SEWARD, Neb. – After a rough week for Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball, two opportunities will arise in the coming days, which starts with a home game versus Hastings on Wednesday (Dec. 11). After, the No. 5 Bulldogs will make their third conference drive of the season and will face off against GPAC newcomer Waldorf this upcoming weekend. CUNE was knocked down twice in their previous two contests with losses against Morningside (70-56) and No. 12 Briar Cliff (54-42).
This Week
Wednesday, Dec. 11 vs. Hastings (6-2, 3-2 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Dec. 14 at Waldorf (2-7, 1-5 GPAC), 2 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Hanson Fieldhouse (Forest City, Iowa)
By the numbers
· Head Coach Drew Olson and company hasn’t seen back to back regular season conference defeats since the final two games of the 2022-23 season. With the two outings added, the squad has totaled a 5-4 record (3-3 GPAC). In the games versus the Mustangs and Chargers, Concordia averaged a .337 (33-for-98) shooting percentage and a .273 (9-for-33) from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs have averaged an 85.2 free throw percentage (23-for-27), while their opponents have a .700 (14-for-20). Usually dominant in the turnover margin, they have edged their opponent with one less turnover in the two games. After Morningside shot a lifeless 18.2 percent from three in the first matchup, the Mustangs shot 56.3 in the second contest. That and an 11-0 second quarter run defined the 40 minutes in Sioux City. In a game where points were hard to come by, Briar Cliff made its own 11-0 scoring drive in the fourth frame to steal a win on the road. The double-digit losses provide a gut check and an opportunity to bounce back in the final three games of 2024.
· 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. In the last five outings, Krieser swiped three steals against CSM, Dordt and Morningside 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 92 career games, she has amassed 753 points, 276 rebounds, 140 steals and 117 assists.
· The Defense has caused 20.1 turnovers per game on 11.6 steals, both good enough for 3rd in the conference. The Bulldogs have a defensive efficiency rating of .838 and a NET efficiency rating of .128. Concordia has allowed 62.6 points per game on 38.6 percent from the field. Averaging 38.7 rebounds per game, CUNE is led by Raelyn Kelty (5.2 RPG), Abby Heemstra (4.0), Krieser (3.3) and Kristin Vieselmeyer (3.0).
· The Bulldogs have gone an unbeaten 4-0 against Hastings the past two seasons and last lost to the Broncos in the 2021-22 season on Jan. 26. The visitors bested Concordia, 68-60 inside Friedrich Arena. Since, Coach Olson’s squad has defeated their upcoming opponents by an average of 18.5 points per game. In the most recent bout, CUNE boasted an 82-55 win led by Mackenzie Toomey’s second career double-double. Toomey, a Lincoln Southeast High School alum, went on a tear punching through 21 points (career-high), 13 rebounds, 3 assists plus a steal and block. Inviting Waldorf into the GPAC, the Bulldogs haven’t played the Warriors since the 2008-09 season in the Cattle Classic defeating the visitors 80-53.
· The Dawgs lead the league in free throw percentage (74.8) while making 113 total through nine games. The crèam of the crop for percentage (at least 10) from the charity stripe are Kristin Vieselmeyer (.909), Abby Heemstra (.909), Raelyn Kelty (.879) Megan Belt (.800), Juliana Jones (.769) and Kendal Brigham (.680).
· 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 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 that slotted CUNE at No. 55 in the ratings and with a tough strength of schedule rating (40th). The following GPAC teams are rated in the top 50 RPI: Dordt (7), Briar Cliff (20), Dakota Wesleyan (26), Morningside (35) and Doane (49). The Mustangs (20) and the Tigers (26) of South Dakota have the highest strengths of schedule in the GPAC.
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Kendal Brigham, 5-5 (10.4)
G – Abby Krieser, 5-9 (8.3)
F – Juliana Jones, 5-11 (6.6)
F – Raelyn Kelty, 5-11 (9.0)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-2 (8.8)
The opponents
The Broncos have amassed a 6-2 overall record (3-2 GPAC) having lost their most recent game to Dakota Wesleyan (65-53). Before the contest, Hastings had won three straight against Mount Marty (75-60), Bethany College (87-59) of Kansas and College of Saint Mary (116-52). It has split its home and away record to 3-1 apiece averaging 80.1 points to the opponents’ 64.5. Freshman Ann Bose comes off the bench to lead the team with 12.3 points a game followed by Macy Bryant (11.1) and McKenna Yates (10.9). Rachel Goodon projects as the top rebounder (6.6 pg), while three others average above four: Bose (4.9), Mariyah Avila (4.5) and Yates (4.1). Bryant averages at the top of the league in field goal percentage (60.8) and 3-point (50.0). The Broncos average 32.1 percent from three and 72.3 from the charity stripe, both fourth in the GPAC. With 2.8 blocks per hardwood visit, HC is second in the conference and is led by Goodon (1.3), Bose (0.4) and Jentri Marx (0.4).
Hastings Projected Starting Five
G – McKenna Yates, 5-8 (10.9)
G – Mariyah Avila, 5-5 (8.5)
G – Tathis Arredondo, 5-4 (7.0)
F – Macy Bryant, 5-11 (11.1)
C – Rachel Goodon, 6-3 (8.5)
The Warriors have a 2-7 overall slate showing and a 1-5 record in conference play. Waldorf has defeated McPherson College (71-61) of Kansas and Mount Marty (69-67) in its lone two wins. Since then, the Warriors have lost three straight to Morningside (78-71), Northwestern (88-54) and Doane (71-30). Averaging 59.4 per 40 minutes, they allow 58.3 to their opponents and make six treys per game. With a 3-point percentage of 30.5 (sixth in GPAC), Waldorf will look to swipe double digit steals as they snag 10.6 per 40 minutes (fourth in GPAC). Sophomore Brooke Dial cashes in over a third of the Warriors' points (20.4 PG) on a 41.8 shooting clip. Myia Ruzek is behind her with 9.8 per game and leads the team in rebounds (7.0). Forwards Dial (5.9) and Camryn McQuery (5.0) clamp down on the glass for the team which averages 36.9 total.
Waldorf Projected Starting Five
G – Alyah Abrahamson, 5-5 (6.4)
G – Myia Ruzek, 5-10 (9.8)
F – Camryn McQuery, 6-1 (4.1)
F – Edosa Ogbemudia, 6-0 (6.8)
F – Brooke Dial, 5-10 (20.4)
Up Next
Concordia has one more contest scheduled before closing the book on 2024. The Bulldogs will make the flight to the west coast and take to the hardwood versus La Sierra University (Riverside, Calif.) on Friday (Dec. 20).