Nov. 9, 2024
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad moved to 2-1. The contest in South Dakota marked the Bulldogs’ first official game since last week’s Cattle Classic.
“There was a moment of: are we going to keep our composure or not? We did a great job on that possession (after the lead was cut to six) getting through their press,” Olson said. “Kristin (Vieselmeyer) made an incredible pass to Rae (Raelyn Kelty), and Rae finished it. That was a big play to calm us down in the third quarter and we did a great job closing it out in the fourth quarter.”
The Trojans mounted one more threat in the middle of the fourth quarter when they moved within seven (57-50). That’s when Megan Belt surfaced with two back-breaking treys in a 42-second span. The second one boosted the Bulldog lead to 63-52 with 4:34 to play. Concordia proceeded to put the clamps on Dakota State and limited the opposition to one basket the remainder of the game.
The matchup featured two teams that employ a full-court pressure style. The grinder of an affair resulted in 38 combined turnovers. When the Bulldogs took care of the ball, the shot efficiently – 48.0 percent (24-for-50) overall, 52.6 percent (10-for-19) from 3-point range and 85.7 percent (6-for-7) from the foul line. There were only a combined 12 free throws attempts despite the aggressive nature of both squads.
Belt topped Concordia in scoring with 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Juliana Jones also reached double figures (10) in a contest that required the contributions of many. Abby Krieser added eight points and a pair of steals, Abby Heemstra totaled seven points, eight rebounds and a blocked shot and point guard Kendal Brigham chipped in with five points and seven assists. Additionally, Kelty posted six points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Said Olson of the signature nonconference win, “I think it validates some of the things I’ve been saying to our team. We lose a tough one at home to Southern Oregon and then we lose to Northern Colorado (exhibition). We’re not used to losing multiple games in a row. This proved to our own self that we’re really good. We have some fight and some toughness in us, and we’re going to keep getting better. I thought the biggest thing today was our own personal growth.”
Wasmund made 7-of-12 shots from the floor in tallying her game-high 20 points. Standout Angela Slattery notched 10 points and eight rebounds. A Cattle Classic participant, the Trojans now sit at 2-2. Three days earlier, Dakota State picked up a 74-62 road win over ninth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan.
The next time the Bulldogs take the floor, they will open conference play by hosting Morningside (2-1). That matchup is set for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 16. Concordia earned three wins over the Mustangs during the 2023-24 season. So far this season, Morningside has claimed home wins over Grand View University (Iowa) and Kansas Wesleyan University.
Nov. 16, 2024
Head Coach Drew Olson coached his team to its fourth consecutive win.
“That’s a good win against a really good team”, said Coach Olson. “We feel pretty good to get out with a win. It just showed the confidence and composure that this team has gained over the start of the season. With the tough teams we have played, we know what it is like to be in these situations already. We did a great job responding. When they cut it to five, we had a couple of people step up and make some big plays there.”
The Mustangs hit their first and only two three pointers (2-for-21) with less than four minutes in the fourth quarter cutting the lead to five. The Bulldogs responded with an 8-1 drive to finish the contest with a bucket apiece via Raelyn Kelty and Sammy Leu.
Fifth year Kendal Brigham added four free throws to put the game away and tallied four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Brigham said,” It feels really good. The GPAC is loaded with talent. Any win is a great win. One thing we really hammered in on is playing fast. People did a really good job of getting the ball out and helping me get the ball up the court. It helped us be in the place we needed to be.”
Leu and the Dawgs did damage in the third frame as Concordia gathered a +8 scoring differential (20-12) on six different players adding to the total. The Wahoo High product, Leu, registered seven points in the 10 minutes. CUNE would reach its biggest lead (17) after a Kristin Vieselmeyer three early into the fourth.
The Bulldogs used the glass to stay ahead of the visitors outrebounding (38-32) the opposition as Kelty (eight), Abby Heemstra (seven) and Abby Krieser (five). The home squad shot 37.9 percent (22-for-58) and an almost perfect 94.7 percent (18-of-19) from the free throw line.
Five players would hit at least nine points: Brigham (13), Leu (12), Kelty (11), Belt (11) and Vieselmeyer (nine). They would account for nine of the 12 made from beyond the arc.
The Mustangs couldn’t get it going on the outside but had 36 points in the paint compared to Concordia’s 16. Both teams would press for turnovers, but the Dawgs would have a slight edge (20-18). The Visitors were led by Ella Wragge (16) and Lily Vollertsen (13) hitting double figures.
Concordia (4-0, 1-0 GPAC) will continue its home stretch welcoming College of Saint Mary (1-3, 0-1 GPAC) into Friedrich Arena on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT in Seward, Neb.
Nov. 20, 2024
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has opened league play at 2-0 (4-1 overall) with both contests having come at home.
“It was a good win. I felt like we did what we needed to do to be better man-to-man pressure,” Olson said. “We started off well and got a good lead. I was really hoping we could get lots of minutes for Makynna (Robbins), Jordan (Ernstmeyer) and Savi (Butterfield). It’s the first time Savi’s played, so that’s an awesome thing. We wanted to conserve some minutes for Kendal (Brigham) and AK (Abby Krieser) because come Saturday, we’re going to need them a little bit more.”
The starting group set the tone early as the Bulldogs grabbed a 29-9 lead by the end of the opening quarter. The tenacity of the likes of Krieser and Brigham in the backcourt made it a chore to simply advance the ball past halfcourt. By halftime, Krieser and Sammy Leu had piled up 11 points apiece. Krieser and Raelyn Kelty burned CSM with three steals each in a suffocating effort.
The large early spread provided ample opportunity for the bench to make an impact. Butterfield and Ernstmeyer both came through with their first collegiate varsity buckets of their careers. As for Robbins, she tallied six points and six rebounds in her most extended run on the court as a freshman. In addition, the hustle of Joclyn Bassett (six points, four rebounds and three steals) stood out. As a team, Concordia owned a 49-31 rebound advantage and shot 44.4 percent (36-for-81) from the floor.
Leu (15), Abby Heemstra (11) and Krieser (11) were the team’s three double-figure scorers. Leu made 7-of-10 shots from the field and snagged five rebounds in only 15 minutes. Also worth noting, Bree Bunting used her length to block five shots and notch five rebounds and two steals. In addition, Kelty put up eight points and Brigham added seven points in an abbreviated evening for the starters. The night concluded with Butterfield, Ernstmeyer and Robbins doing the honor of ringing The Victory Bell.
Said Leu of the positives shown on Wednesday, “We’ve been working through a lot of defenses and running in transition … We did lose a lot of people (from last year’s team), but I feel like we’ve filled their shoes the best we could. We’re just trying to play the best we can.”
CSM (1-4, 0-2 GPAC) has not defeated Concordia since the 2005-06 season. The Flames are attempting to build up their program under the direction of first-year Head Coach Natalie Miller. CSM got a team high 12 points from Haley Debuse on Wednesday.
Conference play will continue on Saturday when the Bulldogs will be in Sioux Center, Iowa, to take on defending national champion and top-ranked Dordt (6-0, 2-0 GPAC). Tipoff is slated for 3:45 p.m. CT from De Witt Gymnasium. The Defenders took three closely contested meetings from Concordia during the 2023-24 season.
Said Olson, “We’re really excited about Saturday. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I know they’re a great team. At their place is always tough.”
Nov. 23, 2024
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad slipped to 4-2 (2-1 GPAC) with close defeats coming at the hands of teams currently ranked Nos. 1 and 4 in the NAIA coaches’ poll. This contest had Olson wanting a play or two back from the waning moments of regulation.
“I was super proud of our team for the fight and the toughness that they showed,” Olson said. “We’re down 12 going into that fourth quarter and we could have easily folded. We did everything we could. We mixed up defenses and we had so many players stepping up and making plays. Kristin Vieselmeyer – that’s the best game she’s played. She was big-time. She did such a good job on both ends of the floor. I love this team. I love what we’re doing. I feel bad because I thought we deserved to win, and we didn’t come up with it. We have to learn from it.”
A 70-58 deficit for the Bulldogs gave way to a 77-74 lead in the final minute-and-a-half of regulation. During the Concordia surge, the Defenders managed only two made field goals over an eight-minute stretch in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs forged in front when Vieselmeyer came through with a three-point play to make it 75-74. The game seesawed in the closing minutes of regulation. Kendal Brigham tied the game, 80-80, with a bucket in the final minute and Concordia had one last possession with a chance to win it before settling for overtime.
Vieselmeyer, Abby Krieser and Makynna Robbins all fouled out during overtime. The back breaker in the extra session came when Janie Van Donge converted a three-point play to boost Dordt’s lead to 89-84. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs netted only one basket in overtime as the Defenders pulled away. Olivia Harazin paced Dordt with 20 points as one of six Defenders in double figures.
A junior from Holyoke, Colo., Vieselmeyer bested her previous career best of 21 points attained at the 2023 Concordia Invitational Tournament. Against Dordt, Vieselmeyer made 9-of-15 shots from the floor in showing versatility to score inside and out. She stepped out beyond the arc and drained 4-of-7 shots. Three teammates joined her double figures: Brigham (16), Raelyn Kelty (13) and JJ Jones (11). Kelty also swiped four steals and Krieser added seven points and three steals.
Concordia shot 38.9 percent from the field compared to 42.9 percent shooting for the Defenders (7-0, 3-0 GPAC). Dating back to last season, the Defenders have won 16-straight games overall and have not been beaten at home since Feb. 28, 2023.
As for the Bulldogs, they are a team that’s growing up fast. Said Olson, “It’s a credit to what they did this offseason. Many of them knew that they had a responsibility and had a big opportunity. They worked really hard to be ready for it. You’re seeing it now with how well they are all playing. Our theme is selflessness, and I think it’s evident that’s why we’ve been able to play so well so early. They’re ready when called.”
The Bulldogs will be back at home on Tuesday to host Midland (1-4, 1-1 GPAC) at 6 p.m. CT. Concordia has won each of the past seven meetings with the Warriors, who have a first-year head coach in Chris Burks. Following the matchup with Midland, the Bulldogs will have the rest of Thanksgiving week off from competition.
Nov. 26, 2024
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad is 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the GPAC through four games.
“It was really nice to see”, said Coach Olson. “The group at the end did an awesome job of playing aggressively and playing together. It’s easy to let up a little bit in those moments but they did a great job taking advantage of the opportunity to go play and show us what they can do. They play really hard in practice every day and push each other. We are so competitive in practice, that helps them continue to develop.”
The ravaging Bulldog defense forced 22 first half turnovers (34 total) running out to a 20-point lead (40-20) by the halftime break. The Warriors had cut the lead down to 10 but Libby Hoffman bottomed back-to-back treys after entering the game only six seconds earlier pushing the lead back to 16 (31-15).
With 7:48 left in the 3rd, Brigham stole the ball and sprinted off to the races finishing a layup breaking through the 1,000 point barrier. The Wahoo, Neb., native was lighting in a bottle in the third frame, scoring 12 in the 10 minutes. It was a great day to be a Brigham as her younger brother Kip won a state title in football earlier today for Wahoo High School.
Coach Olson said, “Really happy for her, she deserves those kinds of moments. She doesn’t always like the limelight, but it's good to give her that every once in a while. It was cool how the bench reacted, and the fans were ready to acknowledge her accomplishment.”
Brigham said, “It’s always a little hard when you are about to go on break, you never really know what you are gonna get. We had a really strong performance, and that was really good. This leads the way to play good after the break as well. It’s really cool, but the coolest part is getting to celebrate with my teammates and how excited they are for me. I could not do it without them.”
With a 79-37 lead going into the fourth, the bench continued to extend the difference with a 23-4 fourth quarter. Makynna Robbins went 3-for-3 (six points) in the last 10 and totaled 10 points for the game. Bree Bunting (four), Savannah Butterfield (five) and Jordan Ernstmeyer (three) piled on and the Lincoln Lutheran product added eight rebounds in eight minutes of play.
Hoffman finished with nine points and recovered five off the glass. Abby Krieser (five), Brigham (four) and Sammy Leu (three) led the team in steals as Concordia shot 50.7 percent (35-of-69) from the field compared to Midland’s 23.7 (14-of-59).
The Warriors (1-6, 1-3 GPAC) were led by Grace Holm (15) and Zoey Sims (seven) in points and in steals (two). Midland will try to bounce back versus Jamestown on Saturday.
Concordia (5-2, 3-1 GPAC) will take on Morningside (4-3, 2-2 GPAC) in Sioux City next Wednesday (Dec. 4). Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT inside Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center. The Bulldogs bested the Mustangs (74-62) in the previous game at Friedrich Arena.
Nov. 27, 2024
Fifth-ranked Bulldogs upset at Morningside Dec. 4, 2024
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Two meetings less than three weeks apart unfolded in very different ways. A rough second quarter had the fifth-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball team playing from behind all Wednesday (Dec. 4) night in an upset win for host Morningside. The Mustang zone defense limited the Bulldogs to 38.0 percent shooting in a 70-56 signature victory claimed by Morningside inside the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad had been idle since its 92-41 blowout of Midland on Nov. 26. Concordia slipped to 5-3 (3-2 GPAC).
An 11-0 run put together by the Mustangs in the second quarter put the Bulldogs in a hole they never recovered from. A tie game at the end of the first quarter gave way to a 13-point Morningside lead (42-29) at the break. Offensively, Concordia never looked comfortable in the face of an aggressive zone, and its rebounding struggles (34-23 disadvantage) added to the frustration.
The contest was a complete reversal of the Nov. 16 meeting that took place inside Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs won that matchup by a 74-62 score and led by as many as 17 points. In Wednesday’s clash, the Mustangs built a lead as large as 20 points (55-35) behind a 21-point outing from Alexis Spier. A triple from Abby Krieser late in the third quarter got Concordia within 16 (56-40), providing a sliver of hope before Morningside closed the door.
A bright spot on Wednesday was the continued strong play of freshman Makynna Robbins off the bench. The Houston native provided a spark with eight points and two steals in 10 minutes of action. Krieser led her side with 10 points to go along with three rebounds and three steals. JJ Jones and Kristin Vieselmeyer added eight points apiece and Raelyn Kelty notched six points, four assists and three steals. Point guard Kendal Brigham collected four rebounds and three assists.
Morningside (5-4, 3-2 GPAC) endured some speed bumps in the form of 22 turnovers while up against the Bulldog press. The Mustangs overcame those miscues with efficient shooting – 51.0 percent from the floor, 56.3 percent from 3-point range and 78.6 percent (11-for-14) from the foul line. Spier was joined in double figures by Chaise Pfanstiel (12) and Ella Wragge (10). Morningside snapped a six-game series losing streak to Concordia.
The Bulldogs will be back inside Friedrich Arena on Saturday to host 12th-ranked Briar Cliff (7-1, 3-1 GPAC) at 2 p.m. CT. Concordia won two (both at home) of three meetings with the Chargers during the 2023-24 season. Briar Cliff advanced to the 2024 NAIA national quarterfinals.
Briar Cliff's fourth quarter run hands Bulldogs defeat Dec. 7, 2024
SEWARD, Neb. – The No. 5 Bulldogs hosted No. 12 Briar Cliff on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 7) inside Friedrich Arena. With both defenses playing tough, the Chargers were able to keep the home offense at bay in a 54-42 loss against the visitors. Possession came at a premium with the contest totaling 28 turnovers in the 40 minutes.
Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball falls to 5-4 overall and .500 (3-3) in the GPAC.
“I thought we fought better this game”, said Head Coach Drew Olson. “The effort was there. We held them to 54 points. Usually that’s a win. But we really struggled to score. Part of that is Briar Cliff was great defensively. We need to be better.”
The Dawgs had cut the lead to four (40-36) to start the final quarter but Briar Cliff went on an 11-0 run powered by four different players including five points from Mallie McNair. Concordia would muster up a couple more baskets, but the visitors would respond to complete the double digit win.
Briar Cliff was able to snag 20 points off turnovers to the Bulldogs’ 11 and edge out the home team in the paint (30-22).
Both teams struggled from the field as the Chargers shot 36.5 percent (23-for-63) and CUNE shot 29.2 percent (14-for-48). As the two squads combined for eight made treys (8-for-32), the visitors gathered more chances through an advantage in rebounds (40-32).
Raelyn Kelty and Kristin Vieselmeyer punched in nine apiece with Kelty pacing the Olson’s side in rebounds (eight). Sammy Leu and Abby Krieser dropped eight in the bucket while playing suffocating defense in big stretches to keep the Chargers within range. Leu, a sophomore out of Lincoln, Neb., shot 3-for-4 and hit both chucks from three point land. She also gathered six rebounds.
Juliana Jones was out front in steals (three) and took in four off the glass.
The two squads started slow because of the fast paced defenses and missed shots. They combined for 20 percent shooting (6-for-30) in the first quarter totaling 13 points in the 10 minutes.
Briar Cliff (8-1, 4-1 GPAC) was led by Adrianna Webster (13) and McNair (12) as the only two hitting double figures. Four of the five starters hit six rebounds: Kennedy Benne (eight), Webster (seven), Grace Flanagan (seven) and Rachel Langel (six). The Chargers will face Dordt on Wednesday in Sioux City.
Concordia (5-4, 3-3 GPAC) will look to attack the floor in an upcoming home bout versus Hastings (6-2, 3-2 GPAC) on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. in Seward.
Second half toughness not enough; Hastings delivers third consecutive loss Dec. 11, 2024
SEWARD, Neb. – After Hastings ballooned its largest lead to 17, the Bulldogs chopped down the advantage and earned a potential game tying shot in the final seconds inside Friedrich Arena (Dec. 11). Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball showed tremendous heart but would miss the step back to fall by a bucket (71-69). Kristin Vieselmeyer and Kendal Brigham led out front with 14 points apiece.
After losing their third consecutive game, the Bulldogs are .500 (5-5) overall and 3-4 in the conference.
“It shows that we fought hard,” said Head Coach Drew Olson. “We had some toughness in us. We never gave up. We kept battling and gave ourselves a chance. We dug too big a hole, but ultimately, I was really excited to see the fight we had.”
The visiting Broncos used nine 3-pointers on 45 percent shooting (9-for-20) to jump out to a 45-33 lead at the halftime break. After Hastings pushed the lead to 17, the Bulldogs started to claw back into the contest with an 8-3 run ending in a Vieselmeyer trey right before the third buzzer.
The maroon and white held a double digit lead until a Megan Belt bucket from beyond the arc plus a fast break steal and score by ball hawk Abby Krieser. Brigham tagged on six more in a 9-4 stretch putting the Dawgs down four with 27 seconds remaining. The final shot by the Wahoo, Neb., native was a little too strong in the end.
The defense made adjustments in the second half and were able to shut down a red hot Hastings to zero percent (0-for-5) from three in the final two frames. The Seward bench would force 12 turnovers to the visiting squad’s four (17-11 total) clamping down on the defensive end in the last 20 minutes.
Coach Olson said, “In the first half, we lost ourselves a couple of times of like who they are and what our game plan was. After a couple of them hit shots, they got really comfortable and hit a couple tough ones. That’s them. We didn’t help ourselves by losing key shooters to get them confident.”
Olson’s side saw 10 different Bulldogs score as Megan Belt and Raelyn Kelty posted nine apiece and the Kiowa, Colo., product grabbed a team high six rebounds off the glass. Bree Bunting swiped a game leading four steals and Brigham followed with three. Sammy Leu added seven points and three dishes.
The two teams would be virtually even in points in the paint (26-24), points off turnovers (14-13), 3-pointers (9-8) and bench points (31-26) with the Broncos having a slight lead.
Hastings (7-2, 4-2 GPAC) had four players with the majority of their points, all in double digits: McKenna Yates (14), Ann Bose (14), Kiernan Paulk (13) and Macy Bryant (12). The Broncos outshot Concordia by +2.1 percent (42.1-40) via a scorching 57.9 percent second quarter. HC would take 44 boards compared to the Bulldogs’ 30.
Concordia (5-5, 3-4 GPAC) will take on Waldorf (1-5, 2-7 GPAC) in Forest City on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CT at Hanson Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs are set to face the Warriors for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign.
Trio smokes newcomer Waldorf with threes Dec. 14, 2024
FOREST CITY, Iowa. – The Bulldogs lit it up from 3-point range with 18 treys in their visit to the Hanson Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 14). Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball smoked Waldorf in a 98-55 triumph in the two teams first meeting since the 2008-09 season. Sammy Leu totaled 19 points, Raelyn Kelty tallied a career high (18) point total and Kendal Brigham dished out a double-double (10 pts, 11 asts).
The Bulldogs have managed a 6-5 overall record and a 4-4 GPAC showing.
“It was good to get a win and see the ball go in the hoop,” said Head Coach Drew Olson. “For the most part we played well. We had some stretches where we weren’t as good defensively as I would like, but I felt like it was a good response to how we have been playing.”
Falling in its past three games, Concordia looked to bounce back and came out with a laser focus in the opening frame. After giving up five points in the start, the Bulldogs responded with a 17-2 suffocating run with Kristin Vieselmeyer dropping seven early.
Megan Belt and Leu dropped back to back treys finishing the first 10 with six from beyond the arc. Of the 18 3-pointers, eight different players would make from long range with the majority coming from Leu (five), Belt (three), Brigham (two), Abby Krieser (two), Bree Bunting (two) and Libby Hoffman (two). The Wahoo High product, Leu, would hit 62.5 percent (5-for-8 3-PT) and just one point shy of tying her collegiate high.
Coming out of the break with a 44-30 advantage, the Bulldogs didn’t let up as Leu (10) and Raelyn Kelty (nine) took over in the third quarter and pushed the game seemingly out of reach (74-46). Kelty, a Kiowa, Colo., native would end with a rebound short of a double-double (nine).
Coach Olson said, “Sammy has been really good over the last few games. It was really awesome to see her have a big game like today. Rae (Kelty) had a great response too. Today, she was awesome. The effort was there. Kendal had a solid game but it was her leadership. It was her talking to the team and making sure we stayed focused.”
The Seward squad shot its second highest percentage (49.3) of the season and 40.9 (18-for-44) from three. Concordia dominated rebounds on the glass (42-30), assists (25-16), turnovers (11-21), points off turnovers (33-15) and second chance points (19-9).
Abby Heemstra and Brigham collected five rebounds apiece as Belt (nine) and Krieser (eight) followed the top three in points. Coach Olson played all 14 from the Bulldogs team.
Waldorf (2-8, 1-6 GPAC) was led by Alyah Abrahamson (13) and Edosa Ogbemudia (11) as the two Warriors to hit double figures. Myia Ruzek was headed towards a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds. The home team will face Judson University (Ill.) in their upcoming game.
Concordia (6-5) will make its way to Riverside, Calif., to face La Sierra University (2-5) on Friday (Dec. 20) in the final game of 2024. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. CT.
Bulldogs roll in SoCal behind balanced effort Dec. 20, 2024
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – It was a mismatch from the opening tipoff. In venturing to Riverside, Calif., for the start of Christmas break, the 14th-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball team carried over the offensive firepower it displayed in its most recent win over Waldorf and pummeled host La Sierra University, 87-47, on Friday (Dec. 20) afternoon. The Bulldogs rattled off the game’s first 13 points and led by a 28-4 score at the end of the opening quarter.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad bumped its overall record to 7-5 in what marked its final outing of the calendar year 2024. This was the team’s second most lopsided win of the campaign to date.
“I thought we handled it really well,” Olson said. “We had a long road trip and didn’t get a lot of sleep yesterday. We didn’t know much about our opponent, but we were pretty sharp for the most part. We took care of the basketball, we executed and made open shots. We played really hard and had a lot of people contribute. I’m confident in our group and confident in what we’re doing offensively. We’re not doing it perfectly yet. Now we need to continue to be sharp when we come back from break.”
After a run of offensive performances that fell below the standard, Concordia believes it found its mojo beginning with the fourth quarter of the clash with Hastings on Dec. 11. In Friday’s outing against their California Pacific Conference foe, the Bulldogs made 11-of-17 shots in the first quarter in building a comfortable lead maintained throughout the afternoon. Less than a week after canning 18 treys in the 98-53 win at Waldorf, Concordia scorched in Cali by netting 11-of-28 (.393) attempts from the perimeter. Sophomore Libby Hoffman got loose while knocking down 4-of-5 3-point tries in the first half.
The lopsided nature of the contest provided opportunities up and down the Bulldog roster. Six Concordia players took advantage and tallied at least eight points, including Kendal Brigham (15), Raelyn Kelty (14), Hoffman (12), Makynna Robbins (nine), JJ Jones (eight) and Kristin Vieselmeyer (eight). In addition, Brigham dished out four assists, Vieselmeyer grabbed six rebounds and Kelty swiped three steals. All 13 Bulldogs who stepped onto the court scored at least one point.
The 40-point final margin also had a lot to do with Concordia’s aggressive defensive approach that yielded 22 Golden Eagles turnovers and only 26.2 percent shooting (11-for-42). La Sierra (2-7) made only 1-of-12 tries from beyond the arc. Earlier this season, the Golden Eagles were beaten by just 14 points (70-56) by NCAA Division I Cal State Northridge. La Sierra was paced on Friday by three double-figure scorers: Symere Shelton (11), Breonna Martinez (10) and Kaydn Mew (10).
Said Olson, “It was nice to get everybody in. I thought Libby played well. Against a zone, she’s really good at hitting 3s. Rae had a good start to the game, and it was good to see Kendal being aggressive. Defensively, we were pretty solid.”
The trip allowed Olson to connect again with his brother Jarrod, the head women’s basketball coach at California Baptist University. The Bulldogs will spend the weekend in California taking in sights and engaging in tourist activities. The only remaining nonconference games left in the regular season will take place at CIT in Ann Arbor.
Upon returning from southern California, the Bulldogs will have a break in the action. Concordia will ring in 2025 with a trip to Mitchell, S.D., where Concordia will take on No. 17 Dakota Wesleyan (10-3, 5-2 GPAC) on Jan. 2. The two sides split last season’s two meetings with the home team triumphing in both instances.
Dawgs cold shooting leads to fall in Mitchell Jan. 2, 2025
MITCHELL, S.D. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball traveled to South Dakota on Thursday night (Jan. 2), breaking in the new year at the Corn Palace. The Bulldogs' shooting went cold after the opening quarter and led to a loss to the Tigers, 77-65. Megan Belt reached a new career high (15) in points despite the road fall.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad drops to 7-6 overall and 4-5 in the conference.
“Dakota Wesleyan is a good team, and they shot well,” said Olson. “I feel like we lost ourselves in the third quarter. We didn’t have good purpose offensively. Our team is really good at fighting, we just have to learn from the past and how to win some of these games. We don’t have a consistent five or six playing well every game. We have to get to that point if we are going to beat some of these teams.”
Up 34-32 at the break, the Bulldogs found themselves down late in the third quarter after an 8-0 run by the home team. Emma Yost would power the run and spark the Dakota Wesleyan second half offense with 12 points in the last 20 minutes.
Concordia would fight back cutting the lead down to six with five minutes to go via layups by Abby Krieser and Belt. The Tigers ran away in the final minutes from a 9-3 scoring drive with much coming from the charity stripe.
Belt hit her career high on a drive to the basket in the fourth frame. The Papillion, Neb., native’s previous high was 14 from her freshman season on Jan. 5, 2023 versus Mount Marty.
Olson said, “Megan was great on both ends. She hit some big shots and defensively she was really good for us. I thought Abby Krieser was really good and Sammy Leu played really well.”
Krieser attacked the paint and totaled 12 points, her second highest tally this season. Sammy Leu and Kendal Brigham hit 10 and eight points, respectively. Brigham, out of Wahoo, Neb., gathered five assists and four rebounds as Kristin Vieselmeyer collected nine points (6-for-8 FT). Raelyn Kelty led the team in rebounds (eight).
Starting off with a 21-point first quarter, the Bulldogs slowed down on offense and shot 37 percent (14-for-38) from the field for the final three. The Tigers were able to best the visitors with a +8 (20-12) point differential off turnovers.
Avery Broughton’s big time performance led Dakota Wesleyan (11-3, 6-2 GPAC) with 22 points (8-for-10 FG), six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Emma Yost (16) and Shalayne Nagel (14) followed in points. The Tigers shot 54 percent (28-for-52) from the field and 88 percent (15-for-17) from the free throw line. They will host the College of Saint Mary on Sunday afternoon.
Concordia will take on No. 1 Dordt in less than 48 hours inside Friedrich Arena on Saturday (Jan. 4). Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT in Seward. The two teams went into overtime in Sioux Center on Nov. 23 with the Defenders prevailing (94-84) in extra time.
Brigham, Dawgs push No. 1 Dordt to overtime in white knuckler Jan. 4, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – Both meetings this season have needed overtime to decide a winner – and both times the defending national champion Defenders found a way. In the latest white knuckler, top-ranked Dordt overcame a deficit in the final minute of overtime and survived the upset scare on the road, 88-85. Sparkplug guard Kendal Brigham spurred the second-half surge that saw the 14th-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball team rally back from a 12-point deficit on Saturday (Jan. 4) afternoon inside Friedrich Arena.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad slumped to 7-7 overall (4-6 GPAC) despite an encouraging performance. The Bulldogs have already played six games against nationally ranked opponents.
“I’m proud of our group,” Olson said. “This is a group that never gives up. They fight like crazy. They’re staying together. We’ve had a couple really close games, and we just haven’t come out on the positive end of it. That does not affect how they respond in the next game. We feel really good about how we’re playing and what we’re doing. If we stick to it, I know those results are going to change.”
Roughly a month-and-a-half after seemingly having Dordt on the ropes in Sioux Center, Concordia edged in front of the Defenders, 85-84, at the 1:04 mark of overtime when Brigham nailed a cold-blooded step-back triple. Dordt star Macy Sievers responded immediately by attacking, drawing a foul and draining two free throws. Moments later, the Defender lead grew to 88-85 with two Gracie Schoonhoven free throws. The Bulldogs had one last gasp when Abby Krieser stole an in-bounds pass and missed at the buzzer from beyond half court. Concordia had previously clanked two potentially game-changing treys in the final minute of overtime.
Such a dramatic conclusion appeared unlikely late in the third quarter when Dordt pushed its lead to 55-43 on a Desta Hoogendoorn bucket in the paint. After a slow start, Brigham heated up. She poured in a triple at the 1:34 mark of the third period and then ended the frame with a running half-court buzzer beater. Suddenly, the Bulldogs had seized momentum and trailed by only five (59-54). Brigham finished with 17 points (6-for-11 from the floor) while flourishing alongside Kristin Vieselmeyer, who notched a team-high 18 points. It was a Vieselmeyer basket in the final seconds of regulation that forced overtime.
Both teams shot efficiently in the second half, during which Concordia made 7-of-18 tries from 3-point range and 12-of-15 attempts from the foul line. Krieser added 11 points and five rebounds and Raelyn Kelty piled up 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Vieselmeyer canned 7-of-8 shots from the foul line and the bench trio of Bree Bunting, Abby Heemstra and Sammy Leu combined for 17 points. Collectively, they helped the Bulldogs find traction up against an aggressive Dordt defense that showed mixes of zone and man-to-man.
Said Olson, “This is what we wanted to see – not just two or three players playing well. It was a collective group. We got great production from Kristin and Kendal, but I thought Rae stepped up and played really well. She shot confidently. AK was phenomenal. Off the bench, getting production from JJ (Jones), Bree and Abby is really big for our team. We just have to keep doing that moving forward.”
Dordt remains unscathed at 15-0 (9-0 GPAC). Gracie Schoonhoven consistently finished with traffic in the lane and topped all players with 20 points. Teammates in Sievers (14 points and 12 assists) and Janie Van Donge (16 points and 14 rebounds) both collected double-doubles. The Defenders shot 52.5 percent (32-for-61) overall and owned a 38-30 rebounding advantage. Dordt was coming off a 95-37 home win over Doane.
The Bulldogs will be headed to Doane (11-4, 6-3 GPAC) on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff at the Haddix Center in Crete. Concordia has won each of the past 16 series meetings with the rival Tigers. In Saturday’s action, Doane got back on track with a 73-71 win while hosting Morningside.
Bulldogs drop second-straight OT contest despite career-high from Kelty Jan. 8, 2025
CRETE, Neb. – For the fourth-straight visit to the Haddix Center, the Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball program faced a double-digit deficit. In this instance, the 14th-ranked Bulldogs thought they had it sewed up in regulation before Mak Hatcliff and host Doane forced overtime and eventually won in double overtime, 93-87, on Wednesday (Jan. 8). An 8-1 Tiger run in the second extra session made the difference in a physical clash. Sophomore Raelyn Kelty posted career-highs for points (20) and rebounds (14) for Concordia.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has come up agonizingly short in back-to-back outings while having dropped in an overtime battle with No. 1 Dordt this past Saturday. Concordia slipped to 7-8 overall (4-7 GPAC).
“We started off a little slow and didn’t shoot great throughout,” Olson said. “But we put ourselves in great position and were there to win it. We just continue to battle and fight and be in position to win games. At the end of regulation, it’s just kind of one of those wild things. We feel like we have the game in hand. Doane needed about five things to go their way for them to win, and they all did. We didn’t help ourselves by missing free throws. We’re right there. I can’t explain it.”
The Bulldogs’ prospects of extending their 16-game series win streak over Doane appeared promising down the stretch of regulation when Kristin Vieselmeyer’s trey broke a 66-66 tie at the 1:12 mark. Leading by three in the closing seconds, Concordia elected to put the Tigers at the foul line. After Hatcliff made the first free throw and missed the second, a jump ball gave Doane a possession that yielded the game-tying free throws (Megan Chambers) to force overtime at 71-71.
At the end of the first OT, Kendal Brigham kept the game alive with a key triple and two free throws. The Tigers proceeded to miss a potential game winner just before the buzzer sounded. It then became a war of attrition as Kelty and Abby Krieser for Concordia and Kaylee Klover and Maddie Portwine for Doane all fouled out. In the end, Hatcliff helped will her side to victory with a 39-point, 12-rebound performance. The Tiger All-American made 15-of-16 attempts from the foul line.
In the early going, the scoring of Kelty and Abby Heemstra kept the Bulldogs afloat. They dug out of a 16-5 hole and made it a nail-biter for the entirety of the second half. Kelty drained all six of her free throws in a starring role. Four teammates joined her in double figures: Megan Belt (16), Brigham (15), Heemstra (11) and Vieselmeyer (11). Belt went 4-for-9 from long range on an evening when Concordia made only 9-of-40 3-point attempts as a team.
Doane (12-4, 7-3 GPAC) picked up its first win over the Bulldogs since January 2016. Hatcliff was backed by 17 points from Macy Holtz, 13 from Megan Chambers and 11 from Libby Trausch. The Tigers overcame their 19 turnovers and 15 fewer field goal attempts than Concordia. Doane held a 46-39 rebound advantage and canned 31-of-38 free throw attempts. A layup by Chambers with 1:19 left in the second overtime pushed the Tiger lead to 92-85 and essentially ended the Bulldogs’ hopes. Concordia managed only five points in the second extra session.
Said Olson, “It’s been a crazy season to this point, but I have to give our players a lot of credit. They continue to battle and fight and believe. We’re going to be ready for the next one. We’re going to find a way. We have to keep doing what we’re doing and continue to execute.”
The Bulldogs will play a ranked opponent for the seventh time already this season when they take on No. 9 Briar Cliff (13-2, 7-2 GPAC) in Sioux City, Iowa, on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT from the Newman Flanagan Center. The Chargers took the season’s first meeting by a score of 54-42 in Seward on Dec. 7. Briar Cliff had a bye on Wednesday.
Concordia falls behind in third; drops game to Briar Cliff Jan. 11, 2025
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Bulldogs and Chargers clashed at Newman Flanagan Center on Saturday (Jan. 11) afternoon. Briar Cliff came out strong with a 13-0 drive in the middle of the third quarter to keep Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball at bay in a 73-56 loss for the visitors.
As the skid continues, the Bulldogs have mounted a 7-9 overall record and a 4-8 showing in conference play.
"We did a really good job in the first half of being focused on how to defend and how to attack them," said Head Coach Drew Olson. "We had players step up and hit some shots. Kendal hit a couple of threes. We just didn't have the focus in the third quarter to keep defending like we were. We lost our scouting report of who they were a couple times. They were able to hit a couple threes that stretched the lead. Against a team that is that good defensively, it was really hard to claw back into it."
Following an Abby Heemstra jump shot to tie the game, the Chargers mounted their third frame double-digit run via three treys from Kenna Mongan (two) and Mallie McNair (one). Megan Belt and Kristin Vieselmeyer added buckets to simmer the home team’s hot stretch and trim the lead to 10 (58-48) at the end of the quarter. Vieselmeyer and Belt finished with 12 and 10, respectively.
Raelyn Kelty and Vieselmeyer dropped response buckets early in the fourth as the Kiowa, Colo., native Kelty totaled 10 for the Bulldogs. Adrianna Webster (six) and Mongan (seven) did the offensive damage in the final 10 minutes to finalize the contest.
Coach Olson said, "Kristin, I thought, was awesome the whole game. She has been really consistent. Playing really tough and very physical. Understanding how to score on different post players. When to use your advantage inside and when to be able to step out. She is capable of scoring in many ways. She's doing a good job of picking when to do both."
Kendal Brigham started off with the hot hand totaling 10 points in the opening frame and added two more points (12), seven rebounds and four steals to the scoresheet. The Wahoo High alum reached double digits for the 10th time this season. Brigham, Kelty and Vieselmeyer have each hit double figure points in their last three performances. Abby Krieser tallied seven points, five rebounds and five assists with Kelty posting five rebounds and three steals.
Concordia and Briar Cliff battled closely in various categories: steals (9-8), free throws percentage (84.6-84.6), 3-pointers made (5-6), rebounds (25-31) and points in the paint (30-34).
The Bulldogs ultimately shot 38.5 percent (20-for-52), while the Chargers nailed down 50.0 percent (28-for-56) from the field.
Briar Cliff (14-2, 8-2 GPAC) was led by Webster (21 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) and Kennedy Benne (18 points, five assists, four steals). The Chargers shot 33.3 percent (6-for-18) from three and totaled 21 points of turnovers. They will host Waldorf at home in their upcoming game.
Concordia (7-9, 4-8 GPAC) is set to take on Mount Marty (8-9, 2-9 GPAC) this Wednesday. The contest is slated to start at 6 p.m. CT inside Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs are an undefeated 10-0 versus the Lancers in the last five years.
Belt and the Dawgs whip Lancers from three Jan. 15, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – Megan Belt and the Dawgs splashed for 15 treys from beyond the arc taking a dominant 74-55 victory over the visiting Lancers on Wednesday (Jan. 15). Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball forced a pesky 20 Mount Marty turnovers seizing 26 extra points via the stops. Belt dropped a new career high 18 points on 6-for-9 from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs look to build on the win as they move up to an 8-9 overall and 5-8 in the GPAC.
“Defensively, we were really in tune to what we were trying to do,” said Head Coach Drew Olson. “Our press and pace were good. I kept telling them. Get down hill. Get to the lane and look for kickbacks. It always helps when you make shots. Megan Belt was pretty special and a lot of people came in to add to it. It was a great game. We’ve got good goals here going forward. This was step one of it.”
After Kendal Brigham and Belt made two 3-pointers apiece to build a 16-13 lead in the opening quarter, the home team put 25 in the bucket in the second. Seven different players added to the tally with Sammy Leu (six) and Belt (six) continuing to hit from three-point land.
With a 41-26 advantage at the break, Concordia clamped down on defense, forcing seven turnovers and swiping six steals in the 3rd frame. Five Bulldogs would finish with two steals apiece: Brigham, Raelyn Kelty, Abby Krieser, Leu and Kristin Vieselmeyer. Kelty powered a 9-0 scoring drive via a bucket, two rebounds, a steal and a block surging the Dawgs up 21 (50-29).
“It was great,” said Belt. “We have been working so hard and really working to get the wins. Hopefully, we can keep stringing them along. We were sharing the ball really well and were hitting open shots. Defensively, we were getting up in the press and playing solid team defense. My teammates were doing a really good job of screening and getting me the ball. I was just shooting and being confident.”
Concordia’s 15 treys set the second highest of the season to the high 18 versus Waldorf. The Dawgs shot 41.7 percent (15-for-36) from three-point range and 43.5 percent (27-for-62) from the field. The two teams deadlocked at 37 rebounds but CUNE saw the floor well slinging 18 total assists.
The Wahoo High alums posted double figures, Leu (11) and Brigham (10), and the Wahoo native, Brigham, dished out five assists. Abby Heemstra (eight points, 6 rebounds) and Kelty (seven points, seven rebounds) put in work on the block. Krieser added seven points and three assists.
Mount Marty (8-10, 2-10) were paced by Kaela Martinez (18) and Sidney Thue (11) in points. The Lancers shot 33.3 (17-for-51) in field goal percentage and made 85 percent (17-for-20) from the free throw line.
Concordia (8-9, 5-8 GPAC) will stay in Seward to host its next opponent Northwestern (12-6, 8-4 GPAC) this Saturday. The contest is set for 2 p.m. CT at Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs defeated the Red Raiders in both games last year and have a 9-2 record in the past five years.
Olson said, “We have some big games coming up and our team is really confident because of what we have done throughout the season and just how we have stayed together. There is a toughness that we have grown and now getting that win helps relieve a little bit but we believe in ourselves. We know we are a good basketball team.”
Dawgs stellar performance falls short in final seconds Jan. 18, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – Down by one with 32 seconds to go, Raelyn Kelty drove in for a layup to take a one-point lead over Northwestern on Saturday (Jan. 18). With four seconds left, the Red Raiders’ Hali Anderson would make the final jump shot as the visitors stole a road victory (74-73) in Seward. Kristin Vieselmeyer matched her career high (27) points as four Bulldogs were heavy contributors in the contest.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad drops to 8-10 and 5-9 in the conference.
Midway through the third quarter, the Bulldogs went on a 9-3 scoring run to reach its largest lead (58-47). Northwestern whittled the advantage down before Vieselmeyer scored seven straight points to put Concordia up eight with 5:30 left in the fourth frame.
The Red Raiders responded once again to go ahead for the first time since the second quarter with a little over a minute remaining. Kelty put the Dawgs up late but critical missed free throws allowed NWC to take the lead in the final seconds.
Vieselmeyer went 9-for-17 from the field and 3-for-5 from three in her Dawg-like drive to 27 points and tacked on four rebounds. Concordia shot 46.6 percent (27-for-58) in field goals and 52.4 percent (11-for-21) from the charity stripe.
Three other Bulldogs played with ferocity and hit double digit points: Kendal Brigham (15), Abby Krieser (11) and Kelty (10). All three contributed other numbers, affecting the game in multiple ways. Krieser, a Lincoln North Star alum, stuffed the stat sheet with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Brigham tied her season’s second most assists (seven) and Kelty grabbed nine rebounds, just short of a double-double.
Northwestern (13-6, 9-4 GPAC) was led in points by Akaysa Duitscher (17), Anderson (13) and Molly Schany (10). The Red Raiders shot 52.9 percent (9-for-17) from 3-point range and 44.8 percent (26-for-58) from field goal range. They will return to Orange City, Iowa to face Morningside on Wednesday.
Concordia (8-10, 5-9 GPAC) is set to travel to Omaha to face College of Saint Mary (1-18, 0-13 GPAC) on Wednesday before making the trek to the Concordia Invitational Tournament. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT inside Lied Fitness Center. The Bulldogs defeated the Flames, 87-53, on Nov. 20 in Seward.
Convoy of Dawgs lead in win over CSM Jan. 22, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – Bree Bunting and Savannah Butterfield were out front in the barrage (100-53) over the College of Saint Mary Flames on Wednesday (Jan. 22). The Bulldogs attacked the Flames with 15 steals while forcing 27 turnovers in the rout at Lied Fitness Center. Four Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball teammates reach double figures in the march to a century.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s side lunges to 9-10 overall and 6-9 in conference play.
“It was a great game,” said Coach Olson. “We talked about the maturity of the game. Not just to show up, but to show out and actually do really well. We had a lot of players step up and take advantage of the opportunities that they had tonight. With Savy (Butterfield), we know she is capable of great things and we are hoping she continues to take strides forward. Bree played great. Across the board, Joclyn played really well. Makynna played really well. It was great to see a full group. I would say the bench outplayed the starters tonight.”
Tied at four, the Bulldogs went on two scoring drives (11-0, 10-0) starting in the first quarter which ended early in the second to go up 28-9. The onslaught continued as the visitors finished with a 28-5 heater powered by Bree Bunting’s eight points, finishing the stretch with a 56-19 lead. Bunting, a sophomore out of Kersey, Colo., reached a new career high in points (13) and hit 11 in the first 15 minutes of the contest.
Twelve Bulldogs tallied a score before the halftime break (13 total) and shot 51.2 percent (22-for-43) in the first two frames. The bench racked up 74 of the 100 points including all four hitting double digits: Bunting, Butterfield (13), Jordan Ernstmeyer (10) and Hoffman (10).
In the second half, Brigham kept the Dawgs out in front with seven points in the third and Butterfield racked up nine of her 13 season high points in the last two quarters. A freshman, out of Fenton, Mo., the guard added three rebounds and two steals. Makynna Robbins did damage in all four quarters totaling 12 rebounds and eight points.
Concordia nabbed its second highest game in rebounds (47) to CSM’s 31. The Bulldogs swept the Flames in points in the paint (62-16) shooting 48.8 percent (40-for-82) total from the floor.
College of Saint Mary (1-19, 0-14 GPAC) was paced by Mia Stewart (16) and Makenna Earnest (seven). Maura Tichota pitched in nine rebounds and five points. The Flames shot 33.3 percent from the field (15-for-45) and three-point range (6-for-18). They are set to face Dordt on the road this Saturday.
Concordia (9-10) will have to fly out tomorrow for the 72nd Concordia Invitational Tournament. The Bulldogs are scheduled to clash with Concordia University Chicago (1-14) on Friday in Ann Arbor, Mich. Tip off is set for 12 p.m. CT/1 P.M. ET at the Cardinal Fieldhouse.
Coach Olson said, “We are excited about the CIT experience. It is going to be a lot of fun. For our players, just to be in that kind of atmosphere is going to be awesome.”
Robbins, Bunting lead Bulldogs in dominant CIT victory Jan. 24, 2025
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Despite the absence of two starters, the Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball team put together a thoroughly dominant Friday (Jan. 24) afternoon outing at the 72nd Concordia Invitational Tournament. As part of a 108-67 trouncing of Concordia University Chicago, the Bulldogs lit it up from the perimeter and stifled the opposition with their full-court pressure. Career-high scoring totals were produced by both Makynna Robbins (19) and Bree Bunting (16) and off the bench.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad won in blowout fashion for the second time in three days while evening the overall season record at 10-10. Olson’s program is gunning for its 10th CIT championship in a row.
“The first half, we shot really, really well,” Olson said. “They played a zone and we were prepared for it. We did a great job of getting our feet set. We shot lights out, and I thought our defensive pressure was pretty good, especially in that first half. Second half, we took off the press. They have two really good scorers that did a great job. We should have contained them a little better, but overall it was a really good performance.”
CUNE tore apart the CUC zone by making 14 of its 19 3-point field goals in the first half. Bunting rattled off seven-straight points during a second quarter stretch that put the contest out of reach. The backcourt tandem of Kendal Brigham and Abby Krieser rained in three treys apiece in the first half in building the lead to 61-27 at the break. Robbins took it from there with 13 of her 19 points coming after halftime. The lead grew as large as 50 even as CUNE pulled back on the press.
The pressure yielded 16 Cougar first-half turnovers (25 for the game). The aggression of the Bulldogs resulted in at least one steal for 10 different players, led by four from Megan Belt and three from Jordan Ernstmeyer. On the other end, the hottest CUNE perimeter shooters included Libby Hoffman (4-for-8), Bunting (3-for-3), Brigham (3-for-6) and Krieser (3-for-7). Robbins made 7-of-8 shots from the floor and posted six rebounds and three assists. As for Bunting, she reached a career-high for a second-straight outing. In addition to Robbins and Bunting, the team’s double figure scorers were Hoffman (12), Brigham (11) and Krieser (11). Abby Heemstra added nine points and four rebounds.
Said Olson of Bunting and Robbins, “Those two played really well. It’s great to see them take advantage of the opportunities. The past two games they’ve been really good. Hopefully that builds confidence and gets them ready for tomorrow.”
Said Bunting of the CIT experience so far, “It’s been a lot of fun. I love traveling with the team. We have such a great team chemistry, on and off the court, so it’s pretty fun to hang out with the girls. CIT is such a great atmosphere – we have a lot of fans here, which is really cool.”
CUC (1-15) got a game-high 26 points from Khaliah Reid, who made 8-of-14 shots from the floor and 8-of-10 shots from the foul line. The Cougars shot 44.9 percent for the game but couldn’t keep up with the 52.7 percent shooting of CUNE. CUC also got outrebounded, 38-29.
Dominance on the CIT stage is nothing new for the Bulldogs, who have won 19-consecutive CIT games with an average margin of victory of more than 30 points. They also have hit the 100-point mark eight times during the active CIT win streak.
The Bulldogs will look to add to their 32 all-time CIT titles when Saturday’s championship game tips off at 5 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. ET from Cardinal Fieldhouse. The opponent will be the team that emerges as the winner from the matchup between Concordia University Ann Arbor and Concordia University Wisconsin.
Bulldogs maintain CIT supremacy as MVP Robbins stars Jan. 25, 2025
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – In front of its electric home crowd, Concordia University Ann Arbor roared out of the gates, but the energy and relentlessness of freshman Makynna Robbins off the bench turned the tide. The Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball team ended the first quarter on an 11-0 run and locked the Cardinals down in a 66-60 victory at the 72nd Concordia Invitational Tournament. CUAA closed within four points in the final minute before CIT MVP Robbins and company held off the charge.
The win gave Head Coach Drew Olson his 14th CIT championship as the program’s leader. CUNE has captured 33 CIT titles in school history.
“I was impressed with our team’s resiliency,” Olson said. “We really hung tough. They’re a really good defensive team and caused us some problems at times, but we responded so many times. We stepped up and made plays at the end of the game and executed. That’s a really big win against a good team on their home floor.”
The play that defined the tournament for the Houston native Robbins occurred late in the first quarter. As a Cardinal player secured a CUNE miss, Robbins swiped the ball and immediately laid it up for two. Then in the middle of the third, Robbins flagged down a Cardinal on the break, stole possession and dished to Sammy Leu on the break for a trey. In a game more about grittiness than firepower, Robbins answered the call in a hyper-charged environment.
The Bulldogs built an advantage as large as 12 points (38-26) and were threatening to pull away in the middle of the third quarter. To its credit, CUAA responded behind leading scorers Lauren Borsenik and Ryan Moorer and put CUNE’s CIT streak in peril. A key defensive play was delivered by Lue down the stretch when she blocked a shot and recovered the rebound. In the final minute, Kendal Brigham drained five-straight free throws to put the game on ice.
Many others had a hand in the victory. Junior Kristin Vieselmeyer returned to the lineup and supplied 13 points and three assists while senior Abby Krieser (CIT All-Tournament) filled the stat sheet with seven points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. After sitting out day one of CIT, Raelyn Kelty also reclaimed a starting spot and just missed a double-double (eight points and 10 rebounds). Meanwhile, Brigham chipped in with eight points on the strength of her clutch free throws.
But the freshman Robbins became the major storyline from an individual perspective. She made winning plays on both ends of the court as part of an eye-opening weekend. Said Robbins, “It’s been a crazy atmosphere that we’ve had. We got the opportunity that God gave us, and we capitalized on it. The atmosphere was awesome … all glory to God. He gave me some talents and the opportunity to perform. My teammates were there through all of it.”
Added Olson on the significance of the win, “We knew what was at stake. We knew the pressure having won that trophy nine times in a row. We started out a little bit shell-shocked, but we responded really well. Just so proud of our group.”
CUAA (6-14) had hoped to add its two CIT championships. The Cardinals opened the game with a 13-3 lead before going cold. Emily McCalla was named the team’s CIT All-Tournament team honoree.
Now it’s back to GPAC play for the remainder of the regular season. The Bulldogs will be in Fremont, Neb., this Wednesday to take on Midland (3-18, 3-12 GPAC) at 6 p.m. CT. CUNE will attempt to complete a season sweep of the Warriors, a foe it defeated by a 92-41 score on Nov. 26.
2025 CIT All-Tournament
MVP – Makynna Robbins, CUNE
Krieser, Dawgs ride strong first half to win at Midland Jan. 29, 2025
FREMONT, Neb. – An important stretch all about taking care of business continued on Wednesday (Jan. 29) for a Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball team fresh off winning the Concordia Invitational Tournament. In a return to GPAC play, senior Abby Krieser started strong and the Bulldog press wreaked havoc while spurring the Bulldogs to a 71-57 victory at Midland. However, the Warriors made Concordia sweat it out thanks to a surprisingly dominant third quarter.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has won four-straight games while improving to 12-10 overall and creeping closer to .500 in league play (7-9).
“We started off really, really well,” Olson said. “Offensively, we were clicking. The first half is kind of who I expected us to be in this game. In the third quarter, we started off cold and maybe not as focused as I expect our team to be. We would have liked to have put the hammer down, but part of that is Midland shot well and continued to fight. They did a good job – they adjusted their defense and that made us do something different. We lost our legs a little in that one quarter, but I think it was just a one-quarter thing. We did a great job responding.”
The Lincoln North Star alum Krieser tallied 11 of her team-high 14 points as part of a first half that supplied the Bulldogs ample margin for error. Over the final 5:35 of the second quarter, Concordia went on a 16-5 run (initiated by a Krieser triple) that boosted the advantage to 48-27 at the break. Midland was flustered into six turnovers during the spurt to end the half. A plus-16 turnover advantage for the game played a major role in the outcome. Krieser and company turned it over only six times all evening.
The Warriors flipped a switch at the half and made it a competitive contest. A scoring drought of nearly five minutes to begin the third quarter opened the door for Midland to climb back within five (50-45). The Bulldogs managed only six points for the entire third period before steadying the ship in the fourth. The visitors built the lead back to double digits (63-53) with Raelyn Kelty’s layup at the 4:11 mark of the final quarter. An 8-0 Concordia run in the waning moments put the game on ice.
Krieser went 6-for-9 from the floor and added four steals and three assists to her stat line. She was joined in double figures by Kristin Vieselmeyer (11 points, six rebounds and five assists). Eight other Bulldogs notched at least four points with eight coming from Megan Belt, seven from Kelty and six apiece from Kendal Brigham, Abby Heemstra and Makynna Robbins. The freshman Robbins was named MVP of CIT four days earlier.
Said Olson of Krieser, “She’s been fantastic over the last four or five games. I love what she’s bringing to the team on both ends of the floor. I like where our team’s at. I think we’re in a good spot.”
Midland (3-19, 3-13 GPAC) gave a much better account of itself than it did back on Nov. 26 when it was walloped, 92-41, inside Friedrich Arena. Jenna Weber sparked the Warrior comeback attempt on Wednesday while pouring in a game-high 20 points (to go with 10 rebounds) on the strength of 3-for-5 3-point shooting. Midland shot 40.0 percent (20-for-50) overall compared to 42.6 percent (29-for-68) shooting by Concordia. The Warriors held a 39-31 rebound advantage.
The Bulldogs will be back at home on Saturday as the calendar flips to February. Waldorf (5-15, 3-12 GPAC) will make a visit to Friedrich Arena for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff. In the season’s first matchup that took place in Forest City, Iowa, on Dec. 14, Concordia ran away with a 98-53 victory over the Warriors, who took Wednesday night off from game action.
Defense trounces Warriors in 40-point victory Feb. 1, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball punched out a dominant 35-point third quarter to dust Waldorf in a 40-point route (90-50). The Saturday (Feb. 1) afternoon contest was a defensive exhibit for the Dawgs forcing 31 turnovers and 20 steals. Four Bulldogs swiped at least three steals in Kendal Brigham (four), Abby Krieser (three), Raelyn Kelty (three) and Savannah Butterfield (three).
Head Coach Drew Olson and company have totaled five consecutive wins moving up to 13-10 overall and 8-9 in GPAC play.
“We had spurts that were really good,” Coach Olson said. “We got a little sloppy at the end of the first and the beginning of the second. We had a couple of turnovers that were uncharacteristic, playing a little too fast. Once we settled in and played our basketball, we were pretty good, especially in the second half. Defensively, we were really good. The press was good. We did a good job or regrouping at halftime and the second half we were much better.”
Concordia ran out to a 16-2 lead in the first quarter using their 12 forced turnovers turning into points in the first 10 minutes. Brigham had seemingly back to back scoop and scores making six points in the run. The Warriors cut the advantage down to seven late in the second.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Bulldogs came out with a scorching hot 21-2 run. Raelyn Kelty and Kristin Vieselmeyer had a couple baskets a piece to light up the scoreboard. The home squad continued to build on their 22-point lead into the fourth and dashed out of Friedrich Arena with a 40-point win.
The Lincoln North Star alum, Krieser, put up double figures (13) for the third time in four games adding three rebounds with her three steals.
Krieser said, “We pressed a lot. We love getting after teams and being aggressive. That’s honestly what keeps us going. It’s a lot of fun transition points. I’ve been trying to get downhill a lot. My teammates have been setting screens for me and it’s nice because everyone on the court can shoot threes. All of the defenders are spread out, so I’m able to drive in.”
Kelty was second in points (12) and rebounds (seven) as the team racked up 51 total. Makynna Robbins grabbed a team-high 10 boards (nine points) in her 16 minutes. Brigham (11) and Vieselmeyer (10) were the final two in double digit points scored with Savannah Butterfield totaling eight off the bench. The growing depth has shown once again in Robbins, Butterfield and 14 total Bulldogs scoring in the competition.
Krieser said, “Makynna is a beast out there. She is very confident and doesn’t feel like a freshman. She goes in there and does her thing. Getting boards and points. Savy as well. She is so fun to be around and takes it strong to the basket.”
Waldorf (5-16, 3-13 GPAC) was led by Brooke Dial’s 22 points. The Warriors will look to rebound against Morningside on Wednesday.
Concordia (13-10, 8-9 GPAC) will have the midweek off before making the trek to Orange City, Iowa to take on Northwestern (16-7, 12-5 GPAC() for the second time this season. The Bulldogs fell in a heartbreaker (74-73) in the first game in Seward.
Hot third quarter holds off Red Raiders until final minutes Feb. 8, 2025
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Bulldogs turned up the heat in the third quarter but couldn’t hold on in the 82-73 road loss on Saturday (Feb. 8) versus Northwestern. Kendal Brigham sparked the second half comeback with 16 points (20 total) in the last 20 minutes at Bultman Center. Abby Krieser powered the defense with five of the nine team steals.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad drops to 13-10 overall and 8-10 in GPAC play.
“The is a big game and we didn’t come out with the right mindset and fight,” Coach Olson said. “After that point, we did fight. We did a great job in the second quarter to maintain and just kind of keep the lead at bay and cut it to nine going into the half. Awesome job in that third quarter. That’s what I was expecting. Intensity. Focus. Fight. Confidence. We played great basketball in the third quarter, but Northwestern is a good team. They were able to score a few times to get the lead back. It’s a very similar game to others this season, we got to have players step up and make plays. We did, but just not enough to get a good win on the road.”
Down 41-32 after half one, the Dawgs came out of the locker rooms with a 13-2 run to take their first lead since the beginning of the first quarter. Raelyn Kelty led the charge scoring all five of her points in the stretch. After the Red Raiders responded, Concordia pitched an 11-2 run to take a three-point lead at the end of the third via a Sammy Leu trey.
Northwestern used a 17-8 spurt to take the slim lead (71-66) broken up by Brigham’s eight points in the run. The home side used free throws to keep the advantage at a distance before the final buzzer.
The Bulldogs made seven 3-pointers (.336) compared to NWC’s three (.300) and forced 17 turnovers while having 13. Concordia shot 43.9 percent (25-for-57) from the field.
Kristin Vieselmeyer and Krieser dropped 12 apiece as Megan Belt collected seven. Brigham shot 66.6 percent (4-for-6) from beyond the arc and Kelty paced the team in rebounds (six).
Coach Olson said, “Kendal was great. It’s good to see her shoot the ball. We really want her to be even more aggressive. When she is on attack mode then we are a better basketball team. Whatever we can do to get her in that mindset is important for us in the next couple of games.”
The first contest (Jan. 18) was decided by a last second shot via Hali Anderson in favor of the visitors of Friedrich Arena.
Northwestern (17-8, 13-6 GPAC) had four hit double figures: Hali Anderson (17), Molly Schany (16), Jenna Kluxdal (11) and Lexie Van Kekerix (10). Van Kekerix had a game high in rebounds (eight). The Red Raiders pulled down 46 total boards and shot 46 percent (29-for-63) from the floor. They will face Hastings next Saturday on the road.
Concordia (13-11, 8-10 GPAC) is set to bout with Hastings (18-6, 13-5 GPAC) at Lynn Farrell Arena on Wednesday. The two teams will start at 6 p.m. CT in Hastings, Neb.
Dawgs lose fight early at Hastings Feb. 12, 2025
HASTINGS, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball competed against newly ranked No. 24 Hastings as the Broncos charged ahead (84-49) in the second half on Wednesday night (Feb. 12). The home team forced 23 turnovers from the visiting Bulldogs who shot 27 percent from the field. Megan Belt led CUNE with nine points.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s roster drops to 13-12 overall and 8-11 in conference play.
Down 21-18 in the second quarter, Hastings responded with a 14-0 run that spanned eight minutes and earned an early 11-point (34-23) lead going into the locker rooms. Eight points came from Bailey Kissinger in the stretch.
Abby Krieser and Raelyn Kelty made response baskets to keep the lead at 11 halfway through the third. The Broncos' Macy Bryant scored six of the 12-0 surge finishing with a hefty 23-point advantage (53-30) after three putting the contest out of reach.
Vieselmeyer grabbed a new season high in rebounds (12) with Concordia totaling 44 off the board. Kelty and freshman Makynna Robbins (10 minutes played) made six points apiece. Kendal Brigham affected the game in multiple ways with five points, four rebounds and four assists.
The Bulldogs combined for a season low 17-for-63 from the floor and allowed 43.7 percent (31-for-71) from Hastings. The usually stellar defense forced a team low seven steals (tied). The middle two quarters produced single digit performances by CUNE which struggled with seven points in the second and eight in the third.
In the first meeting at Friedrich Arena, Concordia was down 17 in the third quarter and came back to finish with a potential game-tying shot in the final seconds but fell just short in the heartbreaker (71-69).
Hastings (19-6, 14-5 GPAC) has won six games in a row and was led by four different Broncos in double figures: Mariyah Avila (12), Rachel Goodon (12), McKenna Yates (10) and Kissinger (10). Forcing 16 steals, HC scored 30 points off turnovers. The Broncos will stay at home and face Northwestern on Saturday.
Concordia (13-12, 8-11 GPAC) will celebrate senior day this Saturday (Feb. 15) against Dakota Wesleyan (20-5, 15-4 GPAC) inside Friedrich Arena. Tip off is for 2 p.m. CT and the senior day festivities are set to take place at halftime of the men’s game.
Hard play on senior day comes up short Feb. 15, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – The Bulldogs hosted No. 16 Dakota Wesleyan on senior day as the two GPAC teams battled for almost 40 minutes, but the visitors kept the home squad at arm's length in the final 60 seconds (74-65). Despite losing the shooting percentage from the floor, the Tigers used big shots and free throws (20-for-22) to deliver the loss to Concordia University, Nebraska. Senior Abby Krieser kept the Bulldogs in the mix with a 21-point performance.
The Seward lineup moves to .500 (13-13) overall and 8-12 in conference play.
“Dakota Wesleyan did a really good job of making big shots,” Coach Olson said. “Sometimes the game is just that simple. Our team did an awesome job of fighting and staying with it. We gave ourselves the opportunity. Unfortunately, we just didn’t make the plays we needed to. It just shows the character of our team. We aren’t going to fold and we fought really hard. This team has had a tough go but they continue to come back and be ready for the next challenge.”
Down 64-55 with three minutes remaining, the Bulldogs cut the lead down to three (64-61) with a Kristin Vieselmeyer bucket and four points from Krieser. After trading two points apiece, the Tigers were able to extend their lead in the final seconds with free throws from Rylee Rosenquist and Avery Broughton.
Krieser, a Lincoln North Star alum, turned on the jets with 15 second half points in her multiple trips to the rack. The senior guard burned Dakota Wesleyan on the way to the basket and added four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Abby Heemstra buried eight points in the two middle quarters to keep the Dawgs within striking distance. The Rock Valley, Iowa, native, also grabbed three rebounds and a steal. The two seniors were celebrated at halftime of the following men’s game.
Olson said, “I love both of them. What they have given to this program is amazing. I’m going to miss them a lot but thankfully we still have games to play. AK is a phenomenal player. A super great athlete but also a great teammate. Then, Abby Heemstra and her one-on-one play in the post but her leadership, toughness and maturity throughout the years have been really special.”
After a slow offensive showing (eight points) in the opening quarter by Concordia, Bree Bunting took over for a two minute run with eight of her 14 points, a steal and a rebound delivering a solid counterpunch for the Bulldogs early. The Kersey, Colo., product made her first five shots and has hit double figures for the third time this year.
CUNE shot (42.4 percent) slightly over the Tigers (41.1 percent) and forced 16 turnovers compared to the visitors’ 11. The Bulldogs best came at the end with a 53.8 percent (7-for-13) from the field. The two teams combined for 86.8 percent (33-for-38) from the charity stripe. Vieselmeyer broke into double figures (10) going perfect from the foul line (4-for-4).
Dakota Wesleyan (21-5, 16-4 GPAC) was led by Taliyah Hayes (23 points) and Maleighya Estes (15) off the bench. Rosenquist hit double figures (13) and Broughton had a game high four blocks. The Tigers made eight treys on 32 percent from beyond the arc. They will face Waldorf in Forest City on Wednesday.
Concordia (13-13, 8-12 GPAC) will have its last regular season home game versus Doane (15-11, 10-10 GPAC) inside Friedrich Arena. The tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. The two teams needed double overtime to decide the contest earlier this season, as the Tigers won out (93-87).
Concordia Women’s Basketball lands 16 on Scholar-Athlete honor roll Feb. 19, 2025
2024-25 NAIA Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete List
SEWARD, Neb. – One of the national leaders, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball placed 16 student-athletes on the 2024-25 list of Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes released on Wednesday (Feb. 19). Repeat Scholar-Athlete award winners include Megan Belt, Kendal Brigham, Abby Heemstra, Kiera Moes, Kristin Vieselmeyer and Gabrielle Wagner. The program’s complete list of NAIA Scholar-Athletes is included below.
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, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended one full year at said institution.
In addition to garnering multiple Scholar-Athlete awards in their careers, Brigham, Heemstra and Vieselmeyer were named 2023-24 Academic All-District honorees by College Sports Communicators. The organization will announce 2024-25 all-district awards on March 25.
Concordia University, Nebraska ranks as the NAIA’s all-time leader in number of Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes with 2,526 entering the 2024-25 academic year. The school record for number of Scholar-Athletes in one academic year is 226 achieved in 2019-20. Concordia has been a regular national leader for both Scholar-Athletes and Scholar-Teams.
2024-25 Concordia Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athletes
· Megan Belt (Papillion, Neb.)
· Kendal Brigham (Wahoo, Neb.)
· Bree Bunting (Kersey, Colo.)
· Faith Engle (Geneva, Neb.)
· Jordan Ernstmeyer (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Abby Heemstra (Rock Valley, Iowa)
· Elizabeth Hoffman (Omaha, Neb.)
· Juliana Jones (Omaha, Neb.)
· Addison Klahn (Omaha, Neb.)
· Kaitlin Kontor (Milford, Neb.)
· Sammy Leu (Lincoln, Neb.)
· Tanya Miller (Seward, Neb.)
· Kiera Moes (Osmond, Neb.)
· Kynlee Strauser (Gothenburg, Neb.)
· Kristin Vieselmeyer (Holyoke, Colo.)
· Gabrielle Wagner (Sioux City, Iowa)
Dawgs use fourth quarter run to squash Tigers Feb. 19, 2025
SEWARD, Neb. – With a lead that changed 14 times between the conference rivals, the Dawgs finally bit down (71-61) on the Doane Tigers with a 15-1 run that ended in the fourth quarter on Wednesday (Feb. 19) night. Playing its final game inside Friedrich Arena, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball dominated in the paint (32 points) with Kristin Vieselmeyer (14) and Juliana Jones (10) leading the charge.
Head Coach Drew Olson and the bandits made out with 20 forced turnovers on their way to a 14-13 (9-12 GPAC) slate showing.
“We had players trusting the game plan and hitting big shots,” said Coach Olson. “It was a lot of fun because it was a lot of people contributing in different moments. That was a big moment for me. Kristin did a great job of trying to find herself in the post and Makynna is just a very unique player. When she wants the rebound, she is going to get it. JJ (Jones) came to play today. We need her. Without having Rae, she hit some big baskets in the fourth quarter. Doane was kind of crawling back, and she found a way to get to the middle of the lane and hit some big shots.”
The Tigers and Bulldogs went back and forth as no lead went above seven in the first three quarters. Down two, five different Bulldogs in navy and white put points on the board in the 15-1 run started by an Abby Krieser trey and ended with a Makynna Robbins bucket. The freshman out of Houston, Texas, has continually made use of her minutes as she tallied 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals in 14 played.
With a 12-point (63-51) advantage, Kendal Brigham’s five made free throws, Jones and stellar defense kept Doane at bay in the final minutes. A Millard South product, Jones clinched a double-double (10 rebounds), the first of the sophomore's career.
Said Abby Heemstra, “They were both huge assets tonight for our team. Both of them got down hill and finished at the rim. They were getting all the hustle plays.”
Vieselmeyer scored 11 of her 14 points in the first half and kept Concordia in striking distance with the two teams tied going into the locker rooms. Brigham and Sammy Leu had eight points apiece, while Heemstra, Robbins and Jones all swiped two steals. Abby Krieser sent seven game high assists in the contest.
Said Heemstra, “It was really special. Obviously, AK and I have made a ton of memories in that gym over the last four years, so just going out on a win and doing it as a team is something really special.
Said Krieser, “Going into it, I was a little sad. Once we were all out on the court, I had a really fun time living in the moment with my best friends. It was fun to get the win.”
Concordia finished with advantages in multiple categories: bench points (33-9), points in the paint (32-20), rebounds (40-37), steals (9-4) and fast break points (11-4).
The Dawgs (14-13, 9-12 GPAC) will travel to Mount Marty (11-16, 5-16 GPAC) for their final regular season game on Saturday. Tip off is at 2 p.m. CT at Cimpl Arena.
Concordia falls shy in regular season finale thriller against Mount Marty Feb. 22, 2025
YANKTON, S.D. - The Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s basketball team fought valiantly but ultimately fell 68-66 to the Mount Marty Lancers in a tight contest in Yankton on Saturday (Feb. 22). Despite a rollercoaster performance marked by a dominant first quarter, a sluggish second, and a spirited late rally, the Bulldogs couldn’t overcome the home team while outshooting the Lancers from the floor (43.1-37.1).
Concordia finishes with a 14-14 (9-13 GPAC) record for its regular season showing before it enters postseason play.
“We had a great start,” Head Coach Drew Olson said. “We came out aggressive but just fell flat in the second quarter. Looking back, we should have pulled out of the zone earlier in the third. JJ and Kendal had moments where they played really great. Give credit to Mount Marty, we never put them away.”
With a hot start for CUNE, Kendal Brigham drained four 3-pointers en route to 12 points, sparking a 19-point first quarter where the Bulldogs shot 50 (6-for-12) percent from the field and built a commanding 18-6 lead – the largest of the night. Abby Krieser chipped in with nine points, including four field goals, while the team’s defense forced Mount Marty into a 33.3 (4-for-12) percent shooting clip.
In the second quarter, Concordia’s offense went ice-cold, managing just 1-12 from the field and scoring four points. Mount Marty capitalized on offense and went up three (26-23) before the break.
In the third, the Bulldogs erupted for 23 points, shooting an impressive 69.2 (9-for-13) percent from the field, including three more from beyond the arc. Juliana Jones added 12 points off the bench, showcasing her versatility with a steady 4-7 performance. Coach Olson’s squad reclaimed the lead with a gritty effort, pushing it to 62-61 with just over two minutes left in the fourth. Megan Belt’s layup at the 0:36 mark—her seventh point—kept hope alive, pulling the visitors within striking distance.
Mount Marty refused to fold as Alexus Motley’s layup with just over a minute remaining and a game-sealing free throw handed the Lancers a 68-66 edge. Krieser’s final 3-point attempt rimmed out, and the Lancers secured the final rebound.
The Bulldogs shot 43.1 percent overall and hit 10-of-27 threes, but their 16 turnovers and Mount Marty’s 10 offensive rebounds (leading to 11 second-chance points) proved costly. Brigham (five), Jones (four), and Makynna Robbins (four) paced the team in boards. Krieser led the team in steals (three).
With the win, the Lancers (12-16, 6-16 GPAC) are finished for the 2024-25 season. They were led by Sidney Thue with 19 points, seven team high rebounds and three steals. MMU’s Alexis Folkers dished out five assists plus Motley and Emma Jarvoski had two blocks apiece.
Concordia (14-14, 9-13 GPAC) is set to take on No. 1 seed Dordt (26-2, 20-2 GPAC) in the GPAC tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday (Feb. 26). The two teams have played two instant overtime classic games earlier this season.
Defenders hold off Bulldogs in final quarter Feb. 26, 2025
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – No. 8 seed Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball battled fiercely but fell (80-66) to No. 1 Dordt in a tough GPAC quarterfinal showdown on Wednesday (Feb. 26). The Defenders used a 9-2 run going into the fourth quarter to push the lead to double digits and finish off the Bulldogs in the final 10 minutes. CUNE’s Megan Belt splashed with 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
Head Coach Drew Olson and company finished with a 14-15 record in the conference opening round.
“We played really hard,” said Coach Olson. “We started off well. We had a really good run in the second quarter. We felt good going into the second half down one, Dordt is just a tough team. We did battle but we just didn’t have a huge surge, like we did in the second quarter, that we needed to cut the lead. Megan shot well. Rae was a huge lift. She was a warrior today because she was probably at about 50 percent. With Abby, Kendal and AK, I felt like they gave us all they could have today.”
Down at the halftime break, the Bulldogs jockeyed for position as the two teams worked to tie at 40 apiece in the third quarter. Abby Krieser scored two of her nine points, while Raelyn Kelty dropped a triple and the Kiowa, Colo., native bottomed 10 points (3-for-4 3PT) coming off an injury.
The Defenders used a 14-5 spurt to get ahead (54-45) in the third, but Abby Heemstra and Megan Belt helped to answer to make the lead leash within striking distance. Dordt would finally use the 9-2 run to get ahead to double digits and keep the Bulldogs at arm’s length in the final minutes.
After Belt and Kelty, Abby Krieser (nine), Kristin Vieselmeyer (nine) and Heemstra (eight) helped gather the 66-point total. Heemstra, a Rock Valley, Iowa, native pulled down a team high eight boards with Juliana Jones and Kelty grabbing four. Krieser, the product of Lincoln North Star, also tallied four assists and four steals, and has averaged almost three steals (2.8) in her last eight games.
The defense swarmed in different moments forcing 15 turnovers, five steals and seven blocks – three coming from Vieselmeyer. Shooting 40 percent from the floor, the Bulldogs shot a hefty 10-for-24 from 3-point range and 80 percent (12-for-15) from the charity stripe.
Coach Olson said, “This was a really weird season. This is a good team. We had a lot of bad breaks and a lot of heartaches. We just needed some more things to go our way to be able to keep playing and go to the national tournament. The margin to get there is small. I’m proud of our team. We fought every game. We got a lot to be proud of and a lot to learn from.”
Dordt was led by the talented Macy Sievers with 20 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Janie Van Donge (15) and Gracie Schoonhoven (14) followed and Ellie Lems had a 10-point, 11-rebound double double. The Defenders will take on No. 4 seed Hastings this Saturday in Sioux Center.
Concordia finishes its season 14-15 overall and 9-13 in the conference. The Bulldogs will now look toward the 2025-26 basketball season.
Brigham, Vieselmeyer headline Concordia All-GPAC selections Mar. 5, 2025
2024-25 GPAC Women’s Basketball All-Conference Teams
Second Team: Kendal Brigham; Kristin VieselmeyerHonorable Mention: Abby Krieser; Raelyn Kelty
SEWARD, Neb. – The 2024-25 GPAC All-Conference women’s basketball honor roll announced on Wednesday (March 5) featured four Bulldogs. Headlining the selections from the perspective of Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball were second team all-conference award winners in graduate student Kendal Brigham and junior Kristin Vieselmeyer. In addition, senior Abby Krieser and sophomore Raelyn Kelty were tabbed as honorable mention choices.
Each of the four Bulldog honorees started at least 23 games for Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad, which experienced a series of close defeats against quality competition while finishing at 14-15 overall.
The Wahoo, Neb., native Brigham returned for a fifth season in 2024-25 and led the team in scoring with an average of 10.8 points per game. Brigham has collected her third career All-GPAC award after twice earning honorable mention status. In addition to her team best scoring average, Brigham averaged 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. She shot 38.4 percent (108-for-281) from the field, 32.2 percent (38-for-149) from 3-point range and 72.7 percent (48-for-66) from the foul line while starting all 29 games. In 138 career games, Brigham totaled 1,233 points, 356 rebounds, 344 assists, 199 3-point field goals and 167 steals.
As a junior, Vieselmeyer developed into one of the top post players in the league. The Holyoke, Colo., native has garnered her first all-conference award. This season, Vieselmeyer averaged 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 blocks per game. She shot 42.6 percent (89-for-209) from the field, 31.5 percent (23-for-73) from beyond the arc and 78.1 percent (75-for-96) from the free throw line. She played in and started 27 games and reached a single game career high of 27 points in two separate outings. Through her first three seasons, Vieselmeyer has tallied 635 points and 294 rebounds.
A two-time Second Team All-GPAC honoree, Krieser has picked up her third career all-conference award. The Lincoln North Star High School product posted season averages of 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game while starring as one of the league’s top backcourt defenders. She shot 47.3 percent (98-for-207) from the field, 31.6 percent (24-for-76) from 3-point range and 68.6 percent (35-for-51) from the foul line. Krieser finished her collegiate career with 933 points, 341 rebounds, 179 steals and 171 assists in 112 games.
As a sophomore in 2024-25, Kelty (Kiowa, Colo.) took on an increased role and led the team in rebounding with an average of 6.0 boards per game. She also averaged 9.0 points, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals per outing. Kelty shot 45.0 percent (81-for-180) from the field and 81.1 percent (60-for-74) from the free throw line. Her career highs for points (20) and rebounds (14) came at Doane. Over her first two college seasons, Kelty has produced 312 points and 224 rebounds.
Season-In-Review: series of close calls define 2024-25 campaign Mar. 12, 2025
The 2024-25 season was one defined by “heartaches,” as Head Coach Drew Olson described it in the aftermath of his squad’s GPAC tournament quarterfinal defeat. Following the postseason loss at No. 1 Dordt, the Bulldogs were left to process an unfamiliarly abrupt ending. It’s an awkward feeling for a powerhouse program that hung a national championship banner in its not-so-distant past. Just a year earlier, Concordia advanced to the final site of the national tournament and spent virtually that entire 2023-24 season ranked amongst the NAIA’s top 10.
Things were going to be different without All-American Taysha Rushton and fellow key ’24 seniors Sadie Powell and Mackenzie Toomey. However, Olson felt confident the program would absorb the departures, redefine itself and reach the national tournament, just like always.
“It was a tough season,” Olson said. “We had really big expectations for this group. The black and white of it is we didn’t come up with enough wins for us to keep our season going into the national tournament, which is where we expected to be. I feel like our team is that good to be there. In our league, we had four elite teams that were really tough to beat. We had opportunities to get a couple of wins (and we didn’t). Part of it was some bad breaks. Part of it was stuff that we controlled.”
The final overall record dipped below .500 at 14-15. Had the outcomes of perhaps two or three of the heartbreakers gone the other way, the Bulldogs likely would have heard their named called during the NAIA’s national tournament selection show. This team wasn’t far off. It lost twice in overtime to top-ranked Dordt, it fell by three points to No. 2 Southern Oregon, it suffered defeats in the last seconds of regulation to Hastings, Mount Marty and Northwestern, and there was that double overtime downer at Doane. Concordia also dropped an exhibition to an NCAA Division I opponent by a single basket.
There were better moments. Early in the season, the Bulldogs went on the road and beat then sixth-ranked Dakota State by 10. They also emerged as the CIT champions behind a starring performance from freshman Makynna Robbins and later avenged a loss by toppling Doane, 71-61, in the home finale. In one of the lasting images of the season, graduate student Kendal Brigham and seniors Abby Heemstra and Abby Krieser were joined in a group hug at The Victory Bell by juniors Megan Belt and Kristin Vieselmeyer. Knowing it was the final time playing at home for Brigham, Heemstra and Krieser, they held that hug just a little longer and a little tighter.
What it means to be part of the program didn’t change just because Concordia didn’t win as many games as it had hoped. Olson looks at his two seniors and super senior Brigham as prime examples of the “selfless” attitude and Christian character the program holds dear as a core values.
“There are lots of lessons to be learned from this season and hopefully grow from it,” Olson said. “I think we have a really good group coming back and a great incoming class that we’re really excited about. I haven’t thought too deep (into next season). I think about what AK, Abby and Kendal have done for this program and how special they are as people. They really embody our values of being selfless and being resilient. In the things that they’ve been through, they’ve shown incredible character. They’re just great people.”
In using the ‘COVID exemption’ that granted Brigham one more season, she took on the largest role she ever had as a Bulldog. The Wahoo native started all 29 games at the point and led the team in key categories such as scoring average (10.8), minutes per game (31.4) and assists (3.4) while displaying her road runner-like attributes with the ball in her hands. Brigham reached 1,000 career points just before Thanksgiving and finished with 1,233 for her career. Brigham, Krieser and Heemstra were part of three teams that reached the national tournament.
Brigham and Vieselmeyer were named to the GPAC’s second team while Krieser and Raelyn Kelty garnered honorable mention distinction. In taking another step forward as one of the league’s top post players, Vieselmeyer (10.2 points/game) put together two separate 27-point outings, including one in a near miss at No. 1 Dordt. Meanwhile, Krieser concluded a strong four-year run with 933 career points and Kelty emerged as the team’s leading rebounder (6.0 per game).
A Colorado native like Vieselmeyer, Kelty led a large sophomore class that will have a major say in the success of the 2025-26 team. The class also includes varsity contributors in Joclyn Bassett, Bree Bunting, Jordan Ernstmeyer, Libby Hoffman, JJ Jones and Sammy Leu. Each one enjoyed moments of brilliance this past season. Vieselmeyer and sharpshooting Megan Belt (18 starts in 2024-25) will make up next season’s senior class from an on-court perspective. Belt drained a team-high 54 treys on the season.
Among freshmen, the Houston native Robbins gained the most experience as she played in 27 games and averaged 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Savi Butterfield and Peyton Tritz also got their feet wet in varsity action.
As the season wound to a close, Olson fulfilled a new role as a member of the national tournament selection committee. Olson collaborated with other members on at-large selections and national tournament seeding. Olson enjoyed peeking behind the curtain, but he didn’t know how to react to not having the chance to prepare his team for a national tournament game. A quiet spring break is a rarity for Concordia Women’s Basketball.
Said Olson, “If we do a couple of those things, the season feels a lot different. It was a great team in terms of great people and selfless people who are awesome to be around. I feel bad that we’re not still playing, because I do think that we’re a good basketball team. We just didn’t come up with enough wins. It’s a tough way to go out because I feel like we deserve better, but we needed to do more things to earn that.”
Looking ahead to next season, the Bulldogs will have some holes to fill in the backcourt as Brigham and Krieser move on to the next chapters of their lives. Olson is always up to a challenge. Olson and assistant coach Tae’lor Purdy-Korell will welcome nine incoming freshmen that played in high school state tournaments. After taking an opportunity to decompress, Concordia will focus on offseason growth with an eye on returning to the national tournament in March of 2026.
Four Bulldogs honored as 2024-25 Academic All-District award winners by CSC Mar. 25, 2025
2024-25 CSC Academic All-District Women’s Basketball Teams
SEWARD, Neb. – A group of four Bulldogs represented Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball on the list of 2024-25 Academic All-District award winners announced on March 25 by College Sports Communicators (CSC). The honorees from Head Coach Drew Olson’s program include Megan Belt, Kendal Brigham, Abby Heemstra and Kristin Vieselmeyer. The latter three Bulldogs have each earned this recognition for the second time in their careers.
The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Women’s Basketball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Student-athletes must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in order to be nominated for this award. Nominees also had to meet specific requirements in terms of games played and games started during the 2024 season. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA — for each gender.
2024-25 CSC Academic All-District Honorees – Concordia Women’s Basketball
Megan Belt | Jr. | Papillion, Neb. Major: Public Health and FitnessNotes: First CSC Academic All-District award; two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Kendal Brigham | Grad | Wahoo, Neb. Major: MarketingNotes: Two-time CSC Academic All-District award winner; 2024-25 Second Team All-GPAC (three-time All-GPAC honoree); three-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Abby Heemstra | Sr. | Rock Valley, Iowa Major: Elementary EducationNotes: Two-time CSC Academic All-District award winner; three-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Kristin Vieselmeyer | Jr. | Holyoke, Colo. Major: Exercise ScienceNotes: Two-time CSC Academic All-District award winner; 2024-25 Second Team All-GPAC; two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk (in the CSC release) and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on April 16.
Vieselmeyer placed on five-player All-Midlands Team; Brigham, Krieser also honored Apr. 20, 2025
OWH News Article
SEWARD, Neb. – A trio of Bulldogs from the Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball program earned recognition on April 19 from the Omaha World-Herald. The news outlet named junior Kristin Vieselmeyer to its five-player NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Midlands Team while grad student Kendal Brigham and senior Abby Krieser were chosen as honorable mention selections. The World-Herald annually releases All-Midlands teams as a means of honoring the top players from Nebraska institutions outside of the NCAA Division I level.
The postseason accolades for Vieselmeyer in 2024-25 also included Second Team All-GPAC and Academic All-District (College Sports Communicators) distinction. Brigham joined Vieselmeyer on the conference’s second team honor roll. Concordia finished this past season at 14-15 overall.
Concordia All-Midlands Team Honorees:
· Kristin Vieselmeyer
--2024-25 stats: 10.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.7 apg, .426 fg%, .781 ft%, .315 3-pt% in 27 games.
· Kendal Brigham, Honorable Mention
--2024-25 stats: 10.8 ppg, 3.4 apg, 3.2 rpg, 1.7 spg, .384 fg%, .727 ft%, .322 3-pt% in 29 games.
· Abby Krieser, Honorable Mention
· --2024-25 stats: 8.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.1 spg, .473 fg%, .686 ft%, .316 3-pt% in 29 games.
2024-25 NAIA/Division III All-Midlands Team, as selected by the Omaha World-Herald
G: Mariyah Avila, Hastings 5-5, jr.
*Honorary Captain
Honorable mention
Bellevue: Gabby Moore. Concordia: Kendal Brigham, Abby Krieser. Doane: Megan Chambers, Macy Holtz, Maddie Portwine. Hastings: Ann Bose, Macy Bryant, Rachel Goodon. Midland: Sarah Shepard, Jenna Weber. Peru State: Kylie Diaz. St. Mary: Madelyn Gaughen. York: Destiny Shepherd.
A Concordia Family: Kristin carries on Vieselmeyer sisterhood of Bulldogs Jun. 13, 2025
The Vieselmeyer family is a Concordia family. It only felt right when Kristin Vieselmeyer made her decision official with a social media post in May of 2022: “On to the next … Sko Dawgs!” To be honest, that was the decision parents Erik and Michelle Vieselmeyer anticipated. Had Kristen chose differently, they may not have been mad, but they likely would have been slightly disappointed. After all, the brainwashing began for Kristen as an elementary school student when she would frequently accompany her parents to eldest sister Erin’s basketball games at Concordia.
Neither Erik nor Michelle attended Concordia, but they felt a strong and deep, immediate connection to the school and its athletics department. They were drawn to the Christian atmosphere, the competitive greatness of the athletics programs (particularly women’s basketball) and the coaching of Drew Olson. This was the total package in their minds.
A senior-to-be this 2025-26 academic year, Kristin has known all about Concordia. “My dad is 100 percent a Concordia fan. There is no doubt,” Kristin said. “He and my mom were pretty much like, ‘Obviously, it’s up to you, but Concordia is the best place for your future, the best place to grow up and the best place to grow in your faith.’ My sisters put their input in here and there, but they were just like my parents – it’s totally up to you. Whichever place you feel like can give you the best opportunities, go there.”
There will have been at least one Vieselmeyer sister present at Concordia for 10 out of 12 years by the time Kristin completes her senior year in 2025-26. Erin first blazed the trail when she arrived in the fall of 2013 and then graduated in 2017. Megan overlapped Erin by two years and graduated in 2019 before the baby of the family, Kristin, made it 3-for-3 starting in the fall of 2022. All three have been members of the basketball program (with Megan first signing on for volleyball) while excelling academically. Worth noting, each sister stands 5-foot-11 or taller.
The Vieselmeyers grew up just west of the Nebraska border in the town of Holyoke, Colo., home to roughly 2,400 people (and where the Vieselmeyers operate Vieselmeyer Seed). Situated about a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Seward, it’s just close enough to home and just far enough way. There is a family connection that traces back to the late Dean Vieselmeyer, a Concordia Nebraska graduate and former Bulldog assistant football coach. But that wasn’t what sparked Erin’s interest in Concordia. She was encouraged to consider Concordia by their local pastor in Holyoke.
A highlight video of Erin found its way to Drew Olson, who saw potential in her. Said Olson, “When we were recruiting her it was volleyball and basketball – which one is she going to choose? I think she knew she was going to come to Concordia. It was a matter of which sport. We pushed pretty hard for her because we liked the potential that she had. I would consider her a player that developed more than any we’ve had from freshman year to senior year.”
Neither Olson nor the Vieselmeyers knew what Erin’s recruitment would mean to both sides. Twelve years later, the stories and memories are thicker than the surrounding cornfields in the middle of July. Erin and Megan admit that they got emotional when asked to discuss how their time at Concordia had shaped them. Erin even spent an extra year at Concordia as a graduate assistant on Olson’s staff and had an opportunity to caravan across Nebraska with Olson and assistant coach Tae’lor Purdy-Korell for summer camps. After graduation, Megan served as an admissions counselor before returning close to her hometown. Both Erin (physician assistant) and Megan (physical therapist) work at Wray Community District Hospital in Colorado.
From a state away, they are Kristin’s biggest fans. As Erin and Megan jointly wrote, “There is something so reassuring knowing you are being influenced by such Godly and devout individuals, who show you the best version of yourself and encourage you to live that out. There is pride in being a Bulldog and a special bond that comes with it, and we always hoped that Kristin would be blessed with that same opportunity. So, watching the littlest Vieselmeyer follow in our footsteps, it has come full circle for us, and we are so proud to see her having a similar fulfilling experience.”
As Erin progressed at Concordia, her role increased for Olson’s highly successful program. As an impressionable Kristin watched from the bleachers, she saw No. 44 – the number she would eventually wear – make major contributions to a 2016-17 team that swept GPAC regular season and tournament championships and reached the national semifinals. Olson distinctively recalls multiple games in which Erin saved the day.
Erin was a rockstar to 12-year-old Kristin. As Erin lived out her formative years at Concordia, Kristin paid close attention. She looked up to both Erin and Megan as examples of what she could also achieve as an athlete and as a person.
“Erin kind of disappeared for a few years of my life, which was fine because I was here on the weekends,” Kristin recalled. “She was always a huge idol in my life. She set an example for what I wanted to reach. I was with Megan longer, so her and I bickered a little bit, but I think it helped us grow closer … Throughout college, our relationship has grown much deeper because they are people I call every single night. After a good or bad practice, they are the first people I talk to. They know all the good and bad that comes with being an athlete and a student. They’ve been through it all. I’m following Megan’s footsteps as a physical therapist. That’s what she is now and that’s what I’m striving to be. They are my people.”
As someone who has gotten to know all three well, Olson calls the sisters “very special people.” It didn’t matter how big or how small their role was on the court, they found ways to be positive supporters and encouragers of their teammates. Olson appreciates the way Megan took a chance on playing basketball after beginning her college career with the volleyball program. Megan made a difference with her caring personality.
As Kristin began coming up the ranks, Olson did not want to assume that she would choose Concordia solely because of the family ties. Olson and Purdy-Korell went hard after Kristin, who helped lead Holyoke High School to a basketball state championship and a runner-up claim in volleyball. Not only an all-stater in two sports, Kristin emerged as class valedictorian.
“You’d think it would be an easy thing because we had her two sisters, but I wanted to make sure she knew how much we valued her, cared about her and wanted her to be at Concordia,” Olson said. “We didn’t want to assume that she was coming to Concordia. I think she was leaning towards Concordia, but I think she wanted to keep her options open. Eventually, Kristin got there and knew this was the right place for her to be. We’re pretty thankful for that.”
Said Kristin of her recruitment, “Coach Olson never guaranteed a spot on the court, but he told me he’d love to see me as a Bulldog one day. That was really huge in my eyes. Both my sisters and parents were very encouraging when making this decision. I had a couple other GPAC schools that I was thinking about, but it’s really hard to put any other GPAC school ahead of Concordia because of the values, morals, the Christian atmosphere and the small and cute campus we have and the really good community that I saw growing up. Coach Olson and Tae’lor felt like family by the time I got here.”
In a way, the tables have turned and it’s now Kristin’s chance to be the rock star – a rock star aunt that is. She earned Second Team All-GPAC accolades as a junior while continuing to make Friedrich Arena a hot spot for Vieselmeyer family gatherings. When circumstances allowed, Erin and her husband brought their young daughter and son to Kristin’s games this past season. There may be more wide-eyed little ones making their way to the arena this winter with Megan and her husband (another Concordia alum, Jared Schipper) expecting twins in October. As Kristin says, “I’m a big-time auntie, and it’s very exciting.”
Perhaps the next generation will write another chapter in the family’s Concordia legacy, but for now, Kristin is ready to put the final touches on the Vieselmeyer sisterhood of Bulldogs. The competitive fire in her makes her yearn for the euphoria she felt while winning a high school state championship. Kristin especially showed how dominant she could be with big outings (including a 27-point outburst) in 2024-25 versus eventual national champion Dordt. As a senior, Kristin wants to stay out of foul trouble and turn last season’s close defeats into victories.
No matter the results on the court, Kristin knows, like her elder sisters, that her time at Concordia has blessed her with enriching experiences. Says Kristin, “I’ve grown in my faith. You have to have a lot of trust in your teammates and in Christ to put you in the right situation at the right time during the season. In high school, that wasn’t evident in my life, but now, I’ve seen it. Things happen for a reason. People get hurt for a reason. We lose certain games for a reason and that’s how we learn lessons. I never really absorbed that until these last couple years.”
Wrote Erin and Megan in reflection, “Concordia to us is home, and as we reflect, we have so much gratitude. It is hard to understand unless you’ve been a part of it in any capacity. Talking about it, we both get tears in our eyes because of the way Christ worked within us and through us during that season of life. We were able to be involved in several ways on campus from sports, clubs, undergraduate courses, worship, volunteer work, and even after college as a graduate assistant for the basketball team and an academic counselor. The people made Concordia for us. Each of us were fortunate to have very influential mentors who guided us along the way and made the experience special for us.”
No doubt, the relationship has been mutually beneficial in many ways. Erik and Michelle have been generous in their support of the university and its people. As Olson says, “All three of their daughters were in very different roles and yet, they have been as consistent and as true in their support as anybody.” They’re the type of people who will pay for your meal at a restaurant when you’re not looking, take you into their home (like the did the entire women’s basketball team on last season’s trip to Northern Colorado) or simply ask how they can help.
Passed down through the family are values and an understanding of what’s truly important. As Kristin offered, “The relationships are what last a lifetime. Basketball will come and go, but the relationships are what you’re going to talk about when you’re 80 years old.”