2023-24 GPAC Women’s Basketball All-Conference Teams
First Team: Taysha Rushton; Sadie Powell
Second Team: Abby Krieser
Honorable Mention: Kendal Brigham; Mackenzie Toomey
SEWARD, Neb. – A crew of five Bulldogs from the seventh-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team have been recognized with 2023-24 GPAC All-Conference awards. As announced on Wednesday (March 6), senior guard Taysha Rushton has earned the fourth First Team All-GPAC honor of her career. She was joined on the first team by Sadie Powell. Meanwhile, Abby Krieser landed on the second team and Kendal Brigham and Mackenzie Toomey were tabbed with Honorable Mention All-GPAC accolades.
The Midland, Texas, native Rushton has enjoyed a career that ranks her among the top players in the history of the program. Not only has she earned four-straight First Team All-GPAC awards, Rushton has also twice been recognized as an Honorable Mention All-American. In year four as a Bulldog, Rushton is averaging 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 44.0 percent from the floor, 36.3 percent from 3-point range and 80.0 percent from the foul line. In 123 career collegiate games, Rushton has tallied 1,879 points, 390 rebounds, 337 assists and 212 steals while making 282 3-point field goals. On the program’s all-time lists, Rushton ranks second in 3-point field goals, third in scoring, 12th in assists and 18th in steals.
Powell, who hails from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, moved up to the GPAC’s first team after being selected as honorable mention in 2021-22 and second team in 2022-23. As a senior, Powell has started all 31 games and is averaging 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 44.0 percent from the floor, 37.4 percent from 3-point range and 82.0 percent from the foul line. Powell joined the program’s 1,000-point club on senior day (Feb. 24). Her career high of 22 points occurred at Dordt on Feb. 14. In 118 career collegiate games, Powell has totaled 1,036 points, 488 rebounds and 140 steals.
The Lincoln North Star High School alum Krieser has been named Second Team All-GPAC in back-to-back seasons. Krieser has played in all 31 games (30 starts) and is averaging 9.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, 30.2 percent from 3-point range and 77.4 percent from the foul line. Krieser’s career high of 24 points came in the win at Northwestern on Nov. 18. She has totaled 647 points and 116 steals in 80 career collegiate games.
A native of Wahoo, Neb., Brigham has been tabbed GPAC Honorable Mention in back-to-back campaigns. She’s enjoyed her best season yet while averaging 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 44.0 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from 3-point range and 84.2 percent from the foul line. Brigham was named GPAC Player of the Week after she burned in-state rivals Doane and Hastings for a combined 46 points in mid-January. Brigham also emerged as the MVP of CIT as CUNE won the championship at Concordia University Wisconsin. Brigham has amassed 870 points in 106 career collegiate games.
Toomey, a Lincoln Southeast High School alum, has landed Honorable Mention All-GPAC status for the third-straight year. While starting 29 games, Toomey has averaged 6.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 45.0 percent from the floor and 65.8 percent from the foul line. Toomey starred with 21 points and 13 rebounds in the Feb. 21 win over Hastings. In 116 career college games, Toomey has posted 686 points, 473 rebounds, 214 assists and 206 steals.
Next up for Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad will be the national tournament. The NAIA women’s basketball national tournament bracket will be unveiled on Thursday via a selection show beginning at 7 p.m. CT. It will air on the NAIA YouTube channel. Concordia will be one of 16 hosts for first/second round action.