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.