SEWARD, Neb. – After a turkey filled Thanksgiving week, the No. 5 Bulldogs are set to return to the hardwood this Wednesday versus Morningside in Sioux City. After, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball will clash with No. 12 Briar Cliff in Seward on Saturday. CUNE defeated Midland (92-41) without much fight and pushed its record to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in GPAC play.
This Week
Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Morningside (4-4, 2-2 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center (Sioux City, Iowa)
Saturday, Dec. 7 vs. No. 12 Briar Cliff (6-1, 3-1 GPAC), 2 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The second NAIA coaches’ poll of the regular season was unveiled on Nov. 27. Concordia remained at No. 5, the same spot it held down in all three rankings. Other top 25 GPAC teams are No. 1 Dordt, No. 12 Briar Cliff, No. 17 Dakota Wesleyan and No. 25 Northwestern. Morningside was listed among others receiving votes. The Bulldogs have played three top 10 teams already this season – No. 1 Defenders, No. 4 Southern Oregon University and No. 9 Dakota State University (S.D.) (using the latest poll). Concordia emerged with a signature road win on Nov. 9 when it toppled Dakota State, 64-54, in Madison, S.D.
· The Bulldog defense picked apart Midland converting 45 points off turnovers compared to the visitors’ five inside Friedrich Arena. The press forced 22 first half turnovers (34 total) running out to a 20-point lead (40-20) by halftime. Abby Krieser (five), Brigham (four) and Sammy Leu (three) led the team in steals as Concordia shot 50.7 percent (35-of-69) from the field compared to Midland’s 23.7 (14-of-59). Libby Hoffman finished with nine points and recovered five off the glass.
· Now a graduate student, Brigham has surpassed 1,000 career points after a 19-tally showing against the Warriors. Brigham becomes the 36th Bulldog to reach 1,000 points for her career. Through 116 career collegiate games, the Wahoo, Neb., native has totaled 1,007 points, 281 rebounds, 265 assists and 129 steals. She sports an impressive career assist-to-turnover ratio of 265-to-123. Brigham has been named an Honorable Mention All-GPAC selection in back-to-back years and has been part of national tournament qualifying times in each of her previous four seasons as a Bulldog. Brigham will shoulder much of the load at point guard. She has played at least 34 minutes in four of this season’s first seven games. Brigham did get significant rest in the decisive wins of CSM and Midland.
· Krieser is as important to the team’s success as anybody, and her play earned the latest GPAC Defensive Player of the Week for her prowess from Nov. 18-24. She claimed the award for the second time in her career. Her defensive performances have routinely drawn rave reviews from Olson. In the last three outings, Krieser swiped three steals against CSM and Dordt while taking a season high (five) versus Midland. The Lincoln North Star product tied her single game career high steals (five) against the Warriors after taking the same number from Concordia University Chicago in her sophomore campaign (2022-23). In 90 career games, she has amassed 735 points, 270 rebounds, 136 steals and 116 assists.
· Concordia has four players in the league in the top-15 for three point percentage: Libby Hoffman (53.3), Kristin Vieselmeyer (50.0), Brigham (44.8) and Megan Belt (41.7). Belt (15) and Brigham (13) lead the team in made threes. As a team, the side has shot 34.8 percent (fourth in GPAC) but held its opponents to 29.3 percent. The Bulldogs are 3rd in made treys (63) following Mount Marty (68) and Midland (64).
· The Defense has caused 21 turnovers per game on 11.6 steals, both good enough for 3rd in the conference. The Bulldogs have a defensive efficiency rating of .818 and a NET efficiency rating of .204. Concordia has allowed 62.7 points per game on 37.5 percent from the field.
· Morningside and Concordia have already battled once this season in the conference opener. The Bulldogs came out on top (74-62) and used 12 threes, rebounds (38-32) and 94.7 percent (18-for-19) free throw shooting to outlast the Mustangs. In a game with the lead changed 10 times, Concordia caused 20 turnovers to the visitors’ 18. Brigham (13), Sammy Leu (12), Raelyn Kelty (11) and Megan Belt (11) all hit double figures.
· The Chargers last met in Seward at the GPAC tournament semifinals last season. The Bulldogs would finish off Briar Cliff (87-74) after the visitors made a late charge falling in the fourth. Multiple players were instrumental in moving on to the GPAC Final, including Taysha Rushton (20 pts), Brigham (17), Sadie Powell (12) and Abby Heemstra (12). CUNE would hit 13 from beyond the arc, besting the Charger (10) by three. The Bulldogs made the most of their visits to the charity stripe, dropping 18, 10 more than Briar Cliff.
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Kendal Brigham, 5-5 (12.3)
G – Abby Krieser, 5-9 (8.1)
F – Juliana Jones, 5-11 (7.0)
F – Raelyn Kelty, 5-11 (9.4)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-2 (8.9)
The opponents
Morningside comes into the game with a .500 record (4-4, 2-2 GPAC) having defeated its’ last two conference opponents Doane (74-49) and Waldorf (78-71). The Mustangs fell to No. 9 Dakota State University (78-68), falling for the first time in Sioux City. Lily Vollertsen (15.6) and Alexis Spier (14.5) are out in front on the offensive end, while the team averages 73.1 points per game barely edging its opponents (72.3). They shoot 38.8 percent from the field while allowing 41.6 percent. Spier (51) and Vollertsen (47) are the leaders in total rebounds with Chaise Pfanstiel dishing out 27 total assists. Averaging 15.4 assists per game, Morningside shoots 23.2 percent from three-point range, while the opponents’ have dropped 36.7.
Morningside Projected Starting Five
G – Chaise Pfanstiel , 5-7 (4.5)
G – Jaeden Webb, 5-9 (4.0)
G – Alexis Spier, 5-7 (14.5)
F – Ella Wragge, 5-10 (7.6)
C – Lily Vollertsen, 6-2 (15.6)
Brian Ortmeier is in his third season as head coach of the Chargers. Briar Cliff started the season on a six game winning streak before it dropped its last game to Dakota Wesleyan (79-65) at the Corn Palace. The Chargers (6-1, 3-1 GPAC) will take on Bellevue Monday (Nov. 2). Mallie McNair paces the squad with 18.4 points a contest and forward Adrianna Webster is right behind her with 15.6. Kenna Mongan bottoms double digits (10.7) off the bench and all five starters average above seven. Webster and point guard Kennedy Benne have played 200+ minutes in their seven games played. Webster (6.6) and Langel (5.6) own the rebound block with Benne swiping 3.4 steals every 40 minutes.
Briar Cliff Projected Starting Five
G – Kennedy Benne, 5-8 (7.7)
G – Mallie McNair, 5-8 (18.4)
G – Grace Flanagan, 5-8 (9.1)
F – Adrianna Webster, 6-0 (15.6)
F – Rachel Langel, 6-0 (7.4)
Next week
Before Christmas break, the Bulldogs will host Hastings (Dec. 11) and make their longest trip of the conference schedule versus Waldorf. Following, Concordia will fly over to Riverside, Calif., and face La Sierra University (Dec. 20) in its final game of 2024.