SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball enters a new week facing off against Doane for the first time this season and Briar Cliff in game two of its home and home series. The Dawgs will be on the road in both contests and will look to bounce back after losses to Dakota Wesleyan (77-65) and Dordt (88-85, OT). CUNE is .500 (7-7) overall and 4-6 in the GPAC.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 8 at Doane (11-4, 6-3 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Haddix Center (Crete, Neb.)
Saturday, Jan. 11 at No. 9 Briar Cliff (13-2, 7-2 GPAC), 2 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Newman Flanagan Center (Sioux City, Iowa)
By the numbers
· Up two at halftime, the third quarter defined the loss scoring 12 points to the Tigers’ 22. The Bulldogs were able to cut down the advantage but not enough in the final moments. Megan Belt, garnering her second start, made a career high 15 points along with Abby Krieser (12) and Sammy Leu (10) trailing in double figures. Kendal Brigham impacted the game with eight points, five assists and three steals. Dakota Wesleyan’s Avery Broughton did it all for the home team with 22 points (8-for-10 FG), six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. The Tigers shot 53.8 (28-for-52) percent to Concordia’s 40.7 (22-for-54).
· With the first game going to overtime, the second was similar, needing extra time to decide this one after a 78-78 tie following 40 minutes. With barely over a minute remaining in OT, Brigham bottomed a trey to put the Dawgs up 85-84. Macy Sievers responded with a coast to coast drive that ended in two made free throws. Concordia had their chances late but were unable to cash in. Kristin Vieselmeyer had a team high 18 points (7-for-8 FT) totaling her two game highs against the defending national champions. Brigham (17), Raelyn Kelty (13) and Krieser (11) put out double digit performances with Vieselmeyer (two blocks, two steals) and Krieser dishing out four assists apiece. The Bulldogs hit 11 3-pointers with Brigham having a team high four.
· With the past two games, Kendal Brigham jumps to No. 8 in the career all-time 3-point fields goals made in Concordia history. Brigham, out of Wahoo, Neb., surpassed Dani Hoppes (2016-18) with her four treys against Dordt. The Wahoo High product has 173 total and sits behind the leading points scorer Bailey Morris (2011-15) with 201 made from long range. The lighting quick guard has shot 36.8 percent from three in her career thus far.
· Concordia sits 17th in the Massey ratings behind three GPAC teams in Dordt (1st), Briar Cliff (5th) and Dakota Wesleyan (8th). Northwestern (20th) is the last conference opponent inside the top 20. The Bulldogs have the toughest strength of schedule in the country so far and many of the conference are at the top. Top-20 matchups for CUNE have been No. 1 Dordt (twice), No. 4 Southern Oregon University, No. 5 Briar Cliff, No. 7 Dakota State University and No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan. The Tigers (2nd), Defenders (3rd), Hastings (7th) and Morningside (10th) have all had top-10 tough slates.
· The team leaders through 14 games are Brigham in points (158) and assists (49). Abby Krieser has been the lead ball hawk with 27 swipes and Kelty leads in rebounds off the glass (80). Kristin Vieselmeyer has 13 blocks to pace the squad in swats. Sammy Leu and Abby Heemstra has the highest field goal percentage (50.0), while Brigham has the most made field goals (56). Megan Belt (24), Brigham (22), Leu (17) and Libby Hoffman (14) pace the squad in total made treys.
· The starting lineup for the first 11 games had been the same for Concordia with guard Kendal Brigham, guard Abby Krieser, forward Juliana Jones, forward Raelyn Kelty and forward Kristin Vieselmeyer. Guard Megan Belt acquired the first start of her career in the game versus La Sierra. Belt, a long range sharp shooter, has averaged 6.4 points per game and shot 34.8 percent from beyond the arc.
· The Bulldogs have defeated Doane in each of the last 16 meetings. While true, the Tigers seem to have their best start in conference play in years with six wins in nine games. Concordia narrowly escaped in Crete last season with, edging the home team in a comeback win (74-72). Krieser (18 points) and Brigham (10) helped ignite the Dawgs in the second half come-from-behind victory. Briar Cliff has owned the series against CUNE in the past five meetings in Sioux City (5-0). The Bulldogs will look to steal a road win for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign, when the Seward side defeated the Chargers, 76-64.
· Having played four opponents (Dordt twice) in the top-15, the Bulldogs have totaled a 1-4 record against such highly rated competitors. Concordia emerged with a signature road win on Nov. 9 when it toppled then sixth-ranked Dakota State, 64-54, in Madison, S.D. It lost an overtime heartbreaker to No. 1 Dordt in Sioux Center. The NAIA Women's Basketball RPI put out a release (Jan. 6) that slotted CUNE at No. 62 in the ratings and with a top-25 strength of schedule rating (25th). The following GPAC teams are rated in the top 50 RPI: Dordt (2), Hastings (21), Briar Cliff (22), Dakota Wesleyan (35) and Doane (40). The Broncos (5) Defenders (16) and Mustangs (32) have the highest strengths of schedule in the GPAC.
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Kendal Brigham, 5-5 (11.3)
G – Abby Krieser, 5-9 (8.0)
G – Megan Belt, 5-6 (6.4)
F – Raelyn Kelty, 5-11 (10.0)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer, 6-2 (9.6)
The opponents
The Tigers are 11-4 through their first 15 games and 6-3 in the conference. Doane has two ranked wins against Dakota Wesleyan (77-61) and Arizona Christian University (77-73). The Tigers are coming off a 73-71 victory over Morningside this past Saturday. The return of Mak Hatcliff is instrumental for the orange and black as the leading point scorer (19.8 ppg) in the lineup. A team that shares the rock, have four averaging double figures behind Hatcliff including guard Macy Holtz (16.8) and forward Kaylee Klover (12.1). Klover (9.7) and Hatcliff (8.1) top the Doane charts in rebounding and Holtz chunks three assists per contest. Megan Chambers looks to punch out offensive threats with 17 total blocks. The team averages 75.7 points per game on 43.7 percent from the field.
Doane Projected Starting Five
G – Macy Holtz, 5-7 (16.8)
G – Maddie Portwine, 5-10 (10.8)
G – Libby Trausch, 5-7 (4.3)
F – Megan Chambers, 6-0 (11.9)
F – Kaylee Klover, 5-10 (12.1)
The No. 9 Chargers come into the week with a 13-2 record and 7-2 in conference play. Briar Cliff has only surrendered one loss inside Newman Flanagan Center against Dordt (61-60). The Chargers are on a five game win streak beating their opponent by an average of 32.8 points. They score 80.7 points a game allowing 58.7. With 8.5 treys per outing, they collectively shoot 36.6 percent and 44.1 from field goal range. Mallie McNair drops a team high 15.9 per game and Adrianna Webster follows with 12.6. Webster (7.3) has the eye for rebounding and point guard Kennedy Benne dishes out 3.6 assists and 3.3 swipes every 40 minutes.
Briar Cliff Projected Starting Five
G – Mallie McNair, 5-8 (15.9)
G – Grace Flanagan, 5-8 (10.1)
G – Kennedy Benne, 5-8 (9.6)
G – Kenna Mongan, 5-8 (10.5)
F – Adrianna Webster, 6-0 (12.6)
Up next
Concordia will return home to Seward and host Mount Marty and Northwestern in the coming week. The Bulldogs will take on the Lancers and Red Raiders in Friedrich Arena on Wednesday and Saturday.