Bulldogs defeat Midland University to remain perfect on the year
Concordia used a big first half to help pick up a 67-54 women’s basketball win over Midland University on Tuesday evening in Fremont. The Bulldogs, ranked 9th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, improved to a perfect 8-0 on the year with the victory. The Bulldogs also remained perfect in GPAC play at 3-0. Midland slipped to 3-5 overall. The Warriors remained winless in GPAC play at 0-3.
In the first half, the Bulldogs used the long ball to build a big lead. Midway through the half, Concordia used an 11-0 run to take a 22-7 lead. The Warriors cut the lead to eight at one point, but the Bulldogs rebuilt the lead to as big as 21 (39-18) late in the half. Concordia was 13-of-28 overall from the field in the opening 20 minutes for 46.4 percent, but 10-of-19 (52.6 percent) shooting from long range helped the Bulldogs take a 39-20 lead into the halftime break. The Bulldog defense limited Midland to just 4-of-19 shooting in the half for 21.1 percent.
The Bulldogs cooled off significantly from the field in the second half but still managed to maintain a double-digit lead throughout much of the half. Midland pulled within nine (63-54) with less than a minute remaining in the contest, but the Bulldogs secured the 67-54 win. The Bulldogs were just 7-of-25 from the field in the second half for 28 percent. The solid shooting from deep in the opening half did not continue, as Concordia was 0-of-7 from beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes. Midland was 11-of-29 from the field in the final half for 37.9 percent.
For the game, Concordia was 20-of-53 from the field for 46.4 percent. The Bulldogs were 10-of-26 from deep for 38.5 percent and 17-of-23 at the foul line for an even 70 percent. The Bulldogs finished with just 10 assists with 16 turnovers on the evening, and Midland held a 43-32 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs were solid once again on the defensive end, forcing 25 Midland turnovers in the contest.
Individually for CU, Katie Rich (Tilden, Neb.) scored a team-best 13 points off the bench. Rich was 3-of-6 from the field and 6-of-8 at the foul line. Kristen Conahan (Omaha, Neb.) was the only other Bulldog to reach double figures with 12 points. Conahan was 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. Amber Kistler (Minatare, Neb.) added nine points, while Bailey Morris (Roseland, Neb.) and Jericca Pearson (Gibbon, Neb.) chipped in with eight points apiece off the bench. Lori Laboda (Parker, Colo.) grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds in the Bulldog victory.
Midland was just 15-of-48 from the field for 31.3 percent. The Warriors went 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) from deep and 21-of-32 (65.6 percent) at the charity stripe. Tricia Hoffman scored a game-high 15 points for the Warriors. Darien Moon also reached double figures with 11. Jami Thramer added seven points and a team-best nine boards, while both Hoffman and Moon added seven rebounds apiece.
Concordia now returns home to host #13 Morningside College on Saturday. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Walz Human Performance Complex.