SEWARD, Neb. – With the postponement of the scheduled contest at No. 8 Morningside on Nov. 26, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team is in the midst of an extended break in the schedule. The idle stretch will end this week with a return to conference action inside Walz Arena. Head coach Drew Olson’s squad will host Doane on Wednesday and No. 13 Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday while trying to maintain an undefeated record that currently stands at 7-0 (3-0 GPAC).
This Week
Wednesday, Dec. 4 vs. Doane (1-7, 0-3 GPAC), 6 p.m.
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Saturday, Dec. 7 vs. No. 13 Dakota Wesleyan (6-2, 2-2 GPAC), 2 p.m.
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The last time the Bulldogs appeared in game action they defeated NCAA Division II Metropolitan State University of Denver, 81-65, in an exhibition game. That result was simply the latest evidence of Concordia’s ability to compete on any level of college basketball. The first regular season NAIA Division II coaches’ top 25 poll was unveiled on Nov. 27 and again revealed the Bulldogs as a unanimous No. 1 team (all 12 first-place votes). Impressively, GPAC teams took up six of the top 13 spots in the rankings with Dordt fifth, Hastings sixth, Morningside eighth, Northwestern 11th and Dakota Wesleyan 13th.
The dominance displayed by Concordia has been rather stunning. Among all NAIA Division II teams, the Bulldogs rank first in scoring margin (+50.0), first in turnover margin (+17.4), first in steals per game (26.3), first in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.40), second in scoring offense (104.7), second in field goal percentage defense (.302), second in field goal percentage offense (.493), second in 3-point field goals per game (13.1), sixth in scoring defense (54.7) and eighth in blocks per game (4.4). Point guard Grace Barry continues to be the engine that drives the attack. Nationally, she ranks fourth in steals per game (3.86) and seventh in assists per game (6.14). Philly Lammers is the team’s leading scorer at 13.7 points per game.
Concordia owns lengthy win streaks against many of its GPAC rivals. The Bulldogs have won six in a row against Doane since they were beaten in shocking fashion, 91-55, on Jan. 27, 2016. Concordia has more than returned the favor with last season’s meetings resulting in victories by scores of 93-53 and 106-47. The Bulldogs have often met Dakota Wesleyan in situations with a lot on the line and for the most part, they have had their way with the Tigers. Concordia has won seven of the past eight series matchups with the one defeat being particularly noteworthy with it coming in the 2018 national championship game. It should also be noted that the Bulldogs are 56-1 in their last 57 home games.
Doane is in a unique situation with its now former head coach resigning on Nov. 25 while just six games into her tenure. Ryan Baumgartner has stepped in and has been given the tag of interim head coach. The Tigers showed signs of life this weekend and picked up their first win of the season – 65-56 over Haskell Indian Nations University (Kan.). The Bulldogs got an early look at Doane at the Cattle Classic where the Tigers were beaten by then No. 9 University of St. Francis (Ill.) and Simpson University (Calif.). The team’s leading scorer is a freshman in Halle Konz of Genoa, Neb.
Dakota Wesleyan is led by a terrific duo in seniors Sarah Carr and Kynedi Cheeseman. A native of Alexandria, S.D., Cheeseman is one of the nation’s top players and has been on a tear this season, averaging 24.5 points per game (second most among NAIA Division II players). The most challenging task for head coach Jason Christensen’s squad is making up for the graduation of point guard Rylie Osthus. Sophomore guard Kaylee Kirk has taken on increased responsibility is averaging 5.5 assists per outing. Both Tiger losses so far this season have come on the road (Dordt and Jamestown) and both have been decided by two-point margins.
Projected Lineups
Concordia (7-0, 3-0 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Sr., 5-7 (12.1)
G – Riley Sibbel, Sr., 5-9 (6.1)
G – Mackenzie Koepke, So., 6-1 (9.6)
F – Colby Duvel, Sr., 5-9 (7.9)
F – Philly Lammers, Sr., 5-11 (13.7)
Doane (1-7, 0-3 GPAC)
G – Tayla Nulty, Jr., 5-2 (9.3)
G – Cheyenne Ostrander, Sr., 5-4 (4.3)
G – McKenzie Beach, Sr., 5-9 (7.0)
F – Halle Konz, Fr., 5-11 (11.0)
F – Haylee Heits, Jr., 6-0 (10.4)
Dakota Wesleyan (6-2, 2-2 GPAC)
G – Kaylee Kirk, So., 5-5 (4.9)
G – Kynedi Cheeseman, Sr., 5-9 (24.5)
F – Matti Reiner, Fr., 5-10 (3.9)
F – Sarah Carr, Sr., 6-0 (16.1)
F – Makaela Karst, Sr., 6-1 (10.4)