SEWARD, Neb. – A successful swing at the Arizona Holiday Christian Classic concluded 2018 for the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team. The Bulldogs are now getting set to ring in the new year with a return to GPAC play. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad will look forward to taking on two more ranked opponents: No. 13 Dordt and No. 5 Northwestern.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 2 at No. 13 Dordt (13-4, 6-3), 6 p.m.
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Jan. 5 vs. No. 5 Northwestern (14-1, 8-1), 2 p.m.
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Concordia polished off an impressive December by posting victories over 21st-ranked Arizona Christian University (NAIA Division I), 105-63, and second-ranked Southeastern University (Fla.), 59-51, in Phoenix, Ariz., over the past week. In a span of less than two weeks, the Bulldogs defeated both of the teams ranked above them in the national poll. In the toppling of Southeastern, Concordia jumped out to a 20-5 lead in the opening quarter before the contest turned into a grinder. The Fire twice got within five points in the second half, but the Bulldogs always had an answer. Philly Lammers recorded her 21st career double-double, notching 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Lammers continues to be one of the most productive players in the nation. She needed only 39 minutes of action in Phoenix to record 35 points, 18 rebounds and four steals. Lammers also went 13-for-19 (.684) from the floor. The All-American was one of few players with a gaudy shooting percentage in the game against Southeastern. The Fire went just 4-for-26 from the field in the first half with many of its stars being held well below their season scoring averages. Lammers is a key figure for a relentless Concordia press that remains the national leader in steals per game (20.1).
The victories over ranked opponents continue to mount. The Bulldogs have made victims out of seven top 25 foes: No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan, No. 2 Southeastern, No. 13 Hastings, No. 14 University of St. Francis (Ind.), No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 16 Jamestown and No. 21 Arizona Christian. The loss to then eighth-ranked Morningside on Nov. 28 resulted in Concordia slipping from No. 1 to No. 3 in the NAIA coaches’ poll. With the next poll set to be released on Jan. 8, the Bulldogs have a chance to regain the top spot. Concordia will also attempt to remain at the top of the conference standings. It is currently tied with Dakota Wesleyan and Northwestern.
This has been a breakthrough season thus far for Dordt, which has never reached the national tournament. The Defenders went 6-1 during the month of December, which included wins over three ranked opponents. Sophomore forward Erika Feenstra has become a star. Feenstra leads all NAIA Division II players in scoring average (24.8) and field goal percentage (.638). She’s a beast on the offensive boards (4.5 offensive rebounds per game). As a team, Dordt outrebounds its opponents, on average, 47.1 to 35.9.
Northwestern has the look of a serious challenger for the conference title in Chris Yaw’s eighth season as head coach. Spurred by Kassidy De Jong, the Red Raiders can really score. Nationally, they rank first in field goal percentage (.495), third in scoring average (89.7) and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (.396). Northwestern advanced to the 2018 national semifinals where it fell, 84-77, to Concordia. The Red Raiders feature an experienced core headlined by seniors in De Jong, Darbi Gustafson and Haley Birks.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (14-1, 8-1 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.2)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.0)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (4.5)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (11.3)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.6)
Dordt (13-4, 6-3 GPAC)
G – Payton Harmsen, Jr., 5-8 (9.5)
G – Annie Rhinesmith, Jr., 5-8 (13.0)
G – Siennah Stamness, So., 5-10 (5.9)
F – Rachel Evavold, Jr., 6-1 (11.4)
F – Erika Feenstra, So., 6-0 (24.4)
Northwestern (14-1, 8-1 GPAC)
G – Sammy Blum, So., 5-7 (11.1)
G – Kassidy De Jong, Sr., 5-10 (19.7)
G – Breana Schiteman, So., 5-8 (8.1)
F – Haley Birks, Sr., 6-0 (14.7)
F – Darbi Gustafson, Sr., 6-1 (17.8)