SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off back-to-back new year victories, Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad will clash with Doane on Wednesday (Jan. 10) and 1-ranked Dordt on Saturday afternoon. The Dawgs have won four straight, after running through two conference rivals this past week. Looking to avenge their only home loss this season, Concordia topped Jamestown (69-63) in North Dakota last Wednesday and continued their streak over Dakota Wesleyan (69-61) on Saturday. The Bulldogs are 11-2 overall (7-2 GPAC).
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 10 vs. Doane (10-4, 5-3 GPAC), 6 p.m. CT
-- Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Jan. 13 vs. Dordt (13-1, 8-0 GPAC), 2 p.m. CT
-- Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· With Christmas break passed, Concordia is now nine games through a 22 game conference schedule. Dordt remains the top team in the GPAC with an undefeated (8-0) record having beat Briar Cliff and Northwestern at the No. three and four spots in the league. The Dawgs (7-2) are one game ahead, having played an extra game, the Chargers (6-2) and Red Raiders (6-2). Dakota Wesleyan (5-3) and Doane (5-3) round out the top teams in the GPAC just passed a third of the way through conference play.
· On Dec. 2, Concordia was handed it’s first heart-breaking loss (71-61) by Jamestown in front of the home crowd in Friedrich Arena. Fast forward to a month and one day later, the Dawgs were licking their chops to return the favor in Harold Newman Arena. The ravaging nationally ranked defense forced 28 turnovers but was outrebounded by the Jimmies, 48-26. Up two with just under 2:00 to play, Abby Krieser notched a key bucket with just under 2:00 to go and Kendal Brigham later stole the ball and dished to Taysha Rushton for a 67-60 lead in the closing seconds. Powell led the pack with a career matching 21 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists. The six foot forward’s length was too hot to handle for the home Jimmies, scoring eight points in less than 60 seconds in the third quarter. Powell was joined in double figures by teammates in Krieser (14) and Kristin Vieselmeyer (12). The visitors shot 36.9 percent (24-for-65) from the floor.
· Looking to jump in second after a Briar Cliff fall, the Bulldogs kept their winning streak alive after a slow start versus Dakota Wesleyan. It wasn’t until late the third quarter until anyone heard “Splash-Bulldog Basketball” after Vieselmeyer bottomed a 3-pointer for the first time in 2024. Up three, the home team went on a 11-2 scoring drive, putting the game out of harms way midway through the fourth. With the Tigers playing four guards, Brigham and Powell collected four assists apiece, slinging the rock down low to Abby Heemstra for her season-high 14 points. Heemstra was joined by three teammates with double figures in scoring: Brigham (11), Rushton (10) and Sadie Powell (10).
· The upcoming bouts seem to be destined for high scoring affairs with all three teams in the top four in league scoring. Dordt averages 83 points per game, which is good enough for second in the conference. On its back is Concordia (82.6 ppg) and Doane (82.4 ppg). The Defenders and Tigers are at the top in field goal percentage with 45.1 percent and 45.3, respectively. CUNE still leads the GPAC with 126 made treys for this campaign.
· Leading the Bulldogs in scoring the past four contests, Sadie Powell has averaged 14 points a game. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native matched her 21 point career high at Jamestown from a previous New Years Day performance in a win over Doane almost two years ago to the date. The John F. Kennedy High School product has also averaged 4.5 rebounds per game and tallied 11 assists, eight steals and shot 90 percent (9-of-10) from the charity stripe in the four games.
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Mackenzie Toomey, 5-9 (5.5)
G – Taysha Rushton, 5-5 (15.5)
G – Abby Krieser, 5-8 (10.8)
F – Sadie Powell, 6-0 (11.0)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-1 (6.5)
Doane
The unranked Tigers come into the week riding high, after defeating eighth-ranked Briar Cliff (97-92) on Saturday (Jan. 6). Moving their record to 10-4 and 5-3 in the conference, they have put themselves in a great position, near the top of the standings. Doane has garnered 35.3 percent from beyond the arc and 17.8 free throws made per game, good enough for first in both categories in the GPAC. Mak Hatcliff leads the league with 24.9 points per game, more than 6.5 than second on the leaderboard. Rylie Rice and Macy Holtz both average 11 ppg, behind Hatcliff. Kaylee Klover averages the team best 6.9 rebounds every 40 minutes, on a team that averages 39.7.
Doane Projected Starting Five
G – Macy Holtz, 5-7 (11.3)
G – Libby Trausch, 5-7 (6.5)
G – Mak Hatcliff, 5-7 (24.9)
G – Rylie Rice, 5-9 (11.4)
F – Megan Chambers, 6-0 (5.6)
Dordt
The Defenders come into the week with an unblemished (8-0) conference record (13-1 overall) and have two tough tests starting with Jamestown. Their only 12-point (66-54) loss came from the hands of NCAA Division I South Dakota State in December. Dordt leads the GPAC in rebounds a game (48.3) and is a big part of their style of play. They are second in offensive efficiency rating with a 1.074. Bailey Beckman leads the charge with 13.5 points per game, followed by Karly Gustafson (12.4) and Gracie Schoonhoven (11.2). Janie Schoonhoven clutches nine of the almost 50 team rebounds per game. The Defenders aren’t selfish with the ball, leading the conference in assists (18.2) per contest, led by Macy Sievers (5.9 apg).
Dordt Projected Starting Five
G – Macy Sievers, 5-8 (9.4)
G – Bailey Beckman, 5-3 (13.5)
G – Faith Van Holland, 5-7 (6.1)
F – Janie Schoonhoven, 5-10 (10.6)
F – Karly Gustafson, 6-0 (12.4)
Next week
Concordia will travel to Hastings then come back to Seward hosting Briar Cliff. It will be the first time matchup between the Dawgs and the Broncos in the season, but the second in the home and home versus the Chargers.