SEWARD, Neb. – After wrapping up an outright GPAC regular-season title over the weekend, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team now takes aim at another GPAC postseason title. As the top seed in the conference, the Bulldogs will host eighth-seeded Midland on Wednesday. The two sides will be going head-to-head for the second-straight Wednesday after also playing in Fremont last week.
GPAC Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Feb. 26 vs. Midland (12-18, 8-14 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.
Fourteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s program has continued an impressive four-year run of dominance within the GPAC. The four-year seniors have been key parts of four-straight GPAC regular-season titles and three-consecutive conference tournament championships. Dating back to the start of the 2016-17 season, Concordia has gone a combined 78-6 in conference regular-season games (9-0 in the GPAC tournament). Over that four-year period, the Bulldogs have been nearly invincible at home going a combined 60-1 (only defeat came in the regular season versus Morningside). Concordia is 13-0 at home this season.
During the GPAC era (first season in 2000-01), Concordia has won seven league regular-season titles and six conference postseason championships. Eleven of those 13 total GPAC titles have come during Olson’s tenure. The Bulldogs have not dropped a GPAC tournament home game since falling at the hands of Northwestern on Feb. 23, 2013. Since then, the Bulldogs have protected their home court with 12-straight GPAC tournament home victories. The conference championship games have often been classics – such as the 78-77 overtime win over Dakota Wesleyan in 2017 and the 90-88 squeaker over Dakota Wesleyan in 2018. Concordia knocked off DWU last year in the title game with less drama, 75-63.
Last week, both Grace Barry (1,000 career points) and Philly Lammers (1,000 career rebounds) reached career milestones. Lammers is also closing in on 2,000 career points (needs 29 more entering the week). On the program’s all-time lists, Lammers ranks second in scoring (1,971), second in blocked shots (178), third in rebounds (1,006) and fifth in steals (348). While Colby Duvel may not become a 1,000-point club member, the senior has also had a large impact. She totaled 30 points over last week’s road wins over Midland and Jamestown. Her career numbers stand at 759 points, 614 rebounds and 159 steals.
Midland has beaten Concordia just one time in 28 tries during Olson’s coaching tenure. However, the Warriors were able to make last week’s matchup a four-quarter battle (final score of 75-68). Head coach Shawn Gilbert’s squad is 4-2 over its last six games with the only losses being at Northwestern and at home against Concordia. Midland got the win it had to have (in order to qualify for the GPAC tournament) this past weekend by blowing out Mount Marty, 95-70. Senior guard Amanda Hansen has racked up 1,354 points in her Warrior career.
Wednesday evening’s winner will advance to play either fourth-seeded Dordt or fifth-seeded Dakota Wesleyan in the semifinals on Saturday (full GPAC tournament schedule below). In other words, the setup of the bracket guarantees there will not be a fourth-straight Concordia-DWU championship game.
Projected Lineups
Concordia (28-2, 21-1 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Sr., 5-7 (13.7)
G – Riley Sibbel, Sr., 5-9 (6.4)
G – Mackenzie Koepke, So., 6-1 (7.9)
F – Colby Duvel, Sr., 5-9 (8.0)
F – Philly Lammers, Sr., 5-11 (13.7)
Midland (12-18, 8-14 GPAC)
G – Lexi Kraft, Fr., 5-4 (5.6)
G – Amanda Hansen, Sr., 5-7 (13.7)
G – Maddie Meadows, Sr., 5-11 (5.6)
F – Makenna Sullivan, Jr., 5-11 (6.2)
F – Katy Gathje, Jr., 6-0 (7.2)
2020 GPAC Women’s Basketball Tournament
GPAC Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 26
(8) Midland at (1) Concordia, 6 p.m.
(5) Dakota Wesleyan at (4) Dordt, 6 p.m.
(6) Northwestern at (3) Morningside, 6 p.m.
(7) Jamestown at (2) Hastings, 7 p.m.
GPAC Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 29
1/8 winner vs. 4/5 winner, Time TBA
2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, Time TBA
GPAC Championship – Tuesday, March 3
Time TBA