Record-breaking Morris named national and GPAC player of the week
SEWARD, Neb. – The weekly honors rolled in on Tuesday for Concordia junior Bailey Morris, three days removed from a 45-point performance that broke the Bulldog women’s basketball single-game record. Not only did the Roseland, Neb., native receive GPAC Player of the Week accolades for the third-straight time, she also earned NAIA Division II National Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career.
“I was pretty happy with my performance,” Morris said after scoring 45 points to lead the win over No. 3 Northwestern. “My shots were falling. Their type of defense is one that we can attack a lot. We had a lot of people step up.”
The 5-foot-4 guard totaled 63 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists last week as the seventh-ranked Bulldogs (24-5, 16-3 GPAC) won their seventh and eighth-straight games. Morris’ big week moved her to No. 1 on the GPAC leaderboard with an average of 19.0 points per game (15th among all NAIA Division II players).
In her 45-point performance, Morris went 12-for-26 from the field, 4-for-8 from 3-point range and 17-for-18 from the free throw line. Over the last three games, she is averaging 32.3 points. She has made 44 of her last 45 free throw attempts. She has 12 games of 20 or more points this season. During her high school career at Sandy Creek, her career high point total was 19.
Morris is the first national player of the week for the program since Amber Kistler won the award late in the 2011-12 season. Kistler received the honor following her school record 37-point effort, a mark that stood until last weekend.
Morris and the Bulldogs return to action on Saturday at No. 8 Morningside (23-5, 14-4 GPAC), who has also won eight-consecutive games entering the week. A win would earn Concordia at least a share of and possibly the outright GPAC regular-season title for the second time in three years.
National player of the week nominees: Jenna Engh, Viterbo (Wis.); Kayla Morgan, Oklahoma Wesleyan; Hailey Longtin, Mayville State (N.D.); Morgan Stuut, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Jenelle Wilson, Saint Francis (Ind.); Tiesha Stokes, Davenport (Mich.); Chakala Carthen, College of Idaho; Quinn Rear, Ashford (Iowa); Lori Dauer, Sterling (Kan.); Lydia Nash, Union (Ky.); Antishia Wright, St. Thomas (Fla.); Carla Booth, Alice Lloyd (Ky.).
MORRIS TV FEATURE: A feature on Morris' accomplishment aired on KLKN-TV's (Lincoln ABC affiliate; channel 8) 6 p.m. newscast on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Watch the feature HERE.
