2022-23 GPAC Women’s Basketball All-Conference Teams
First Team: Taysha Rushton
Second Team: Abby Krieser; Sadie Powell
Honorable Mention: Kendal Brigham; Mackenzie Toomey
SEWARD, Neb. – A group of five Bulldogs from the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team have been recognized as 2022-23 all-conference performers, as announced by the GPAC on Wednesday (March 1). Star guard Taysha Rushton reeled in the third First Team All-GPAC award of her career while Abby Krieser and Sadie Powell were named to the second team. In addition, Kendal Brigham and Mackenzie Toomey picked up Honorable Mention All-GPAC accolades. With the national tournament up next, Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad owns a 19-11 overall record.
An impact player immediately upon her arrival in Seward, Rushton again ranks among the top guards in the GPAC. On the season, the Midland, Texas, native is averaging 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Her career best shooting percentages stand at 41.9 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from 3-point range and 77.9 percent from the foul line. Named the MVP of the Concordia Invitational Tournament, Rushton produced a season high 29 points in the win at Midland. In 90 career games, Rushton has totaled 1,368 points (15th most in program history), 261 rebounds, 248 assists and 147 steals. She’s drained 211 3-point field goals as a Bulldog.
In her first season as a starter, the Lincoln North Star High School product Krieser has taken off while standing out as one of the league’s best backcourt defenders. In 30 games (29 starts), Krieser is averaging 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. She is shooting 49.8 percent from the field, 36.0 percent from 3-point range and 81.3 percent from the foul line. Krieser’s career high of 23 points (5-for-7 beyond the arc) came in the win at Doane. Both Krieser and Rushton are major reasons why Concordia leads the GPAC in turnovers forced per game.
Powell has moved up to the GPAC’s second team after being named honorable mention last season. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native has started all 30 games this season and is averaging 9.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. She’s shooting 40.4 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from 3-point range and 78.0 percent from the foul line. Powell’s highest point total this season has been 18 in three separate games. She’s totaled 647 points and 321 rebounds in 84 career collegiate games.
Currently in her third year in the program, Brigham has stepped up her game and has played an average of 24.4 minutes per game off the bench this season. The Wahoo, Neb., native is averaging 9.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game. She’s shooting 44.8 percent from the floor, 42.1 percent from 3-point range and 74.6 percent from the free throw line. Brigham posted a season high 17 points in the game at Texas Wesleyan.
Another of the team’s class of third-year players, Toomey has earned honorable mention status for the second year in a row. The Lincoln Southeast High School alum has played in all 30 games (29 starts) this season and has averaged 6.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. She’s shooting 34.6 percent from the floor and 68.3 percent from the foul line. Her season high of 17 points came in the home win over Midland.
The NAIA women’s basketball national tournament bracket will be unveiled on Thursday via a selection show beginning at 6 p.m. CT. It will air on the NAIA YouTube channel.