SEWARD, Neb. – It requires a doozy of an effort for an opponent to hang with the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team for a full 40 minutes. In Saturday evening’s Concordia Invitational Tournament championship game, Concordia University-Ann Arbor made it through an entire quarter before feeling the pain. In the end, the Bulldogs won, 89-62, while claiming their 27th CIT title in program history.
CUNE has won eight CIT championships, including four in a row, during head coach Drew Olson’s 11-year tenure. With Saturday’s victory, the Bulldogs (23-1) ran their win streak to 23, equaling an Olson era best.
“I thought we did a really nice job of bothering them, pressuring them and just kind of wearing them down,” Olson said. “By the end of the game, the shots they were taking probably weren’t the shots that they want.”
Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge were double the trouble inside for a CUAA squad lacking size in the post. On her way to earning MVP honors for the second year in a row, Wragge racked up a season high 22 points with most of her scoring coming on shots from point-blank range. Meanwhile, Lammers’ strength advantage was evident. She compiled 17 points and 10 rebounds.
A native of Crofton, Neb., and a first team all-conference choice last season as a freshman, Wragge already had 12 points at the half. A disruptive force just like many of her teammates, Wragge also had seven steals over the two tournament games. Whether attacking on offense, or on defense, Wragge had it all going on.
“CIT is always a ton of fun, but having it here was super awesome,” Wragge said. “There are so many fans here that know us. So many people came out here to watch us and the atmosphere was crazy.”
Wragge and company exercised control with pressure defense that has become their calling card. The Cardinals (16-8) managed only four points the entire second quarter while watching a tie ballgame become a 15-point halftime deficit (38-23). It was a rough night for the backcourt duo of Kari Borowiak (15 points) and Brianna Rowe (12 points), which combined to go 6-for-31 from the floor. Mia Long (13 points on 4-of-5 shooting) had been the team’s most reliable scoring option, but she fouled out in the third quarter.
Once the Bulldogs get on a roll, there’s little chance of stopping them. Not only did they shoot 46.4 percent (32-for-69), but they forced another 28 turnovers and held CUAA to a measly shooting clip of 29.1 (16-for-55). Fourteen of the 15 Bulldogs that suited up registered in the scoring column. CUNE had built a 20-point lead by midway through the third quarter.
Mary Janovich (eight points and seven assists) joined Wragge on the all-tournament team. Janovich scored 19 points in Friday’s blowout win over Concordia University, Wisconsin. Off the bench, Sydney Feller knocked down three treys and totaled nine points in Saturday’s win.
Afterwards, people were buzzing about the electric atmosphere inside Walz. All CIT’s are energy-filled, but this one was something else.
“Our students were incredible,” Olson said. “I just loved the energy and hope that it continues. I hope they keep coming back for more.”
CUNE alum Thad Sankey is in his fourth season leading the CUAA women’s basketball program. He served one season as a graduate assistant on Olson’s staff.
The Bulldogs will have a week off before returning to conference play next Saturday for a trip to Mount Marty (10-13, 5-9 GPAC). Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT in Yankton, S.D. In this season’s first meeting, Concordia topped the Lancers, 75-65, inside Walz Arena.
2017 CIT All-Tournament
MVP – Quinn Wragge, CUNE
Samantha Blissett, CUW
Kari Borowiak, CUAA
Taylor Jacobsen, CUC
Mary Janovich, CUNE