SEWARD, Neb. – The week of the Concordia Invitational Tournament has arrived. Concordia University Ann Arbor will serve as the host of this year’s grand event, which will run Friday and Saturday inside the Cardinal Fieldhouse. Before heading out for CIT, Head Coach Drew Olson’s women’s squad will play at College of Saint Mary on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Head Coach Ben Limback’s men’s squad has a bye in the middle of this week. Both Bulldog Basketball teams will take on Concordia University Chicago on the opening day of CIT. CUAA is set to host CIT for the first time since 2019.
CUNE Women’s Basketball – This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 22 at College of Saint Mary (1-18, 0-13 GPAC), 6 p.m. CT
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country | Location: Lied Fitness Center (Omaha, Neb.)
CIT – Friday, Jan. 24 vs. Concordia Chicago (1-13), 12 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. ET
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Cardinal Fieldhouse (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
CIT – Saturday, Jan. 25 vs. CUAA/CUW, 12 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. ET or 5 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. ET
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Cardinal Fieldhouse (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
CUNE Men’s Basketball – This Week
CIT – Friday, Jan. 24 vs. Concordia Chicago (1-13), 2 p.m. CT / 3 p.m. ET
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Cardinal Fieldhouse (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
CIT – Saturday, Jan. 25 vs. CUAA/CUW, 2 p.m. CT / 3 p.m. ET or 7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Cardinal Fieldhouse (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
2025 CIT Schedule – Jan. 24-25
--Admission: Cost is $20 presale and $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online via CUAA’s HomeTown Ticketing webpage.
--Streaming: All eight CIT games will be broadcast via Concordia Ann Arbor’s streaming portal. Live stats will be available via the CIT event page linked below.
Visit the official 2025 CIT webpage for more information: https://www.concordiacardinals.com/CIT/2025.
For a preview of the CIT cheer/dance competitions, click HERE.
Friday, Jan. 24
- 12 p.m. CST / 1 p.m. EST – CUNE vs. CUC (Women)
- 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST – CUNE vs. CUC (Men)
- 5 p.m. CST / 6 p.m. EST – CUAA vs. CUW (Women)
- 7 p.m. CST / 8 p.m. EST – CUAA vs. CUW (Men)
Saturday, Jan. 25
- 9 a.m. CST / 10 a.m. EST – Cheer Competition
- 10:30 a.m. CST / 11:30 a.m. EST – Dance Competition
- 12 p.m. CST / 1 p.m. EST – Women's Consolation Game
- 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST – Men's Consolation Game
- 5 p.m. CST / 6 p.m. EST – Women's Championship Game
- 7 p.m. CST / 8 p.m. EST – Men's Championship Game
- Trophy presentation and all-Concordia devotions following last game
CUNE Women’s Basketball – By the numbers
· The Bulldogs enter CIT week at 8-10 overall (5-9 GPAC). CUNE split last week’s pair of home games as it defeated Mount Marty, 74-55, on Jan. 15 before being clipped by Northwestern, 74-73, in a nail-biter that came down to the final seconds. In the win over Mount Marty, junior Megan Belt rained in six treys for a career-high 18 points. Other double-figure scorers were Sammy Leu (11) and Kendal Brigham (10). The Bulldogs stifled the Lancers to the tune of 33.3 percent shooting and 20 turnovers. Three days later, CUNE built a lead as large as 11 points in the third quarter before allowing it to slip away. The Red Raiders got the winning bucket from Hali Anderson and survived a highly-contested missed layup by Brigham at the buzzer. In the defeat, Kristin Vieselmeyer equaled a career-high with 27 points and was joined in double figures by Brigham (15), Abby Krieser (11) and Raelyn Kelty (10). The Bulldogs were hurt by their 11-for-21 foul shooting.
· Every game moving forward will carry significant weight with CUNE having lost any margin for error as it relates to its national tournament chances. One thing the Bulldogs have going for them is their strength of schedule, which is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA by Massey Ratings. Olson’s squad has played seven games versus NAIA top 25 teams. Notably, CUNE twice lost to No. 1 Dordt in overtime and owns a road win over No. 6 Dakota State University (S.D.). The Bulldogs currently sit in eighth place in the GPAC standings. Their next three league games are all against teams situated below them: College of Saint Mary, Midland and Waldorf. Opportunities for resume-building wins will come in February with matchups against Northwestern, No. 25 Hastings, No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan and Doane.
· The Wahoo, Neb., native Kendal Brigham is the reigning CIT MVP. At last season’s CIT in Mequon, Wis., Brigham totaled a combined 28 points as the Bulldogs defeated CUAA, 73-64, and CUW, 78-48. In 127 career games, Brigham has tallied 1,131 points, 321 rebounds, 313 assists and 153 steals. On the program’s all-time lists, Brigham ranks eighth in 3-point field goals (181), 17th in assists, 24th in points and 33rd in steals.
· The Northwestern outing marked the third time that Kristin Vieselmeyer has reached 20 points in a game. Her first 20-point outing occurred her freshman year when she racked up 21 in a CIT championship game win over Concordia Chicago. As a junior this season, Vieselmeyer has tallied exactly 27 points against both Dordt and Northwestern. In this past Saturday’s contest, Vieselmeyer made 9-of-17 shots from the floor, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. As part of a balanced team, all five starters are averaging at least 7.6 points per game: Brigham (11.7), Vieselmeyer (10.5), Kelty (10.4), Krieser (8.1) and Belt (7.6).
· Among GPAC teams, the Bulldogs rank third in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.334), fifth in scoring offense (74.4), fifth in scoring defense (66.4), fifth in free throw percentage (.720), sixth in field goal percentage offense (.427), ninth in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.334), ninth in field goal percentage defense (.411) and ninth in rebound margin (-2.7).
Five facts about CUNE Women’s Basketball at CIT
· CUNE owns the most CIT titles (32) in the history of the women’s event, which dates back to 1973. The Bulldogs first seized the title in 1983 when led by head coach Carl Everts. CUNE has won 31 of the last 36 CITs.
· Five different head coaches have led the program to CIT titles (in order): Carl Everts (seven), Mark Lemke (four), Micah Parker (four), Todd Voss (four) and Drew Olson (13). Olson’s 13 CIT championships rank as the most of any women’s basketball coach in the history of the tournament.
· The Bulldogs have won nine-straight CIT championships, including 18 consecutive CIT games during the run. Over those 18 games, CUNE’s average margin of victory has been 32.4 points per game. The Bulldogs have scored 100 or more points in seven of those 18 wins.
· Six Bulldogs have earned multiple CIT MVP awards: Quinn Wragge (2016, 2017), Bailey Morris (2014, 2015), Whitney Stichka (2006, 2008, 2009), Sarah Harrison (2002, 2004, 2005), Stacey Miller (1997, 1998) and Lynda Beck (1990, 1991). The reigning CIT MVP is Kendal Brigham, who helped CUNE to wins at the 2024 event held at CUW by scores of 73-64 over CUAA and 78-48 over CUW.
· Now in his 19th season as head coach, Drew Olson owns an all-time CIT record of 29-3 and has reached the CIT championship game in every season of his tenure (other than 2021 and 2022 when CIT was canceled). CUNE lost CIT title games to CU-Wisconsin in 2007 and to CU-Ann Arbor in both 2011 and 2013.
CSM and the CIT women’s field
Concordia University, Nebraska Bulldogs
Head Coach: Drew Olson, 19th season (478-150)
Record: 8-10 (5-9 GPAC)
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Scoring Offense: 74.4 ppg / .427 FG%
Scoring Defense: 66.4 ppg / .411 FG%
CIT Titles: 32 (most recent: 2024)
Probable Lineup
G – Megan Belt, 5-6 (7.6)
G – Kendal Brigham, 5-5 (11.7)
G – Abby Krieser, 5-9 (8.1)
F – Raelyn Kelty, 5-11 (10.4)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-2 (10.5)
College of Saint Mary Flames
Head Coach: Natalie Miller, 1st season
Record: 1-18 (0-13 GPAC)
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Omaha, Neb.
Scoring Offense: 53.2 ppg / .333 FG%
Scoring Defense: 88.6 ppg / .459 FG%
Probable Lineup
G – Freda Moore, 5-6 (4.4)
G – Maura Tichota, 5-10 (4.9)
G – Jazmyne Villalobos, 5-7 (4.2)
F – Haley Debuse, 6-0 (11.3)
F – Madelyn Gaughen, 5-9 (8.1)
Concordia University Ann Arbor Cardinals
Head Coach: Elyse Schlump, 3rd season
Record: 8-9 (7-4 WHAC)
Conference: Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Scoring Offense: 67.4 ppg / .395 FG%
Scoring Defense: 65.7 ppg / .417 FG%
CIT Titles: 2 (most recent: 2013)
Probable Lineup
G – Avery Collins, 5-5 (6.1)
G – Abby Long, 5-6 (15.2)
G – Emily McCalla, 5-8 (5.4)
G – Ryan Moorer, 5-9 (8.2)
C – Lauren Borsenik, 6-1 (14.6)
Concordia University Chicago Cougars
Head Coach: Lauren Martin, 7th season
Record: 1-13 (0-7 NACC)
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Scoring Offense: 47.4 ppg / .306 FG%
Scoring Defense: 70.9 ppg / .423 FG%
CIT Titles: 4 (most recent: 1986)
Probable Lineup
G – Mikalah Ellis, 5-8 (7.9)
G – Hannah Lopez, 5-7 (0.7)
G – Khaliah Reid, 5-5 (15.2)
G – Linley Southern, 5-7 (0.6)
F – Alisyn MacGregor, 6-0 (4.6)
Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons
Head Coach: Stacey Brunner-Jones, 21st season
Record: 5-9 (5-2 NACC)
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin
Scoring Offense: 56.1 ppg / .358 FG%
Scoring Defense: 59.1 ppg / .383 FG%
CIT Titles: 3 (most recent: 2007)
Probable Lineup
G – Ava Booth, 5-8 (9.7)
G – Gracie McNabb, 5-7 (8.3)
G – Jayden Ross, 5-6 (4.8)
F – Andrea Butterbrodt, 5-9 (7.3)
F – Aubrey DeBauch, 5-9 (14.8)
CUNE Men’s Basketball – By the numbers
· The Bulldogs enter CIT week at 15-4 overall (10-3 GPAC). The GPAC win streak has reached nine following home wins this past week over Mount Marty, 89-62, and No. 3 Northwestern, 85-70. In the victory over Mount Marty, CUNE forced 18 turnovers and owned the boards, 38-21. Tristan Smith posted 27 points, 10 rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals. He was joined in double figures by Zac Kulus (16) and Noah Schutte, who collected a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds) of his own. In the attention-getting win over Northwestern, Smith starred again as he notched 17 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Other double figure scorers were Elijah Gaeth (16), Schutte (15) and Brooks Kissinger. Gaeth added four rebounds in his career-high performance. Defensively, the Bulldogs limited the Red Raiders to 37.1 percent shooting.
· Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad handily defeated the GPAC’s two highest rated teams in a two-week span. CUNE obliterated No. 11 Dordt, 99-72, on Jan. 4 before taking a comfortable victory over Northwestern, 85-70. The latest triumph came after the release of the NAIA coaches’ poll on Jan. 15. In that ranking, the Bulldogs were listed as the first team in the “receiving votes” category of the poll. Meanwhile, Massey Ratings lists CUNE as the No. 9 team in the NAIA with a strength of schedule ranked seventh toughest nationally. The Bulldogs rose as high as No. 9 earlier this season in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· With so many productive players having returned from the 2023-24 team, CUNE expected to have plenty of offensive firepower. However, it’s the defensive end that has keyed the Bulldogs’ string of victories. During the active eight-game win streak that dates back to Dec. 21, CUNE has held opponents to an average of 69.4 points per game and to 41.8 percent shooting. During that timeframe, Jaxon Stueve (Dec. 31) and Brad Bennett (Jan. 7) have been named GPAC Defensive Players of the Week. Stueve spent much of the Northwestern game defending freshman star Jesse Van Kalsbeek, who was limited to 10 points on 3-for-14 shooting.
· On Jan. 15, Small College Basketball named Noah Schutte and Tristan Smith to its Bevo Francis Award Watch List of 100 players. The award is annually given to the top small college basketball player in the nation (meaning outside of NCAA Division I). Smith has risen to a new level as a senior and is averaging 20.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He leads the GPAC with a field goal percentage of 68.8. Meanwhile, Schutte is averaging 16.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 57.0 percent from the floor. Schutte has moved his program all-time scoring record total to 2,145 points.
· Among GPAC teams, the Bulldogs rank second in rebound margin (+6.7), third in field goal percentage offense (.521), third in field goal percentage defense (.457), fourth in scoring average (87.1), fifth in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.380), fifth in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.347), sixth in scoring defense (75.0) and eighth in free throw percentage (.721).
Five facts about CUNE Men’s Basketball at CIT
· The Bulldogs have dominated the Concordia Invitational Tournament, capturing an event record 30 all-time CIT titles. Only two other Concordias have won more than 10 CIT championships: St. Louis (16) and Chicago (14). Under head coach Ben Limback, the Bulldogs have won CIT titles in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2024.
· Two CUNE players in tournament history have twice been named the CIT MVP, Chandler Folkerts and Noah Schutte. The Milford, Neb., native Folkerts was named CIT MVP in 2016 and 2017. Folkerts piled up 136 points in his eight career CIT games. At the 2024 CIT held in Mequon, Schutte earned MVP honors for the second-straight year as the Bulldogs defeated CUAA, 80-75, and CUW, 75-69. Schutte totaled 22 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game.
· Six different head coaches have led the Bulldogs to CIT titles (in order): Reuben Stohs (two), Kent Einspahr (two), Brian Mueller (two), Tom Baack (two), Grant Schmidt (16) and Ben Limback (six). Schmidt’s 16 CIT championships are tied with Eldon Pederson (Concordia St. Louis) for the most coaching CIT titles in the history of the tournament.
· The Bulldogs won their first-ever CIT title in 1964 under the direction of head coach Reuben Stohs while being led by MVP Gordon Bredow. CUNE has won 28 of the past 40 CIT tournaments dating back to 1983. The first CIT was held in 1951.
· Ben Limback is the only coach in the history of the event to win CIT titles with two different Concordias. Limback also guided Concordia Ann Arbor to CIT championships in 2006 and 2007 while up against his college coach, Grant Schmidt.
CIT men’s field
Concordia University, Nebraska Bulldogs
Head Coach: Ben Limback, 12th season (219-138 at CUNE)
Record: 15-4 (10-3 GPAC)
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Scoring Offense: 87.1 ppg / .521 FG%
Scoring Defense: 75.0 ppg / .457 FG%
CIT Titles: 30 (most recent: 2024)
Probable Lineup
G – Brad Bennett, 6-1 (10.9)
G – Hayden Frank, 6-2 (6.9)
G – Jaxon Stueve, 6-4 (8.3)
F – Noah Schutte, 6-4 (16.7)
F – Tristan Smith, 6-5 (20.5)
Concordia University Ann Arbor Cardinals
Head Coach: Ricky Yahn, 12th season
Record: 5-12 (2-9 WHAC)
Conference: Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Scoring Offense: 66.9 ppg / .438 FG%
Scoring Defense: 76.6 ppg / .455 FG%
CIT Titles: 4 (most recent: 2018)
Probable Lineup
G – Mason Canfield, 5-11 (5.5)
G – Colby Chapman, 6-3 (8.1)
G – Jason Jergens, 5-11 (9.7)
G/F – Ray Washington-Battle, 6-4 (15.4)
F – Mark DeVries, 6-7 (6.0)
Concordia University Chicago Cougars
Head Coach: Rashaan Surles, 3rd season
Record: 5-10 (3-7 NACC)
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Scoring Offense: 78.8 ppg / .434 FG%
Scoring Defense: 84.0 ppg / .445 FG%
CIT Titles: 14 (most recent: 2011)
Probable Lineup
G – Jacob Collicott, 6-3 (19.6)
G – Joel Watts, 5-9 (11.6)
G – Darrian Williams, 5-11 (9.6)
F – Sean Beckman, 6-8 (7.6)
F – Aaron Brown, 6-5 (5.9)
Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons
Head Coach: Shawn Cassidy, 18th season
Record: 7-8 (5-5 NACC)
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin
Scoring Offense: 77.1 ppg / .487 FG%
Scoring Defense: 75.8 ppg / .437 FG%
CIT Titles: 4 (most recent: 2019)
Probable Lineup
G – Severin Hilt, 6-1 (7.8)
G – Mekhi Sutton, 6-2 (5.0)
G – Casey Verhagen, 6-1 (19.5)
F – Logan Landers, 6-9 (16.9)
F – Matt Merlo, 6-6 (10.1)
Next week
GPAC play will resume as both Bulldog squads make a visit to Midland on Jan. 29 before then hosting Waldorf on Feb. 1. Once CIT is in the books, there will be seven games remaining in the regular season for the CUNE basketball teams.