SEWARD, Neb. – At least for a few days, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team will enjoy warmer weather in The Sunshine State. After venturing to Phoenix just after Christmas last season, the Bulldogs are readying to head to Lakeland, Fla., for the Southeastern University Christmas Invitational. Another rematch of the 2019 national championship game will take place on Dec. 20 with the Bulldogs matching up against host and second-ranked Southeastern on Friday. They will then play William Carey University (Miss.) on Saturday.
Southeastern University Christmas Invitational
Location: The Furnace (arena) | Southeastern University
Friday, Dec. 20 vs. No. 2 Southeastern (10-2), 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Dec. 21 vs. William Carey (4-5), 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Christmastime trips are part of the annual reward for members of head coach Drew Olson’s program. Consider that the current four-year seniors have been to places like Honolulu, Hawaii, Chicago, Phoenix and now Lakeland, Fla. Concordia and Southeastern also met last season on Dec. 28 in Phoenix with the result being a 59-51 victory for the Bulldogs. After playing seven of its first nine games at home, Concordia is getting used to life on the road. Last week it claimed road wins over No. 7 Morningside, 88-77, and Mount Marty, 80-50.
In last week’s action, point guard Grace Barry and All-American post Philly Lammers again took the lead. Barry and Lammers are arguably the top players at their respective positions at this level in the entire country. In the win at Morningside, Barry totaled a triple-double that included 20 points, 10 assists and 10 steals. Barry ranks in the top 10 nationally in both steals (4.0) and assists (6.09) per game. Meanwhile, Lammers continues to climb the program’s all-time lists. After putting up a combined 40 points and 16 rebounds last week, Lammers owns school career rankings of sixth in scoring (1,743), sixth in steals (303) and seventh in rebounds (897).
Despite scoring in the 80s both at Morningside and at Mount Marty, the Bulldogs are still averaging more than 100 points per game at 101.0. The turnovers they create continue to feed an offensive attack that thrives in transition. Morningside limited its turnovers to 22 (season low for Concordia foes), but Mount Marty was guilty of 43 turnovers. Among NAIA Division II teams, the Bulldogs rank first in steals per game (24.6) and first in turnover margin (+19.5).
Southeastern has risen to elite status under head coach Tim Hays, now in his fourth season leading the Fire. The only losses suffered this season by Southeastern have come at the hands of No. 1 Concordia and No. 3 The Master’s (Calif.), an NAIA Division I member. The Fire own a win over No. 3 College of the Ozarks. Like the Bulldogs, the Fire are statistically impressive. Southeastern’s length makes it one of the nation’s top defensive teams. It sports national rankings of first in scoring defense (48.5) and first in field goal percentage defense (.301). Wagner University transfer Taylah Simmons leads the team with a scoring average of 21.7.
Located in Hattiesburg, Miss., William Carey competes in the NAIA’s Southern States Athletic Conference. In their lone matchup so far this season against a ranked opponent, the Crusaders were defeated by then 16th-ranked Bethel University (Tenn.), 64-53. Guard Danyelle Lewis (13.1 ppg) is the team’s only player averaging double figures in scoring. William Carey is shooting 37.9 percent (sixth best in NAIA Division I) from 3-point range.
Following the action in Florida, the Bulldogs will wait until Jan. 2 (at Northwestern) to resume the season.
Projected Lineups
Concordia (11-0, 7-0 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Sr., 5-7 (13.5)
G – Riley Sibbel, Sr., 5-9 (6.1)
G – Mackenzie Koepke, So., 6-1 (9.0)
F – Colby Duvel, Sr., 5-9 (7.6)
F – Philly Lammers, Sr., 5-11 (15.4)
Southeastern (10-2)
G – Eliza West, Sr., 5-6 (7.3)
G – Regan Linster, So., 5-10 (15.0)
G – M’caela Sellers, Jr., 6-1 (10.0)
G – Taylah Simmons, Jr., 6-1 (21.7)
C – Marlena Schmidt, Sr., 6-6 (8.8)
William Carey (4-5)
G – Michaela Terry, So., 5-5 (4.1)
G – Cotoria Blackman, Sr., 5-9 (4.7)
G – Mallory Thompson, Jr., 5-9 (5.2)
F – Lachan Terrell, Jr., 5-9 (3.2)
F – Rachel Thompson, Sr., 5-9 (9.3)