Return to GPAC play yields 21-point rout of Doane

SEWARD, Neb. – While a CIT hangover may have been cause for Concordia’s slow start on Wednesday, the ninth-ranked Bulldog women’s basketball team rebounded in impressive fashion. Eighth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad dominated the second half and earned the season sweep of rival Doane with an 83-62 victory inside Walz Arena.

The Bulldogs raised their records to 19-5 overall and 11-3 in GPAC action.

“Our practices were a little bit flat on Monday and Tuesday, but that’s normally what happens after CIT,” Olson said. “It’s a long road trip, a lot of energy (expended) and it’s hard to get up for that next game.

“But I think a lot of it had to do with Doane doing some really nice things.”

After trailing by as many as seven points in the first half, Concordia took a two-point lead to the break after Bailey Morris drained an elbow jumper at the close of the first 20 minutes. Morris and company then seized control by scoring the first 14 points of the second half as part of a 16-0 run.

The onslaught of 16 unanswered points included a flurry of perimeter jumpers. Counting the bucket at the end of the first half, the Bulldogs scored on six-straight possessions with four of those producing a 3-point field goal. Morris made two triples and Becky Mueller and Tracy Peitz knocked in one trey apiece as part of the splurge that allowed the Bulldogs to run away from a pesky Doane group.

Just like during its CIT title run, Morris and Mueller supplied a great deal of the offensive firepower. Morris dazzled with the dribble drive on the way to dropping a game high 24 points while Mueller posted 12. Tracy Peitz then got into the act after the half with all of her 14 points coming over the final 20 minutes.

Peitz’s play reflected the performance of the team as a whole. After committing 10 first half turnovers, Concordia possessed the ball much better and turned it over just five times after halftime.

Off the bench, Jenna Lehmann produced what Olson called “one of the best games of her career.” The native of Albion, Neb., tallied nine points and a career high eight rebounds in 13 minutes. She made all four shots from the field and even added a nifty reverse layup for good measure.

“I really have no idea where that came from,” Lehmann joked afterwards. “Tracy and Becky always do that to me at practice so I was just like ‘I’m going to go for it and see what happens,’ and luckily it went really well.”

Lehmann, a sophomore, is one of several younger players progressing late in the season, along with the likes of freshmen Devin Edwards, Karissa Segelke and Shelby Quinn.

“Our young kids are starting to get a little bit more confident,” Olson said. “They’re playing together and getting better. That’s good for us.”

Concordia shot 45.3 percent on the night while holding the Tigers to a 39.2 percent clip. The Bulldogs frustrated Doane into 25 turnovers.

The Tigers were paced by 17 points from Heather Broman. Star junior Hannah Dostal had a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards.

The Bulldogs hit the road again on Saturday to take on Mount Marty (10-13, 2-12 GPAC) at 2 p.m. in Yankton, S.D. In their first meeting this season, Concordia posted a season high point total on the way to a 109-86 rout of the Lancers. Mount Marty stunned No. 2 Northwestern, 78-74, on Wednesday night.