SEWARD, Neb. – The No. 5 Bulldogs met with the Mustangs inside Friedrich Arena breaking into conference play on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 16). Concordia University, Women’s Basketball hit double digit threes (12) as the lead changed 10 times in the GPAC victory (74-62). Kendal Brigham affected every part of the game including the team high 13 points.
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.