the form of Concordia’s defensive pressure. Via Friday’s (March 9) 71-50 win over the Trojans, the Bulldogs are moving on to the national quarterfinals for the 10th time in program history.

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has won each of its first two games at the Tyson Events Center by margins of greater than 20 points. Concordia has moved to 34-1 overall.

“I thought defensively we were fantastic with our effort,” Olson said. “The ability to rotate in our press was really, really good. It just showed that we were the more athletic team. Both games (at the tournament) we’ve played really well defensively. We weren’t bad on offense, it’s just a little different environment and Taylor played a good defensive game.”

The Bulldogs have suffocated national tournament foes Stillman College (Ala.) and Taylor, holding them to shooting percentages of 31.0 and 32.7, respectively. After playing straight up half-court man-to-man in the first round, Concordia and its press tortured the Trojans (24-11) into 29 turnovers, including one in which a Taylor player tossed the ball right at Mackenzie Helman for the easiest two points of her life.

Philly Lammers may have scored only eight points (3-for-5 shooting), but her activity in the passing lanes led to her nabbing eight of the team’s 21 steals. Three Taylor starters were guilty of five or more turnovers. Those giveaways made for a second half runaway that featured a Bulldog lead as large as 27 points.

“We wanted to pressure and really have that game going up and down,” said junior Quinn Wragge, the game’s most effective offensive weapon. “They didn’t play a lot of girls, didn’t have a ton of depth and we did. We were like, let’s use that. Let’s get them tired. We had 20-some steals and were able to get points off that.”

Concordia scored 34 points off turnovers to be exact. The mounting miscues and missed shots crushed the Trojans in the third quarter. Up 10 (32-22) at the half, the Bulldogs outscored Taylor, 26-13, in the third quarter that included 13 Wragge points. She went for 20 on the game. She was feeling it. She even nailed both of her attempts from 3-point range.

With the game out of hand in the final period, senior Brenleigh Daum became the fourth Bulldog this season to reach 1,000 career points. She ended the day at 1,003 after splashing in a pair of late triples. Daum has been a constant for 2014-15 through 2017-18 teams that have now produced a combined 125 wins, the most in program history for a four-year stretch.

“It’s phenomenal to win that many games in this conference and some of the nonconference games we’ve had to win, too,” Olson said. “It speaks volumes about what they’re about. They’re talented but they’re also really tough kids that want to win.”

Colby Duvel (11 points, seven rebounds, four steals) was the only Bulldog other than Wragge to reach double figures. Sydney Feller, Helman and Lammers added eight points apiece. Helman and Wragge both plucked three steals. Concordia shot 44.3 percent (27-for-61) from the floor.

Taylor standout Kendall Bradbury posted 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Trojans, the Crossroads League tournament runner up. Fourth-seeded Taylor advanced to the second round after claiming a 61-54 win over fifth-seeded Northwest Christian (Ore.) in the first round.

Now they meet again. Concordia and Jamestown have become friendly rivals even before matching up as conference opponents. Way back on Nov. 10, the Bulldogs rallied for a 91-83 overtime win over the Jimmies in Jamestown. Though star guard Bryn Woodside has been limited by injury, eighth-ranked Jamestown looked sharp while pummeling No. 9 Indiana Tech, 82-63, early on Friday morning. Saturday’s quarterfinal tilt is set to tip off at 3 p.m. in will be the final in the Liston Bracket.

They meet again: Concordia vs. Jamestown preview

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – For whatever rhyme or reason, the Concordia University women’s basketball team often has to go through the University of Jamestown (N.D.) if it plans on reaching the national semifinals. The two friendly rivals and future GPAC foes will clash once again when quarterfinal action tips off inside the Tyson Events Center at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday (March 10).

Saturday, March 10 | 3 p.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships (Quarterfinals)
No. 2 Concordia (32-1) vs. No. 8 Jamestown (31-4)
Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
Webcast: NAIA Network (fee required)
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Live stats: Dakstats

This will be the third time in four seasons that the Bulldogs and Jimmies have locked horns with a trip to the national semifinals on the line. Concordia came out on top in both 2015 and 2017. These two programs know each other well.

“They’re such a tough team and really well coached,” said head coach Drew Olson following Friday’s win. “Their guards are really good. Their post player is really physical. It’s going to be a really tough game. It seems like every year we play them and it’s always a battle. Hopefully our kids are ready.”

Olson’s ‘kids’ have been up to the task since opening up play with a breezy win over Stillman College (Ala.) in the first round. The Bulldogs’ first two national tournament foes have posted shooting percentages of 31.0 and 32.7, respectively. Concordia turned up the heat on Friday by bringing back its full-court press. The result was 29 Taylor University (Ind.) turnovers, including eight that came on Philly Lammers steals.

Offensively, Quinn Wragge was nearly unstoppable versus Taylor. She made 8-of-13 shots from the floor while putting up 13 of her 20 points during a runaway third quarter. Wragge finished four points shy of her national tournament career high of 24 (versus Goshen College on March 9, 2016). Additionally, Brenleigh Daum reached 1,000 career points, becoming the fourth Bulldog to accomplish that feat this season.

Wragge and company are on a mission. They expect to be playing next Tuesday night, but they know they can’t lose focus now, not with a top 10-ranked Jamestown team in front of them.

Said Wragge, “We’re definitely excited. This is the goal all year. Right now. We want that game tomorrow bad and we have goals beyond that.”

Concordia knows how dangerous the Jimmies can be. They had the Bulldogs on the ropes back on Nov. 10 in a matchup in Jamestown. Concordia rallied from a double-digit deficit behind Lammers’ career game (31 points, 14 rebounds) and won in overtime, 91-83. North Star Athletic Association player of the year Bryn Woodside has been hobbled by a knee injury, but has continued to give solid minutes. The good news for head coach Greg Ulland is that he has other quality guards such as McKayla Orr, who tallied 18 points in the team’s 82-63 win over ninth-ranked Indiana Tech on Friday.

Jamestown can also play some defense. They rank fifth nationally in field goal percentage defense (.350) and 10th in scoring defense (57.3). The Jimmies are 4-3 this season against GPAC opponents with two of the losses coming against Dakota Wesleyan. Notable wins were recorded over Morningside and Northwestern.

Saturday’s winner will have Sunday off before playing in the semifinals at 8 p.m. on Monday (March 12). The opponent will be whichever team comes out of the Duer Bracket.

Projected lineups

Concordia (34-1)
G – MacKenzie Helman, So. (Lincoln, Neb.)
G – Dani Hoppes, Sr. (Lincoln, Neb.)
G – Mary Janovich, Sr. (Gretna, Neb.)
F – Quinn Wragge, Jr. (Crofton, Neb.)
F – Philly Lammers, So. (Omaha, Neb.)

Jamestown (31-4)
G – Mya Buffetta, Fr. (Mountain Iron, Minn.)
G – Paige Emmel, Sr. (Bismark, N.D.)
G – McKayla Orr, Sr. (Ypsilanti, N.D.)
F – Jory Mullen, Jr. (Pierre, S.D.)
C – Jenna Doyle, Jr. (Princeton, Minn.)

Sixth semifinal berth spurred by breathtaking third period

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Concordia University women’s basketball team was stupid good in the third quarter. That dazzling 10-minute stretch defined the day for the Bulldogs, who are off to the national semifinals for the third time in four years and for the sixth time in program history. Once again, Concordia victimized the University of Jamestown in a national quarterfinal tilt in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs won, 79-61, on Saturday (March 10).

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s been at the controls for 17 of the program’s 28 wins all-time at the national tournament. At 35-1 overall, Concordia has reached a high water mark for victories in a season during Olson’s tenure. The school record is 36 triumphs (2002-03).

Olson’s been doing this for over a decade, but he’s likely never seen one of his teams dominate quite like this for a 10-minute segment.

“It was pretty fun to watch,” Olson said. “That’s just the firepower that we have. We have so many weapons, so many kids who are capable of scoring. As long as we’re being on attack mode and sharing the ball, good things are going to happen.”

The numbers from the third quarter are crazy. During the period that crushed the Jimmies’ souls, the Bulldogs outscored the opposition 38-10, went 14-for-23 from the field (.609), 7-for-8 from 3-point range (.875) and owned a plus-nine turnover advantage (9-0). Sophomore guard Mackenzie Helman played a starring role, drilling all three of her attempts from beyond the arc in the third quarter. That seven-point first half deficit? Forget about it. Concordia led 69-44 heading to the fourth period.

All-American post Philly Lammers also put up 11 of her game high 20 points in the third. Her monster afternoon also included a career high 17 rebounds and four blocked shots. A day earlier, her eight steals were a career best in the win over 15th-ranked Taylor University (Ind.).

The second half Bulldog blitz had Jamestown head coach Greg Ulland searching for answers that never came. Even a 9-0 Jimmie run to begin the fourth quarter was far too little to change the outcome.

“I tried to use a couple timeouts and change one or two little things, but when they’re playing at that level there’s not a whole lot you can do,” Ulland said. “They’re extremely talented and they’re deep. They’re very contagious. When one kid hits, then everybody thinks they can make it. It seemed like they didn’t even miss a shot that whole quarter.”

Whatever shooting fever infected Concordia in the third quarter was absent for most of the first half. The Bulldogs endured a field goal drought of more than five minutes during the second quarter. Finally they got something going with five points in a row from Lammers late in the half. Evidently Concordia was simply a sleeping giant at the time.

At the break, Olson challenged his team to play with more fervor. Their tournament life hung in the balance.

“I think we just realized we had to come out with fight,” Lammers said. “This is a battle. Every team here wants to win. We had to come out and show that we wanted it more and prove that we were the best team out there.”

The Bulldogs shot 45.6 percent (31-for-68) for the game while a tournament theme on the other end of the court continued. Jamestown (31-5), which cruised past Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) and Indiana Tech in the preceding rounds, shot only 32.8 percent (22-for-67) overall and was just 5-for-23 (.217) from 3-point range.

The Jimmies’ chances were hurt by star guard Bryn Woodside’s hobbled knee. She played through it at the national tournament, but she wasn’t quite the same player. Backcourt mates McKayla Orr (17 points, eight rebounds) and Paige Emmel (12 points, eight rebounds) did their best to pick up the slack.

Lammers led the way for four Bulldogs in double figures. Quinn Wragge recorded 14 points and five rebounds, Helman added 13 points and four rebounds and Sydney Feller poured in 10 points off the bench.

Now for the big question. Can Concordia complete the mission no other team in school history has? The Bulldogs will take on GPAC rival Northwestern (25-8) inside the Tyson Events Center at 8 p.m. CT on Monday (March 12) in the national semifinals. Live coverage will be provided by ESPN3.com and 104.9 Max Country. The Red Raiders defeated No. 19 St. Francis (Ill.) in overtime on Saturday.

GPAC rivals collide in national semifinals

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A march to the national title game will require the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team to go through another familiar opponent. The Bulldogs are bound for the semifinals, where they will meet GPAC rival Northwestern at 8:05 p.m. CT on Monday (March 12). On the other side of the bracket, fourth-ranked Saint Xavier University (Ill.) will meet up with No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan at 6:05 p.m. on Monday.

Monday, March 12 | 8:05 p.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships (Semifinals)
No. 2 Concordia (35-1) vs. No. 11 Northwestern (25-8)
Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
Watch: ESPN3
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Live stats: Dakstats

Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has already proven capable of beating each of the teams remaining at the national championships. In fact, the Bulldogs went 10-0 this season against squads that reached the national quarterfinals. They are also 6-0 against the likes of Dakota Wesleyan, Northwestern and Saint Xavier while having won on the home courts of each of the semifinalists. In battles with the Red Raiders, Concordia won by scores of 84-80 in Orange City, Iowa, on Dec. 15 and 80-67 in Seward on Feb. 3.

It’s not so simple, but now the task is about duplicating those past performances. The battle tested Bulldogs are confident they can make it happen.

“We weren’t phased,” said Olson following Saturday’s win over eighth-ranked Jamestown in which the Bulldogs erased a halftime deficit with a massive third quarter performance. “We were down at half and we were struggling, to be honest. But our kids in the halftime locker room were fine. They were ready to go and they knew what they needed to do. I think it’s because of the schedule (we’ve played).”

That third quarter is worth rehashing. The numbers were eye-popping. During that 10-minute stretch, Concordia outscored the Jimmies 38-10 while going 14-for-23 (.609) from the floor, 7-for-8 (.875) from 3-point range and posting a plus-nine turnover margin (9-0). Because of the Bulldogs’ gnat-like press and bevy of scoring options, such explosiveness is not out of the norm. The second highest scoring offense (88.0 ppg) in NAIA Division II is fueled by an attacking defense that forces an average of 25.0 turnovers per game.

Concordia and Northwestern have engaged in many heated battles in GPAC regular season and postseason play, but they’ve never met at the national tournament. The Red Raiders are 50-10 with five titles in their history at the national championships. Their most recent championship came in 2012 when current head coach Chris Yaw was in his first season at the helm of the program. Yaw may have his best team since then. Yaw relies heavily upon six players in particular – and those six are stellar. Also an All-American volleyball player, Anna Kiel has been on a tear at the national tournament. She’s scored at least 20 points in each of the team’s wins over No. 22 Friends (Kan.), No. 6 Eastern Oregon and No. 19 St. Francis (Ill.).

By the numbers

• At 35-1 overall, the 2017-18 Bulldogs have equaled a high water mark for wins in a season during Olson’s tenure. The school record win total was produced by the 2002-03 squad that went 36-2.
• Concordia is making its sixth semifinal appearance in school history (2003, 2005, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018) and third over the past four seasons. Only the 2014-15 team advanced to the national championship game.
• The Bulldogs are 28-16 over 17 all-time appearances on the national stage. In 10 trips to nationals, Olson has gone 17-9 with four semifinal advancements, including the 2015 runner-up finish.
• Concordia’s roster includes four players with more than 1,000 career points: Quinn Wragge (1,358), Mary Janovich (1,148), Dani Hoppes (1,129) and Brenleigh Daum (1,006). Philly Lammers (968) is not far off after her 20-point, 17-rebound, four-block performance versus Jamestown. This week in Sioux City, Lammers is averaging 14.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. Wragge has been the team’s second leading scorer at the national tournament with an average of 14.0 points per game.
• Northwestern has four players averaging in double figures at this year’s national tournament: Kiel (21.7), Kassidy De Jong (18.3), Renee Maneman (14.7) and Darbi Gustafson (11.0). De Jong has piled up 1,615 points over her three years as a Red Raider.

ESPN3 will provide live coverage of both semifinal games and the championship game. All Concordia games can also be heard live on 104.9 Max Country. The Concordia/Northwestern winner will play the Dakota Wesleyan/Saint Xavier winner at 7 p.m. CT in Tuesday’s championship.

Projected lineups

Concordia (35-1)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.6 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.3 rpg, 1.7 spg, .345 fg%, .347 3-pt fg%, .455 ft%
G – Dani Hoppes: 9.8 ppg, 1.6 spg, 1.5 rpg, .399 fg%, .377 3-pt fg%, .632 ft%
G – Mary Janovich: 8.9 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.3 rpg, 1.8 spg, .508 fg%, .441 3-pt fg%, .837 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.5 spg, .616 fg%, .480 3-pt fg%, .808 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 13.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.5 spg, 1.3 bpg, .509 fg%, .742 ft%

Northwestern (25-8)
G – Paige Danner: 6.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.1 spg, .370 fg%, .346 3-pt fg%, .893 ft%
G – Kassidy De Jong: 17.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.2 spg, .457 fg%, .244 3-pt fg%, .770 ft%
G – Renee Maneman: 11.1 ppg, 8.4 apg, 3.8 rpg, 1.6 spg, .457 fg%, .310 3-pt fg%, .743 ft%
F – Haley Birks: 8.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg, .556 fg%, .250 3-pt fg%, .868 ft%
F – Darbi Gustafson: 14.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 0.7 bpg, .575 fg%, .795 ft%

Daum just keeps chucking during program's winningest four years

Even if everything breaks the way the Bulldogs want it to, the collegiate basketball career of Brenleigh Daum will come to an end by about 9 p.m. on Tuesday night. Between now and then, Brenleigh will just keep chucking. That’s been the motto for the McCook, Neb., native, who has drained 230 3-point field goals during her career.

Things could change by late Tuesday night, but it was a shot that occurred inside the arc that will forever be associated as the signature moment of Daum’s four-year run. In the aftermath of a wild GPAC championship win on Feb. 27, head coach Drew Olson praised Daum for her growth over time.

“She’s grown so much as a player and as a person,” Olson said. “I’m so proud of what she’s become. She’s an all-conference player in my opinion.”

A few years ago, Olson may not have put Daum on the court in the situation that occurred in the GPAC championship game. Game tied at 88. Less than five seconds left on the clock. Admit it. You didn’t think Daum would be the one to take the last shot. But there she was, slicing into the lane and kissing a contested left-handed flick off the glass.

It was an unforgettable moment during a season of many highs. For one of the few times in Daum’s career, the spotlight – and the TV cameras – was on her.

“Everybody was really excited obviously,” Daum said. “They just thought it was really cool. They were like, ‘Was that the actual play?’ I was like, ‘No, I wasn’t even supposed to touch it.’ I was just lucky enough to have the ball in my hands in that last second. That was an all-around team win.”

No, Daum’s never been THE star on the team. She’s just one of many players who know and perform their roles. There have been some ups and downs. Sometimes she’s started, but mostly she’s come off the bench for teams that have won – and won a lot. Daum and fellow four-year varsity contributor Mary Janovich have been constants during the winningest four-year stretch in school history. The Bulldogs enter the week with a preposterous record of 126-17 since the start of the 2014-15 season.

Daum and Janovich are also the only players in program history to play for three different national semifinalist teams.

“It’s really, really special,” Daum said. “That’s something that Mary and I can share together and talk about and remember as we get older. You just think about how special that is to be part of such a great program.”

Daum’s final national tournament was made even more special in the second round when she became the program’s 27th player to reach 1,000 career points. Fittingly, she got to that number exactly on a third quarter ‘Daum Bomb’ as part of yet another victory.

Daum’s family was there to see it. Her parents Tim and Kristi don’t miss her games. Even her older sister Aly flew in to see the milestone accomplishment. It’s a rare game when Brenleigh’s phone hasn’t been bombarded with social media notifications from family members.

“My parents do everything they can to support me,” Daum said. “I think my dad has missed like one game the whole time. He was like, ‘Are you sure it’s OK?’ I said, ‘Yes, it’s fine.’ My sister flew in from Virginia to be at the tournament. She just loves watching us play. It’s super special because I don’t see her very often. My aunt also loves coming to games and I actually have quite a bit of family here in Sioux City.”

Brenleigh’s style on the court has drawn attention from more than just family. She’s never seen a shot she didn’t like. They don’t always go in, but she always seems to believe that the next one will. Such confidence is why moments like the one in the GPAC championship game are not too big for Daum.

On Monday night, and hopefully Tuesday night, Daum will #JKC. Just keep chucking. Long live the Daum Bomb.

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Daum said of the close of her college basketball career. “It’s been a really good four years. I know for sure I’m going to miss it a lot when it’s over.”

Lammers, Wragge show the way to title game

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Three years after the Concordia University women’s basketball program’s first-ever national championship game appearance, a mostly new set of players have led the Bulldogs back to the same plateau. Concordia is again knocking on the door of a national title after Monday’s (March 12) 84-77 semifinal win over 11th-ranked Northwestern. It was another dominant outing for the likes of Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge.

The 2017-18 Bulldogs moved to 36-1 overall, equaling the 2002-03 squad for the most victories in program history. Under 12th-year head coach Drew Olson, Concordia has pretty much done it all – except win the whole thing.

“We’re very excited to be in that (championship) game,” Olson said. “It’s something that we’ve been striving for all year. We’ve marked off all of our goals so far this year and this is the last one.”

Just like the quarterfinal victory over No. 8 Jamestown, this one was essentially decided in the third quarter. The Bulldogs opened up the half on an 11-2 run and led 55-40. Concordia has simply been bullying the opposition with Lammers and Wragge serving as the ringleaders. In postgame interview sessions, Red Raider seniors Paige Danner and Renee Maneman both mentioned the Bulldogs’ physicality as being a bear of a matchup.

Lammers has been otherworldly in postseason play going back to the conference tournament championship run. Lammers went off for 23 points, nine rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals while burning Northwestern. The Omaha native took advantage of foul trouble for Anna Kiel, who had been on a tear at the national tournament. She played only 19 minutes due to her four fouls.

While Lammers pounded away in the paint, Wragge consistently blew past defenders for driving layups. Wragge added 17 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes of action. She and Lammers have been dynamic duo that no opponent at the Tyson Events Center has been able to figure out.

“They’ve been unbelievable with their attack mode and their ability to rebound,” Olson said. “They’re just dominant on both ends. We’re a full team, but they’re a huge part of that.”

Concordia led by as many as 18 points in the second half on the strength of another stellar third quarter. As Olson says, the Bulldogs are much more than two players. Mary Janovich recorded nine points and three steals and often facilitated Lammers and Wragge with her seven assists. Point guard MacKenzie Helman chipped in 13 points in 27 minutes of action.

Northwestern (25-9) stayed close through the first 20 minutes of play thanks in large part to a bid advantage in the rebound category. The Red Raiders owned a 16-6 edge in rebounding after the opening quarter. Concordia seemed to settle in after taking off the press, which Maneman and company were able to successfully break in the early going.

Haley Birks (14 points, 13 rebounds) and Kassidy De Jong (15 points, 10 rebounds) both posted double-doubles for Northwestern, which reached the national semifinals for the 10th time in program history. The Red Raiders had never matched up with the Bulldogs at the national tournament. Now in his seventh season as head coach, Chris Yaw led Northwestern to a national title in 2012.

Concordia shot 50 percent (33-for-66) from the floor in a game that did not require it to make a lot of outside shots. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders often settled for perimeter jumpers and went just 9-for-34 (.265) from 3-point range. The though final margin was just seven points, there was no late game drama.

The Bulldogs have proven up to the task in sequels. They have defeated five nationally-ranked teams multiple times this season: No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan three times, No. 8 Jamestown twice, No. 11 Northwestern three times, No. 12 Hastings twice and No. 13 Morningside three times.

In order to raise a banner, Concordia will have to beat Dakota Wesleyan for a fourth time. The two rivals will begin conflict at 7:05 p.m. CT on Tuesday (March 13) in the national championship game.

Said Olson, “I told (Tiger head coach) Jason (Christensen) after the GPAC championship game that we’d see them in the finals. I really believed that was the case. In that GPAC championship I felt like we were the two best teams.”

Six represent women's basketball on Scholar-Athlete list

NAIA release

SEWARD, Neb. – A group of six Bulldogs from the Concordia University women’s basketball program have earned 2018 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition, as announced by the NAIA on Monday (March 12). The list includes seniors Sydney Feller and Dani Hoppes along with four juniors (complete list at bottom).

In order to be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status. A total of 278 women’s basketball student-athletes across the nation were named 2017-18 Scholar-Athletes by the NAIA.

Concordia University ranks as the NAIA’s all-time leader in number of Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes with 1,333 and counting. The Bulldogs have been a regular national leader for both scholar-athletes and scholar-teams and are coming off a 2016-17 academic year that resulted in 78 more scholar-athletes and 19 scholar-teams. The 2015-16 season produced a GPAC best 92 Bulldog scholar-athletes and a national best 20 NAIA Scholar-Teams. The 2014-15 season culminated with GPAC-leading totals of 94 Bulldog scholar-athletes and 17 NAIA Scholar-Teams. During the 2013-14 academic year, Concordia garnered 101 Scholar-Athlete honorees (most in the NAIA) and 17 NAIA Scholar-Teams (tied for fourth nationally).

2018 Concordia women’s basketball Scholar-Athletes

Sydney Feller, Sr. (Papillion, Neb.)
Jaydn High, Jr. (Bertrand, Neb.)
Dani Hoppes, Sr. (Lincoln, Neb.)
Jerrica Tietz, Jr. (Bancroft, Neb.)
Megan Vieselmeyer, Jr. (Holyoke, Colo.)
Quinn Wragge, Jr. (Crofton, Neb.)

Concordia vs. Dakota Wesleyan, part IV

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – We already had an epic trilogy. Now it’s time for part IV of what could be an all-out brawl. Tuesday’s NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship Game will feature GPAC titans in second-ranked Concordia and seventh-ranked Dakota Wesleyan. As it turned out, the GPAC championship game was simply a preview of the national title clash to come.

Tuesday, March 13 | 7:05 p.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship Game
No. 2 Concordia (36-1) vs. No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan (31-6)
Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
Watch: ESPN3
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Live stats: Dakstats

If tonight’s game turns out to be anything like the GPAC championship game, then fans are in for a treat. Brenleigh Daum’s bucket with 0.7 seconds left lifted the Bulldogs to a 90-88 win over the Tigers in another physical battle between the two sides. Concordia has won each of the last four meetings in the series – two of which have been conference tournament title games. During the 2017-18 regular season, the Bulldogs topped Dakota Wesleyan by scores of 70-66 in Mitchell, S.D., and 55-42 in Seward.

The national tournament path of head coach Jason Christensen’s squad has included wins over IU East, No. 10 Southern Oregon, top-ranked Southeastern (Fla.) and No. 4 Saint Xavier (Ill.). The Tigers have won each of those games by margins of 14 points or more. Sophomore Kynedi Cheeseman leads all players at the 2018 national tournament in total points scored with 82 (20.5 per game). Three of her teammates are also averaging in double figures at the national championships: Ashley Bray (16.5), Amber Bray (13.0) and Riley Osthus (11.5). In the midst of their program’s sixth national tournament appearance, the Tigers are in the national title game for the second time in program history. They fell at the hands of Hastings, 59-53, in the 2003 championship contest.

Concordia hasn’t exactly had a nailbiter during its stay in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs’ road to the final has featured wins over Stillman (Ala.), 75-52, No. 15 Taylor (Ind.), 71-50, No. 8 Jamestown, 79-61, and Northwestern, 84-77. Concordia has proven up to the task in sequels. It has defeated five nationally-ranked teams multiple times this season: No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan three times, No. 8 Jamestown twice, No. 11 Northwestern three times, No. 12 Hastings twice and No. 13 Morningside three times.

By the numbers

• At 36-1 overall, the 2017-18 Bulldogs have surpassed the previous high water mark for wins in a season during Olson’s tenure. They now share the school single-season record win total with the 2002-03 squad that went 36-2.
• Concordia made its sixth semifinal appearance in school history (2003, 2005, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018) and third over the past four seasons. It will now move on to the championship game for just the second time in program history. The 2014-15 team advanced to the national final and suffered a heart breaker of a 59-57 loss to Morningside.
• The Bulldogs are 29-16 over 17 all-time appearances on the national stage. In 10 trips to nationals, Olson has gone 18-9 with four semifinal advancements, including the 2015 runner-up finish.
• Concordia’s roster includes four players with more than 1,000 career points: Quinn Wragge (1,375), Mary Janovich (1,157), Dani Hoppes (1,136) and Brenleigh Daum (1,014). Philly Lammers (991) is not far off after putting up 20 points versus Jamestown and 23 versus Northwestern. Over the past week in Sioux City, Lammers is averaging 16.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. Wragge has been the team’s second leading scorer at the national tournament with an average of 14.8 points per game (59.1 percent shooting from the floor).
• Dakota Wesleyan is an elite team and the numbers bare it out. On the national leaderboard, it ranks first in free throw percentage (.804), second in field goal percentage (.482), third in rebound margin (+12.0), ninth in scoring offense (80.3), 11th in field goal percentage defense (.358) and 16th in scoring defense (59.2). Both Bray sisters and Osthus were named first team All-GPAC. Osthus also shared the GPAC defensive player of the year award with Hastings’ Rachel Jelden.

ESPN3 will provide live coverage of the championship game. All Concordia games can also be heard live on 104.9 Max Country.

Projected lineups

Concordia (36-1)
G – MacKenzie Helman: 4.9 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.2 rpg, 1.7 spg, .353 fg%, .357 3-pt fg%, .462 ft%
G – Dani Hoppes: 9.7 ppg, 1.6 spg, 1.6 rpg, .402 fg%, .373 3-pt fg%, .650 ft%
G – Mary Janovich: 8.9 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.4 rpg, 1.9 spg, .505 fg%, .423 3-pt fg%, .822 ft%
F – Quinn Wragge: 13.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.4 spg, .615 fg%, .480 3-pt fg%, .805 ft%
F – Philly Lammers: 13.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.5 spg, 1.3 bpg, .512 fg%, .736 ft%

Dakota Wesleyan (31-6)
G – Kynedi Cheeseman: 14.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.1 spg, .423 fg%, .344 3-pt fg%, .871 ft%
G – Chesney Nagel: 3.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.1 spg, .298 fg%, .691 ft%
G – Riley Osthus: 10.3 ppg, 5.4 apg, 4.6 rpg, 1.4 spg, .483 fg%, .357 3-pt fg%, .744 ft%
F – Amber Bray: 14.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 spg, .556 fg%, .500 3-pt fg%, .873 ft%
F – Ashley Bray: 14.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, .545 fg%, .460 3-pt fg%, .894 ft%

Bulldogs fall short of ultimate prize once again

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – It was an inopportune time for the Concordia University women’s basketball team to get swept up by a perfect storm. The second quarter turned into a disaster and the second-ranked Bulldogs never recovered while making their second appearance in four seasons in the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship Game. When the confetti streamed from the rafters, it was GPAC rival Dakota Wesleyan that celebrated an 82-59 victory on Tuesday night (March 13).

This one will sting for a while for 12th-year head coach Drew Olson and a 2017-18 team that leapt almost every hurdle it faced. Concordia went 36-2 overall and equaled a program record for wins in a season while up against a brutally challenging schedule.

“We’re really disappointed and it really hurts right now,” Olson said. “But I know in a month, two months, whatever it’s going to be, that we’ll realize what an amazing season it was.”

For a program that had come up agonizingly short of a title in 2015 and since then made another semifinal appearance in 2017, anything less than a national championship was going to feel like something of a letdown. Through the first four rounds of the 2018 national tournament, Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge dominated while leading the Bulldogs on a mostly smooth journey to the final game.

Concordia had every right to believe it could cut down the nets at the Tyson Events Center for the first time ever. The Bulldogs had already beaten Tuesday’s opponent three times this season. At the very least, the championship collision between the all too familiar foes figured to be wire-to-wire like it was in the GPAC title game, a 90-88 Bulldog win.

It just wasn’t to be. Dakota Wesleyan (32-6) was lights out. The Tigers dealt Concordia blow after blow by going 15-for-31 (.484) from beyond the arc. The game turned on its face after Taylor Cockerill’s trey brought the Bulldogs within four (23-19) at the 9:12 mark of the second quarter. Concordia did not score again until Quinn Wragge’s long 3-pointer 1:10 into the third quarter. By that point, Dakota Wesleyan had shocked the Bulldogs by building a lead as large as 24 points.

“I thought we had a decent fight in the first quarter and then it kind of got away from us in the second quarter,” Olson said. “Uncharacteristically we started playing selfishly in a way that made us frantic. We started doing some things that we don’t normally do. Part of that is they just out-played us. They shot incredibly. Defensively, they were awesome. We got out of sorts a little bit.”

It’s hard to believe that this Tiger team was the same one that scored only 42 points in the regular-season contest that took place in Seward. Dakota Wesleyan drained five of its first seven shots from 3-point range. Tournament MVP Kynedi Cheeseman went off for 26 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the flour. Five different Tigers knocked down two or more 3-point shots. Concordia really hadn’t seen a performance like this from an opponent all season. It was shell-shocked.

Cockerill was one of the only consistently reliable scoring options for the Bulldogs. She scored 17 points in 31 minutes of action. It was a little too late before Lammers got rolling in the second half. She totaled 23 points on the night and became the fifth Concordia player this season to hit the 1,000 career point mark. Hoppes went 4-for-5 from long range and put up 12 points. Wragge struggled, going 1-for-9 from the floor. As a team, Concordia shot 35.1 percent (20-for-57) from the floor.

Dakota Wesleyan, which claimed its first-ever national title in its second appearance in a championship final, got 21 points from Ashley Bray and 12 from Chesney Nagel. The Tigers shot 47.5 percent from the field.

Olson and the program will say goodbye to four seniors: Brenleigh Daum, Sydney Feller, Hoppes and Mary Janovich. Four-year varsity contributors in Daum and Janovich were part of teams that went a combined 127-18 since the start of the 2014-15 season. They were also members of the 2015 national runner-up squad.

“I feel so bad for them,” Olson said. “We all know what we felt their freshman year (losing to Morningside in the national championship game). I wanted it so bad for them to win a national title. Again, they set the school record for most wins and it’s just an incredible group of kids that worked so hard.”

Olson named NAIA National Coach of the Year by WBCA

WBCA release

SEWARD, Neb. – Just before Tuesday’s (March 13) national championship game, Drew Olson added another honor to his already impressive résumé. The 2017-18 GPAC Coach of the Year was selected by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association as the 2018 United States Marine Corps/WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year.

Olson will be presented the Pat Summitt Trophy, named for the legendary University of Tennessee coach, during the 2018 WBCA Convention, which will be held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women’s Final Four® in Columbus, Ohio.

"The WBCA is proud to name Drew Olson as the 2018 United States Marine Corps/WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year," said Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA. "Olson was selected as the winner by his peers after leading his team to an exceptional season. The WBCA recognizes and applauds his leadership example that can be seen in his student-athletes, institution and community.”

Olson has now been named a national coach of the year for the first time in his career. He guided the 2017-18 squad to a 36-2 season that equaled a program record for wins in a single season. Along the way, the Bulldogs swept GPAC regular season and postseason championships and advanced to the national championship game for the second time in school history. Concordia was nationally ranked as high as No. 1 and never lower than third throughout the season.

Olson accomplishments

• Winningest coach in program history (318-93)
• Three-time GPAC coach of the year
• Four-time WBCA regional coach of the year
• 2014-15 Omaha World Herald/Lincoln Journal Star small college coach of the year
• Four national semifinal berths, including two championship game appearances
• Eight GPAC championships (four regular season, four postseason)
• 10 national tournament qualifications

The United States Marine Corps/WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year is selected by a committee of coaches from among regional coaches of the year who are nominated and selected by their peers.

The WBCA also announced its NAIA All-Americans earlier this week. Concordia junior forward Quinn Wragge landed on the 10-player All-America list that includes both NAIA Division I and II players. Meanwhile, sophomore Philly Lammers garnered WBCA honorable mention All-America status. The complete teams can be viewed HERE.

Lammers earns CoSIDA Academic All-America honors

CoSIDA release

SEWARD, Neb. – Already a two-time first team All-GPAC performer, sophomore Philly Lammers is also an excellent student. On Thursday (March 15), the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) named Lammers to its College Division Academic All-America® basketball team.

The CoSIDA Academic All-America® Women’s Basketball Teams have been released to recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. For more information about the Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit http://cosida.com.

A product of Millard West High School, Lammers is arguably the top post player in the NAIA. A second team All-American as a freshman, Lammers earned NAIA first team all-national tournament honors after leading the Bulldogs to the national championship game. Over 38 games this season, the Omaha native averaged 13.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. She shot 51.4 percent from the floor and 73.8 percent from the free throw line. In the classroom, Lammers sports a perfect 4.0 grade-point average while studying biology and physics.

Lammers was named Academic All-District by CoSIDA on Feb. 22. Student-athletes are eligible for CoSIDA awards beginning with their sophomore seasons.

2017-18 Academic All-District Honorees
*Hallick Lehmann, Football
*Philly Lammers, Basketball

2016-17 Academic All-District Honorees
*Amy Ahlers, Golf
*Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
Le’Dontrae Gooden, Football
*Hallick Lehmann, Football
*Sam Liermann, Track & Field
*CJ Muller, Track & Field
Lucas Wiechman, Track & Field

2016-17 Academic All-District Honorees
*Amy Ahlers, Golf
*Stephanie Coley, Track & Field
*Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
*Hallick Lehmann, Football
Adam Meirose, Football
Becky Mueller, Basketball
*CJ Muller, Track & Field
*Kim Wood, Cross Country/Track & Field

2014-15 Academic All-District Honorees
Amy Ahlers, Golf
*Brendan Buchanan, Soccer
Stephanie Coley, Track & Field
*Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
Jaydee Jurgensen, Baseball
Adam Meirose, Football
Bailey Morris, Basketball
*Rachel Mussell, Soccer
Shawn Rodehorst, Golf
Ben Sievert, Cross Country/Track & Field
Melissa Stine, Soccer

*Academic All-American

Lammers, Wragge pick up NAIA All-America recognition

NAIA release

SEWARD, Neb. – Sophomore Philly Lammers has joined elite company as the seventh player in the history of the Concordia University women’s basketball program to be named a first team NAIA All-American. She was one of 11 NAIA Division II first teamers to land on the All-America teams unveiled on Thursday (March 15). Additionally, Quinn Wragge collected third team All-America accolades.

Named the NAIA National Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, Drew Olson has coached 11 different players who have earned some form of All-America recognition during their careers as Bulldogs. That group includes 2015 NAIA Division II National Player of the Year Bailey Morris.

In addition to Lammers, other Concordia first team All-America selections all-time are Lynda Beck (1992), Kristen Conahan (2013), Sarah Harrison (2003), Amber Kistler (2012), Morris (2014, 2015) and Whitney Stichka (2009).

There is no equal in school history in terms of a more impressive first two collegiate seasons. An NAIA Division II first team all-national tournament selection, Lammers moved up to first team All-America honors after netting second team recognition as a freshman in 2017. Over 75 career games, Lammers has totaled 1,014 points, 576 rebounds, 171 steals and 97 blocked shots. During the 2017-18 campaign, Lammers averaged 13.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.3 blocks.

“She’s amazing. She’s one of the greatest players I’ve had the opportunity to coach,” Olson said following Tuesday’s national championship game. “I feel very blessed that she’s on our team. Her season this year she showed the development and what a dominant player she is on both ends.”

After picking up honorable mention All-America accolades last season, Wragge took another leap forward as a junior in 2017-18. An essential figure in the team’s run to the national title game, the Crofton, Neb., native averaged 13.0 points and 5.3 rebounds this season and was chosen as a second team all-national tournament honoree. Over 106 career games, she has recorded 1,380 points, 639 rebounds and 182 steals.

Lammers and Wragge were both mentioned on the NAIA All-America teams released on Tuesday (March 13) by the WBCA. Concordia just finished a 36-2 season that featured GPAC regular season and postseason titles.

Concordia women’s basketball all-time All-Americans

Lynda Beck (1992-1st)
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)
Bailey Morris (2014-1st; *2015-1st)
Allison Nyland (1996-HM)
Tracy Peitz (2014-3rd; 2015-2nd)
Shelly Poppe (1987-3rd)
Elizabeth Rhoden (2003-2nd)
Katie Rich (2011-HM; 2013-HM)
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