SEWARD, Neb. – Coming off a thrilling CIT Championship, the seventh-ranked Concordia women’ basketball team will host Grace University before returning to GPAC action. The Bulldogs and Royals will face off inside Walz Arena Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Then on Wednesday, Concordia will travel to Nebraska Wesleyan for a 6 p.m. tipoff. The ‘Dogs will face the second-ranked Morningside Mustangs for the second time this season on Saturday. The contest is slated to begin at 2 p.m. in Sioux City, Iowa.
GAME INFO
No. 7 Concordia (17-6, 10-6 GPAC) vs Nebraska Wesleyan (4-15, 3-13 GPAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 3 | 6 p.m.
Site: Snyder Arena | Lincoln, Neb.
GAME INFO
Grace (7-18) at No. 7 Concordia (17-6, 10-6 GPAC)
Thursday, Feb. 4 | 6 p.m.
Site: Walz Arena | Seward, Neb.
GAME INFO
No. 7 Concordia (17-6, 10-6 GPAC) vs No. 2 Morningside (22-2, 14-2 GPAC)
Saturday, Feb. 6 | 2 p.m.
Site: RVSC – Allee Gym | Sioux City, Iowa
Last time out
After a tough bout with Doane College, Drew Olson’s squad was able to bounce back at the Concordia Invitational Tournament last weekend. The Bulldogs came away the CIT Champions after defeating Concordia-Ann Arbor and Concordia-Wisconsin. Both victories were by a margin of 12 or greater.
In the rankings
As of Monday, Feb. 1, Concordia is ranked seventh in the NAIA Division II. The next national ranking poll will be out Tuesday, Feb. 2, available HERE. As a team, the Bulldogs rank in the top 50 in the nation in more than 15 different statistical categories including second in 3-point field goals made per game (10.09), fifth in total 3-point field goals made (232), and 13th in both 3-point field goal percentage (.357) and in scoring offense per game (77.04). Individually, Quinn Wragge ranks 11th in field goal percentage (.552), Sydney Feller ranks 23rd in assist to turnover ratio (2.1), Brenleigh Daum ranks 34th in total 3-point field goals made (55) and 39th in 3-point field goals made per game (2.40) and Becky Mueller ranks 41st in 3-point field goal percentage (.396)
3-point thrillers
There are currently 10 Bulldogs shooting over 30 percent from behind the arc. The three players attempting over 100 long balls all shoot over .340 with Beckey Mueller registering a mark of .396 from 3-point range. The Bulldogs rank second nationally and first in the GPAC in 3-pointers made per game (10.09) and lead the conference and fifth nationally in total treys (232).
Stacking up in the GPAC
In the GPAC, the Bulldogs lead in 3-point field goals made per game (10.09) and total 3-point field goals made (232), rank second in scoring offense per game (77.04) and total scoring offense (1,772), rank third in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.309), steals per game (10.96) and total steals (252) and are tied for third in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.357).
Brenleigh Daum – 3-point field goals made per game, fourth (2.39); total 3-point field goals, fourth (55)
Sydney Feller – assist to turnover ratio, fifth (2.10)
Mary Janovich – steals per game, ninth (1.94)
Becky Mueller – 3-point field goal percentage, ninth (.396)
Quinn Wragge – field goal percentage, fourth (.5652); steals per game, 10th (1.83); total steals, seventh (42); offensive rebounds per game, eighth (2.13)
Quotable
“You always have that goal at the beginning of the season to win CIT. We take a lot of pride in this tournament. We always want to bring back the trophy. I’m really proud of our kids. I really felt like this was a big win for us to develop and get better. They’re really coming together as a group.”
-Head Coach Drew Olson
“It was crazy. It’s so loud. You’re trying to yell at your teammates and they can barely hear you. It just makes for an awesome, awesome atmosphere. It was a good game and that made it even more exciting.”
-Freshman Quinn Wragge
Scouting the Grace University Royals
The Royals of Grace University own a 7-18 overall record so far this season. The Royals faced Dordt most recently and fell to the GPAC team, 60-42. As a team, Grace shoots .354 from the field and .278 from 3-point range. The squad averages 57 points and 39.1 rebounds per game. Leading scorer is Karen Orozco who averages 14.6 tallies a contest. Two other Royals average double-digit scoring. The Royals are led by head coach Chaia Huff who in her first year at Grace. Huff is assisted by Jenna Bloodworth.
Scouting the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves
The Prairie Wolves of Nebraska Wesleyan University are currently 4-15 overall and own a conference mark of 3-13. Concordia previously beat Nebraska Wesleyan this season, 92-37 in Seward. Most recently the Prairie Wolves dropped a 77-54 decision to Northwestern College. The team averages 56.4 points and 34.6 rebounds per game. From the field, the Prairie Wolves shoot .361 and .301 from behind the arc. Felicia TeKolste leads Wesleyan in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per contest. The Prairie Wolves are led by head coach Britni Fett who is in her third season at Nebraska Wesleyan. Fett is assisted by Teresa Cecchetti, Charles Williams and Tony Sanchez.
Scouting the No. 2 Morningside College Mustangs
The Mustangs of Morningside College hold a 22-2 overall record and a 14-2 record in the GPAC. Morningside will travel to Northwestern on Wednesday before hosting Concordia on Saturday. Earlier this season, Concordia fell to Morningside, 77-66 in Seward. The Mustangs have won three straight after defeating College of Saint Mary 84-71 last weekend. As a team, Morningside averages 83.6 points and 38.6 rebounds per game. The squad shoots .471 from the field and .360 from 3-point land. With 14.3 points, Jessica Tietz leads the Mustangs in scoring. The Mustangs are led by head coach Jamie Sale who is in his 15th season at Morningside. Sale is assisted by Jill Bodammer, Denny Lokken, Bryan Alfredson and Leann Osten.
Up next for the Bulldogs
The Concordia women’s basketball team will host two GPAC games next week. Midland will visit Walz Arena first next Wednesday for a 6 p.m. start time. On Saturday, Feb. 13 Northwestern will be the visitors to Walz Arena. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.