SEWARD, Neb. – After winning GPAC regular-season and tournament titles, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team pulled in three of the four major honors awarded by the GPAC. As announced on Wednesday (March 1), GPAC defensive player of the year recognition went to junior Mary Janovich, GPAC freshman of the year accolades went to Philly Lammers and the GPAC coach of the year went to Drew Olson, who is in his 11th season leading the Bulldogs.
Concordia placed a trio of standouts on the conference’s first team: Janovich, Lammers and sophomore Quinn Wragge. Three Bulldogs also garnered All-GPAC honorable mention: junior Dani Andersen and seniors Shelby Quinn and Erin Vieselmeyer.
A product of Millard West High School, Lammers was arguably the most dominant player in the conference during her rookie season. She averages .68 points per minute, more than any other player in the GPAC. She has paced the team in scoring (13.3), rebounding (6.7), blocks (1.22) and field goal percentage (.570). An essential part of the team’s suffocating press, Lammers also averages more than two steals per game. She put up a career high 23 points in a win over Hastings on Jan. 25.
Named conference freshman of the year in 2014-15, Janovich is the fourth player in program history to collect GPAC defensive player of the year honors. Concordia has won four of the last six conference defensive awards. The native of Gretna, Neb., moves up to the first team after netting second team mention in each of her first team seasons. A pest at the top of the Bulldog press, Janovich sports season averages of 10.8 points, 3.0 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals and is shooting 51.6 percent from the floor and 43.7 percent from 3-point range. She has totaled 867 career points over 83 games as a Bulldog.
Wragge has now made back-to-back appearances on the conference’s first team. She’s already racked up 850 points over her first 65 career collegiate games. This season as a sophomore, the native of Crofton, Neb., is averaging 11.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists while shooting 56.5 percent from the field. Wragge earned her second-straight CIT MVP award in 2017 and her 22 points in the CIT championship game are a season high.
Andersen has been Concordia’s most prolific 3-point shooter this season, stroking 71 3-point field goals out of 201 attempts (35.3 percentage). The Lincoln Christian High School alum is in her first season competing as a Bulldog after transferring from Midland. She is averaging 9.0 points this season and has totaled 733 career points when factoring in her two seasons with the Warriors.
Quinn and Vieselmeyer are both in their final years as Bulldogs. Serving as the team’s point guard this season, Quinn has now played 123-consecutive games. The Bellevue, Neb., native ranks 20th nationally in assists per game (4.3). She is also averaging 6.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals. Meanwhile, Vieselmeyer is one of the nation’s top players off the bench. She is averaging 6.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks while shooting 53.4 percent from the field.
Concordia will make its 16th all-time appearance at the national tournament when the action begins next week. The tournament bracket is set to be announced today (March 1).
Concordia GPAC major award winners
Player of the Year
2014-15 – Bailey Morris
2013-14 – Bailey Morris
Defensive Player of the Year
2016-17 – Mary Janovich
2013-14 – Tracy Peitz
2012-13 – Katie Rich
2011-12 – Katie Rich
2004-05 – Kari Saving
Freshman of the Year
2016-17 – Philly Lammers
2014-15 – Mary Janovich
Coach of the Year
2016-17 – Drew Olson
2011-12 – Drew Olson
2002-03 – Todd Voss