SEWARD, Neb. – After rallying for two consecutive wins in the last games of 2024, the No. 14 Bulldogs will jump back into conference play versus No. 17 Dakota Wesleyan with a trip to the Corn Palace on Thursday (Jan. 2). Following, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball will rematch with No. 1 Dordt in Seward. Head Coach Drew Olson and company have amassed a 7-5 overall showing after defeating La Sierra University (Calif.) before Christmas (87-47).
This Week
Thursday, Jan. 2 at No. 17 Dakota Wesleyan (10-3, 5-2 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Corn Palace (Mitchell, S.D.)
Saturday, Jan. 4 vs. No. 1 Dordt (13-0, 7-0 GPAC), 2 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· In Riverside, Calif., the Bulldogs ran out to a 13-0 lead and finished the opening frame with a 28-4 advantage. Concordia would pour on in the full 40 minutes gathering a 40-point margin by the time clock hit zero. Six visiting 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. Concordia’s aggressive defensive approach yielded 22 Golden Eagles turnovers and only 26.2 percent shooting (11-for-42), while CUNE shot 47 percent (31-for-66).
· With the majority of the teams at least seven games in, the GPAC Standings have Dordt (7-0) sitting at the top. Northwestern (6-1) is right behind the Defenders, followed by four teams with two losses: Dakota Wesleyan (5-2), Doane (5-2), Morningside (5-2) and Briar Cliff (4-2). Hastings (4-3) and Concordia (4-4) round out the top eight in the conference. In the bottom of the table, Waldorf (1-6), Midland (1-6), Mount Marty (0-7) and College of Saint Mary (0-7).
· In the past three games, the Bulldogs have found their stroke from beyond the arc (36.3), while only allowing 26.5 percent. They have averaged 84.7 points a game and have given up 57.7. The defense has forced a stifling 20 turnovers per 40 minutes and 12.3 steals returning to form of the typical Olson’s side. Kelty (13.7), Brigham (13.0) and Sammy Leu (10.0) have turned their offensive play up a notch in the last three contests. The Wahoo, Neb., point guard has totaled a team high 18 assists and seven steals in that time.
· Concordia sits 16th in the Massey ratings behind three GPAC teams in Dordt (1st), Briar Cliff (7th) and Dakota Wesleyan (12th). Northwestern (18th) is the last conference opponent inside the top 20. The Tigers have the toughest strength of schedule in the country so far and many are at the top. The Bulldogs (4th), Defenders (7th), Morningside (8th) and Hastings (12th) have all had top-15 tough slates.
· The team leaders through 12 games are Brigham in points (133) and assists (43). Abby Krieser has been the lead ball hawk with 26 swipes and Kelty leads in rebounds off the glass (66). Kristin Vieselmeyer has 11 blocks to pace the squad in swats. Sammy Leu has the highest field goal percentage (50.7), while Brigham has the top made (48). Megan Belt (21), Brigham (18), Libby Hoffman (14) and Leu (14) pace the squad in total made treys.
· The starting lineup for the first 11 games had been the same for Concordia with guard Kendal Brigham, guard Abby Krieser, forward Juliana Jones, forward Raelyn Kelty and forward Kristin Vieselmeyer. Guard Megan Belt acquired the first start of her career in the game versus La Sierra. Belt, a long range sharp shooter, has averaged 6.1 points per game and shot 35.6 percent from beyond the arc.
· The Bulldogs will face Dakota Wesleyan for the first time this Thursday. The two teams split the home games in 2023 with Concordia winning 69-61 in Friedrich Arena and the Tigers taking an 83-75 win in Mitchell. Dordt has gotten the best of the Dawgs since the 2021-22 season having gone 8-0 in the last four seasons. CUNE will look to pull off the upset having not seen a win versus the Defenders since Feb. 3, 2021.
· Having played four opponents in the top-15, the Bulldogs have totaled a 1-3 record against the highly rated competitors. Concordia emerged with a signature road win on Nov. 9 when it toppled then sixth-ranked Dakota State, 64-54, in Madison, S.D. It lost an overtime heartbreaker to No. 1 Dordt in Sioux Center. The NAIA Women's Basketball RPI put out a release (Dec. 16) that slotted CUNE at No. 69 in the ratings and with a top-50 strength of schedule rating (49th). The following GPAC teams are rated in the top 50 RPI: Dordt (2), Briar Cliff (26), Dakota Wesleyan (33), Hastings (39), Morningside (40) and Northwestern (49). The Defenders (22) and Mustangs (24) have the highest strengths of schedule in the GPAC.
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Kendal Brigham, 5-5 (11.1)
G – Abby Krieser, 5-9 (7.4)
G – Megan Belt, 5-6 (6.1)
F – Raelyn Kelty, 5-11 (10.2)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-2 (9.0)
The opponents
The Tigers will face North Dakota State University before hosting the Bulldogs. Dakota Wesleyan has a four game win streak and has not seen a loss since early December. With a 10-3 overall record, DWU will look to keep their home advantage alive having gone 4-1 in the Corn Palace. Averaging 71.2 points per game, the Tigers allow a league low 58.3 per game. Scoring four made treys a contest, the Tigers like to get inside and get second chances off 39.7 rebounds per game. Emma Yost (15.2), Rylee Rosenquist (13.6) and Avery Broughton (11.0) score a team high double digits. With four players collecting over five rebounds in a game, Yost (5.7), Rosenquist (5.5) and Broughton (5.5) lead in rebounds also. Mya Wilson dishes three assists per game.
Dakota Wesleyan Projected Starting Five
G – Rylee Rosenquist, 5-7 (13.6)
G – Avery Broughton, 6-1 (11.0)
G – Mya Wilson, 5-4 (4.5)
G – Shalayne Nagel, 6-1 (8.3)
F – Emma Yost, 6-0 (15.2)
After a knockdown drag out in the first contest that led to an overtime win, the Defenders are still unbeaten 13-0 coming off two wins at the Hope International Classic in mid-December. Dordt will face Doane to start the new year and then travel to Seward. The Defenders average 85 points with a +22.2 margin to their opponents (62.8). The major plus differentials versus opponents are: rebounds (47.2-32.7), shooting percentage (47.8-36.1), 3-point percentage (36.9-22.0) and assists (17.23-9.2). Janie Van Donge paces the defending national champions with 20.2 points per game, followed by Macy Sievers (15.8) and Olivia Harazin (12.5). Van Donge (11.6) and Sievers (8.2) are at the top in rebounds. Sievers also leads in assists (6.5) and steals (2.8).
Dordt Projected Starting Five
G – Macy Sievers, 5-8 (15.8)
G – Olivia Harazin, 5-7 (12.5)
G – Willow Bleeker, 5-9 (8.1)
F – Ellie Lems, 6-0 (7.5)
F – Janie Van Donge, 5-10 (20.2)
Up next
Concordia will take Doane and Briar Cliff on the road in next week's upcoming games. The Bulldogs will be on the road for both traveling to Crete and Sioux City, Iowa.