SEWARD, Neb. – Based on the way the conference is tearing it up in non-league play, the GPAC appears as strong as usual in women’s basketball. That means a challenging week lies ahead for the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team, which will tip off conference play at Midland on Tuesday. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad will also journey to Briar Cliff on Saturday.
This Week
Tuesday, Nov. 6 at Midland, 6 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Nov. 10 at Briar Cliff, 2 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
Through four games, the Bulldogs (4-0) have backed up their No. 1 national ranking. Unfamiliar conference opponents have struggled mightily against the Concordia press. Even without departed defensive standouts Dani Hoppes and Mary Janovich, the Bulldogs have already forced 167 turnovers (41.8 per game). Concordia is represented on the GPAC leaderboard with five of the top eight in the steals category. No. 1 on that list is junior guard Grace Barry, a transfer from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She was named to the All-Cattle Classic team along with Philly Lammers over the weekend.
The numbers in terms of per game averages are not gaudy for Lammers, mostly because she has not been needed to play heavy minutes. The Bulldogs have won each of their first four games by margins of at least 13 points, including triumphs over No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan University and No. 14 University of Saint Francis (Ind.). In the latest victory, Lammers went for 18 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the floor. The scoring leader has been sophomore guard Taylor Cockerill (19.3 ppg), who had 40 points in the season opener.
Plenty of newcomers are making an impact for Olson’s squad, which has gone at least 12 players deep in every game. In terms of scoring, the top player off the bench has been junior Taryn Schuette, who put up a career high 17 points versus Peru State College last week. Freshman Mackenzie Koepke, a Lincoln Lutheran graduate, also looks the part. She has averaged 7.3 points per game on 47.8 percent shooting from the floor. The only thing missing right now for Olson’s squad is shooting touch from the perimeter. The Bulldogs are 25-for-100 (.250) from 3-point range.
Picked eighth in the GPAC preseason poll, Midland (3-0) could surprise some people if the early season results are any indication. Head coach Shawn Gilbert’s squad opened up its season on Halloween with a 79-62 win over Central Methodist University (Mo.), which is ranked 11th at the NAIA Division I level. The Warriors followed with wins over Bellevue University, 86-74, and Nebraska Christian College, 71-39. A balanced Midland team has been paced so far by former Bulldog Maddie Egr (11.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg). Concordia suffered its only regular-season loss in 2017-18 in Fremont.
Briar Cliff (3-0) is fresh off a big weekend in Chicago where it upset fourth-ranked Saint Xavier University (Ill.) and No. 18 Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.). Though picked ninth in the GPAC, head coach Mike Power’s squad appears to have the makings of a potential national tournament qualifier. The team’s primary scorers have been Alyssa Carley (17.0), Logan Ehlers (16.0) and Taylor Wagner (15.7). The Chargers are looking to make a jump this season after dipping below .500 in each of the past two seasons.
Projected starters
Concordia (4-0)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11
Midland (3-0)
G – Amanda Hansen, Jr., 5-7
G – Maddie Meadows, Jr., 5-11
G – Madison Severson, Sr., 5-3
F – Maddie Egr, Sr., 6-0
F – Makenna Sullivan, So., 5-11
Briar Cliff (3-0)
G – Alyssa Carley, Jr., 5-11
G – Taylor Wagner, Sr., 5-9
F – Faith Troshynski, Jr., 5-10
F – Taylor Vasa, Sr., 6-0
C – Logan Ehlers, So., 6-2