2018-19 Women's Basketball Schedule/Results
35-3 overall | 19-3 GPAC (T-1st) | Season Stats | Roster
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time/Result | Record |
| Oct. 26 | (15) Indiana Wesleyan University | La Crosse, Wis. | W, 81-68 | 1-0 |
| Oct. 27 | Viterbo University | La Crosse, Wis. | W, 93-43 | 2-0 |
| Nov. 2 | Peru State College | Seward, Neb. | W, 100-55 | 3-0 |
| Nov. 3 | (14) University of St. Francis (Ind.) | Seward, Neb. | W, 84-55 | 4-0 |
| Nov. 6 | *Midland University | Fremont, Neb. | W, 83-65 | 5-0, 1-0 |
| Nov. 10 | *Briar Cliff University | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 99-71 | 6-0, 2-0 |
| Nov. 14 | *(13) Hastings College | Seward, Neb. | W, 82-68 | 7-0, 3-0 |
| Nov. 17 | *(16) University of Jamestown | Seward, Neb. | W, 87-59 | 8-0, 4-0 |
| Nov. 20 | *College of Saint Mary | Omaha, Neb. | W, 88-55 | 9-0, 5-0 |
| Nov. 28 | *(8) Morningside College | Seward, Neb. | L, 75-84 | 9-1, 5-1 |
| Dec. 5 | *Doane University | Crete, Neb. | W, 93-53 | 10-1, 6-1 |
| Dec. 8 | *Mount Marty College | Seward, Neb. | W, 99-68 | 11-1, 7-1 |
| Dec. 15 | *(1) Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell, S.D. | W, 82-68 | 12-1, 8-1 |
| Dec. 27 | (21) Arizona Christian University | Phoenix, Ariz. | W, 105-63 | 13-1 |
| Dec. 28 | (2) Southeastern University (Fla.) | Phoenix, Ariz. | W, 59-51 | 14-1 |
| Jan. 2 | *(13) Dordt College | Sioux Center, Iowa | L, 92-97 (2 OT) | 14-2, 8-2 |
| Jan. 5 | *(5) Northwestern College | Seward, Neb. | W, 93-85 | 15-2, 9-2 |
| Jan. 9 | *(21) Hastings College | Hastings, Neb. | W, 102-85 | 16-2, 10-2 |
| Jan. 12 | *Briar Cliff University | Seward, Neb. | W, 87-58 | 17-2, 11-2 |
| Jan. 16 | *Midland University | Seward, Neb. | W, 84-74 | 18-2, 12-2 |
| Jan. 19 | *University of Jamestown | Jamestown, N.D. | W, 98-67 | 19-2, 13-2 |
| Jan. 23 | *Doane University | Seward, Neb. | W, 106-47 | 20-2, 14-2 |
| Concordia Invitational Tournament | ||||
| Jan. 25 | Concordia University, Wisconsin | Ann Arbor, Mich. | W, 102-74 | 21-2 |
| Jan. 26 | Concordia University, Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, Mich. | W, 82-56 | 22-2 |
| Jan. 30 | *(14) Dordt College | Seward, Neb. | W, 90-88 | 23-2, 15-2 |
| Feb. 2 | *(2) Northwestern College | Orange City, Iowa | L, 75-81 | 23-3, 15-3 |
| Feb. 6 | *(14) Morningside College | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 69-53 | 24-3, 16-3 |
| Feb. 9 | *(5) Dakota Wesleyan University | Seward, Neb. | W, 79-66 | 25-3, 17-3 |
| Feb. 13 | *College of Saint Mary | Seward, Neb. | W, 95-51 | 26-3, 18-3 |
| Feb. 16 | *Mount Marty College | Yankton, S.D. | W, 66-55 | 27-3, 19-3 |
| GPAC Tournament | ||||
| Feb. 20 | Briar Cliff (Quarterfinals) | Seward, Neb. | W, 80-55 | 28-3 |
| Feb. 23 | (15) Hastings (Semifinals) | Seward, Neb. | W, 89-66 | 29-3 |
| Feb. 26 | (4) Dakota Wesleyan (Championship) | Seward, Neb. | W, 75-63 | 30-3 |
| NAIA DII WBB National Tournament | ||||
| March 6 | Wilberforce University (Ohio) | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 100-62 | 31-3 |
| March 8 | (17) Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 82-71 | 32-3 |
| March 9 | (7) Indiana Tech | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 73-53 | 33-3 |
| March 11 | (4) Northwestern College | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 82-79 | 34-3 |
| March 12 | (2) Southeastern University (Fla.) | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 67-59 | 35-3 |
| *-Indicates a GPAC Contest |
2018-19 Roster
| No. | Varsity Roster | Pos. | Ht. | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| 4 | Riley Sibbel | G | 5-9 | Jr. | O'Neill, Neb. | St. Mary's HS |
| 5 | Taylor Cockerill | G | 5-9 | So. | Waverly, Neb. | Waverly HS |
| 10 | Delani Fahey | G | 5-10 | Fr. | Ord, Neb. | Ord HS |
| 11 | Claire Cornell | G | 5-8 | Fr. | Elm Creek, Neb. | Elm Creek HS |
| 12 | MacKenzie Helman | G | 5-7 | Jr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Pius HS |
| 14 | Elle Luehr | F | 5-9 | Fr. | Wood River, Neb. | Wood River Rural HS |
| 21 | Mackenzie Koepke | G | 6-1 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS |
| 24 | Jayda Lyon | G | 5-7 | Fr. | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Liberty HS |
| 25 | Rylee Pauli | F | 5-10 | Fr. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard South HS |
| 30 | Quinn Wragge | F | 6-0 | Sr. | Crofton, Neb. | Crofton HS |
| 31 | Colby Duvel | F | 5-9 | Jr. | Max, Neb. | Platteview HS |
| 34 | Taryn Schuette | G | 5-10 | Jr. | Sabetha, Kan. | Sabetha HS |
| 35 | Elsie Aslesen | F | 6-1 | Fr. | Elk Point, S.D. | Elk-Point Jefferson HS |
| 42 | Philomena Lammers | F | 5-11 | Jr. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard West HS |
| 55 | Grace Barry | G | 5-7 | Jr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln East / U. of Neb-Kearney |
| Junior Varsity Roster | Pos. | Ht. | Year | Hometown | Previous School | |
| Keri Bauer | G | 5-8 | Fr. | Pleasanton, Neb. | Pleasanton HS | |
| Claire Cornell | G | 5-8 | Fr. | Elm Creek, Neb. | Elm Creek HS | |
| Madi Daly | G | 5-5 | Jr. | Mullen, Neb. | Mullen HS | |
| Nicole Daum | G | 5-8 | So. | Colorado Springs, Colo. | The Classical Academy | |
| Sidney Enochs | F | 5-11 | Fr. | Overton, Neb. | Overton HS | |
| Delani Fahey | G | 5-10 | Fr. | Ord, Neb. | Ord HS | |
| Ashley Heyen | G | 5-6 | Fr. | Ceresco, Neb. | Raymond Central HS | |
| Rebecca Higgins | F | 5-11 | So. | Thedford, Neb. | Thedford HS | |
| Emily Jones | G | 5-6 | So. | Benkelman, Neb. | Dundy County-Stratton HS | |
| Mackenzie Koepke | G | 6-1 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS | |
| Elle Luehr | F | 5-9 | Fr. | Wood River, Neb. | Wood River Rural HS | |
| Samantha Luehr | G | 5-7 | So. | Wood River, Neb. | Wood River Rural HS | |
| Jayda Lyon | G | 5-7 | Fr. | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Liberty HS | |
| Gabby Mason | G | 5-9 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS | |
| Courtney Merryweather | F | 5-11 | Fr. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard West HS | |
| Olivia Otte | G | 5-9 | Fr. | York, Neb. | Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran | |
| Rylee Pauli | F | 5-10 | Fr. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard South HS | |
| Chloe Schumacher | F | 6-2 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Malcolm HS | |
| Jaydi Starling | F | 5-9 | So. | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Colorado Springs School | |
| Jerrica Tietz | F | 5-10 | Sr. | Bancroft, Neb. | Bancroft-Rosalie Public | |
| Megan Vieselmeyer | F | 5-11 | Sr. | Holyoke, Colo. | Holyoke HS |
STAFF
Drew Olson, Head Coach (13th Year)
Tae'lor Purdy-Korell, Assistant Coach
Taylor Jacobsen, Graduate Assistant Coach
Maggie Goltz, Student Assistant
Jadyn High, Student Assistant
Sara Sauceda, Manager
Season preview: 2018-19 Concordia women's basketball
Oct. 18, 2018
2017-18 Record: 36-2 overall, 19-1 GPAC; GPAC regular season and tournament champs; national runner up
Head Coach: Drew Olson (318-93, 12 years; 10 national tournament appearances; 8 GPAC regular season/tournament titles; 4 national semifinal advancements, including two runners up)
Returning Starters: G MacKenzie Helman (Jr.); F Philly Lammers (Jr.); F Quinn Wragge (Sr.).
Other Key Returners: G Taylor Cockerill (So.); F Colby Duvel (Jr.).
Key Newcomers: F Elsie Aslesen (Fr.); G Grace Barry (Jr.).
Key Losses: G Brenleigh Daum; G Sydney Feller; G Dani Hoppes; G Mary Janovich.
2017-18 GPAC All-Conference: Drew Olson (coach of the year); Philly Lammers (first team); Quinn Wragge (first team); Dani Hoppes (second team); Mary Janovich (second team); Taylor Cockerill (honorable mention); Brenleigh Daum (honorable mention)
2017-18 NAIA All-Americans: Philly Lammers (first team); Quinn Wragge (third team)
Outlook
Few things in life are as reliable as women’s basketball at Concordia University, Nebraska. Now in his 13th season as head coach, Drew Olson is fresh off leading his program on another storybook ride in 2017-18. It had all the makings of a Fairytale – until the ending.
That ending was a loss in the 2018 NAIA Division II national championship game to rival Dakota Wesleyan. It was one of only two blemishes on a season that was nearly perfect. The Bulldogs are determined not to let that one game cloud their thinking heading into yet another season of high aspirations.
“We have a lot of intrinsic motivation,” Olson said. “We pride ourselves on being an elite team. We want to keep that standard up there. I think our kids are highly motivated, especially since we haven’t reached the ultimate goal. We know there is still more that we have to accomplish.”
When it comes to this program, it’s done just about all there is to do. It has gone to the national semifinals three of the past four seasons and four of the last seven (two national championship game appearances). It has done something no one else has done during the GPAC era – sweep GPAC regular-season and tournament titles in back-to-back years. There’s only one thing missing. Everyone knows what that one thing is.
But if the last 20 or so years of Bulldog women’s basketball have taught us anything, it’s that this program was built to last. After a 36-win campaign that equaled a program record for victories in a season, Concordia finds itself in an enviable position with the return of two All-Americans: first teamer Philly Lammers and third teamer Quinn Wragge. This will be it for the senior Wragge, a major impact player from the moment she stepped on campus.
“It’s been incredible,” said Wragge of her first three seasons. “Throughout my entire time here, there’s never been one time where I felt like this isn’t the place where I’m supposed to be. I love the program. I love the women’s basketball team here. The experiences we get, the memories I’ve made, the friendships I have – It’s gone so fast. I can’t believe I’m a senior, but it’s been awesome.”
Awesome is an appropriate word to describe Lammer’s first two collegiate seasons. That’s all it took her to surpass 1,000 career points. The strong-as-an-ox Lammers has already had her share of big performances in big games. She put up 20 or more points in the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship of last season’s national tournament. One would be hard pressed to find a better post player at this level.
Lammers teams with Wragge, junior Colby Duvel and freshman standout Elsie Aslesen on arguably the top frontcourt in the nation. There are few real weaknesses to Wragge’s game, but she has worked this offseason on becoming more of a shooting threat from the perimeter. Duvel is a glue player, well respected for her hustle, vocal leadership and willingness to scrap for the loose balls. And Aslesen is a name Bulldog fans are about to become more familiar with. Aslesen can play inside and out and will immediately factor into the equation.
When discussing this team, it makes sense to start with the frontcourt considering the presence of Lammers and Wragge, but the backcourt doesn’t have to take a backseat. Taylor Cockerill capped her freshman season with a 17-point performance in the national championship game and should only get better as a sophomore. She’s in the mix at point guard along with University of Nebraska-Kearney transfer Grace Barry.
Now a junior and product of Lincoln East High School, Barry has a flair for the theatrics. In some ways, her game resembles that of former national player of the year Bailey Morris. Barry can score, but she also has a great feel for setting up her teammates.
“I think it’s a great fit both ways,” Olson said. “She needs to be cut loose and allowed to do what she does. In our style of play, she’s going to have that freedom. She’s got a little bit of flash to her and is just so creative. She can get other people shots. It’s a matter of getting her to want to be aggressive and want to be a scorer too. I think once she does that she’s going to be a complete player.”
Anyone who has watched Olson’s teams knows that the Bulldogs come at you in waves that often wear down the opposition. One unsung but reliable performer is junior guard MacKenzie Helman, who will play more off the ball this winter than she did last season when she started at the point. Olson wants to take further advantage of Helman’s outside shooting. Also a junior guard, Riley Sibbel figures to have a larger role this season. Olson has also been impressed by the improvement of junior forward Taryn Schuette.
Aslesen is the freshman most ready to make an impact, but several others should have the opportunity to get their feet wet this winter. Elm Creek, Neb., native Claire Cornell, also a track star, oozes with athletic ability. In addition, the freshman class includes plenty of Lincoln natives such as Lincoln Lutheran grad Mackenzie Koepke.
There’s depth and there’s talent, but this is still the time of year when things are only beginning to come together. Said Olson, “We’re still trying to figure it out. Defensively we can do a lot of things, it’s just – what are we going to be great at? What is our identity going to be in that regard? Last year was interesting because we really didn’t have an identity other than the fact that we could adapt really well. Two years ago we were just strictly zone. I don’t know what this team is going to be like, but we’ll find a way to get it done defensively. Offensively, we’ll continue to play our style and our pace and attack people.”
Olson seems plenty confident that his team will be able to score and score a lot. One of the biggest question marks is how this team will replace the defensive tenacity of departed seniors Dani Hoppes and Mary Janovich in the backcourt. They were the ringleaders for the gnats-at-a-picnic defensive play of the past couple of seasons. But again, this is a program built to withstand the losses of quality players.
Will this be the year that Concordia realizes the ultimate goal? To some degree, the sting of last March lingers.
“When that does come up, it’s we want to go further,” Wragge said of the national championship game. “There’s only one step further we can go than we were last year. That’s our goal for this year. When it does come up, it’s a motivator. It’s something that we want to get past so it’s not a negative this year. Let’s get there again and then go one step further.”
The season will open up next week with the Viterbo Invitational in La Crosse, Wis. The Bulldogs will take on Indiana Wesleyan University in La Crosse at 3 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 26. They will then play either Cardinal Stritch University or Viterbo University the following day.
GPAC coaches pick Bulldogs to three-peat
Oct. 22, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s basketball team is the only program in the GPAC era to sweep GPAC regular-season and tournament titles in back-to-back years. Now many are expecting the Bulldogs to do it again. In the 2018-19 GPAC preseason coaches’ poll released on Monday (Oct. 22), head coach Drew Olson’s squad appeared in the No. 1 position with a total of 119 points (nine of 12 first-place votes).
Three starters are back, including All-Americans in junior Philly Lammers and senior Quinn Wragge in the frontcourt. The other returning starter is junior MacKenzie Helman. Additionally, sophomore guard Taylor Cockerill and junior forward Colby Duvel return from the 2017-18 squad that went 36-2 and reached the NAIA Division II national championship game. Last season as a sophomore, Lammers averaged 13.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals while shooting 51.4 percent from the field. Wragge averaged 13.0 points and 5.3 rebounds and shot 60.1 percent from the floor.
Top billing in the GPAC essentially guarantees that Concordia will be highly rated in the preseason national poll that will be announced on Tuesday. The Bulldogs have been ranked in every national poll since the start of the 2011-12 season (82-consecutive poll releases). Throughout the 2017-18 season, Olson’s squad never dipped below third in the NAIA coaches’ poll and was No. 1 for each of the rankings released on Jan. 9, Jan. 23, Feb. 6, Feb. 20 and Feb. 28.
With the addition of Jamestown to the conference, the league schedule moves to 22 games this season. Over the past two campaigns, Concordia has gone 38-2 in GPAC regular-season action. Under Olson, the program has captured four conference regular-season titles (2012, 2014, 2017, 2018) and four GPAC tournament titles (2012, 2015, 2017, 2018).
The season will officially get underway this Friday and Saturday at the Viterbo Invitational in La Crosse, Wis. The Bulldogs will take on Indiana Wesleyan University at 3 p.m. CT on Friday. They will also play an exhibition game at NCAA Division I South Dakota State University on Thursday.
2018-19 GPAC Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Concordia – 119 (9)
2. Dakota Wesleyan – 111 (3)
3. Northwestern – 96
4. Morningside – 87
5. Hastings – 86
6. Jamestown – 71
7. Dordt – 55
8. Midland – 54
9. Briar Cliff – 48
10. Mount Marty – 27
11. Doane – 24
12. College of Saint Mary – 14
Concordia ranked No. 1 in national preseason poll
Oct. 23, 2018
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
SEWARD, Neb. – For the 16th time in school history, the Concordia University women’s basketball team has appeared at No. 1 in the NAIA Division II women’s basketball coaches’ poll. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has been showered with the top spot in the 2018-19 preseason ranking, as announced on Tuesday (Oct. 23) by the NAIA. The top billing comes on the heels of a national runner-up claim this past March.
In the national coaches’ preseason poll, the Bulldogs received 10 of 12 first-place votes and a total of 311 points. A day earlier, Concordia was pegged as the favorite to win the GPAC title for the third season in a row. The Bulldogs are aiming for a conference three-peat after sweeping GPAC regular-season and tournament titles in back-to-back campaigns.
The Bulldog women’s basketball program’s 16 all-time No. 1 rankings includes the final nine polls of the 2002-03 season, the first four polls of the 2012-13 campaign, two polls in January 2018 and the 2018-19 preseason release. This marks only the second time ever that the program has been tabbed the preseason No. 1 (2012-13). Concordia continues to seek its first-ever national title after reaching the final game in both 2015 and 2018 in addition to semifinal appearances in 2003, 2005, 2012 and 2017. Olson’s program is the only one in NAIA women’s basketball to advance to the national semifinals in three of the past four years and four of the past seven.
Olson’s teams have finished inside the top 25 in nine of his first 12 seasons. The highest final national ranking was a No. 2 placement in both 2015 and 2018. Both the 2011-12 and 2016-17 squads were ranked third at the close of their seasons. The Bulldogs have finished inside the top 10 in five of the past seven years.
A busy three-day stretch to open up the season awaits. Concordia will be at NCAA Division I South Dakota State University for an exhibition at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday. The Bulldogs will then be at the Viterbo Invitational in La Crosse, Wis., on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s matchup will feature Concordia versus No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan University at 3 p.m.
In addition to Indiana Wesleyan, other nationally-ranked teams that will appear on the 2018-19 schedule are No. 2 Dakota Wesleyan, No. 3 Southeastern University (Fla.), No. 8 Northwestern, No. 11 Morningside, No. 13 Hastings, No. 14 University of Saint Francis (Ind.), No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 16 Jamestown and potentially No. 22 Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.).
Preseason rankings under Olson
2018-19: 1
2017-18: 3
2016-17: 14
2015-16: 4
2014-15: 9
2013-14: 5
2012-13: 1
2011-12: 22
2010-11: 11
2009-10: 22
2008-09: 7
2007-08: NR
2006-07: NR
Final end of season rankings under Olson
2017-18: 2 (NAIA did not release a poll after the national tournament)
2016-17: 3
2015-16: 19
2014-15: 2
2013-14: 13
2012-13: 9
2011-12: 3
2010-11: NR
2009-10: NR
2008-09: 8
2007-08: 10
2006-07: NR
Top Dawgs officially open up 2018-19 season Friday in Wisconsin
Oct. 25, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – Hoops season has arrived. Just tabbed the NAIA Division II preseason No. 1, the Concordia University women’s basketball team is getting set to play three games in three days as part of the opening weekend of the 2018-19 campaign. Head coach Drew Olson’s squad will play an exhibition game Thursday at NCAA Division I South Dakota State University before tipping off the regular season Friday and Saturday at the Viterbo University NAIA Showcase.
This week
Thursday, Oct. 25 at South Dakota State, 7 p.m. (exhibition)
Viterbo Showcase | La Crosse, Wisconsin
Friday, Oct. 26 vs. No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26 vs. No. 22 Cardinal Stritch/Viterbo, 1:30/3:30 p.m.
Live coverage
Thursday at South Dakota State – AUDIO | STATS
Friday/Saturday at Viterbo – VIDEO/STATS
Preseason national rankings are nothing new for Olson’s program, the 2018 NAIA national runner up and winner of back-to-back GPAC regular-season and tournament titles. The Bulldogs have made a habit out of backing up the rankings. They have reached the national semifinals in three of the past four years and in four of the past seven. Understandably, expectations are high with the return of All-Americans Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge from last season’s national runner up squad.
Additional key returners include guards Taylor Cockerill, MacKenzie Helman and Riley Sibbel and forward Colby Duvel. Cockerill is a budding star who poured in 17 points in the national championship game. Meanwhile, a host of newcomers will make their Concordia debuts. The standouts among them are NCAA Division II University of Nebraska-Kearney transfer Grace Barry and freshman Elsie Aslesen of Elk Point, S.D. Barry and Cockerill figure to be the primary options at the point.
This will mark Olson’s 13th season as head coach at his alma mater. He is the winningest coach in program history with an overall record of 318-93. Olson has led the Bulldogs to eight total GPAC championships (four regular season, four tournament). Following last season’s run, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association named Olson the United States Marine Corps/WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year.
Following this weekend’s stay in Wisconsin, the Bulldogs will look forward to hosting the 19th annual Cattle Classic inside Walz Arena, Nov. 2-3. More info on the Cattle Classic can be found HERE.
This weekend’s opponents
South Dakota State University
Location: Brookings, S.D.
Head coach: Aaron Johnston (19th season)
2017-18 record: 26-7 (reached NCAA tournament)
Conference affiliation: The Summit League (NCAA Division I)
Leading returning scorer: Macy Miller (18.3 ppg)
Indiana Wesleyan University
Location: Marion, Ind.
Head coach: Ethan Whaley (2nd season)
2017-18 record: 25-9 (reached national tournament)
Conference affiliation: Crossroads League (NAIA Division II)
Leading returning scorer: Nicole Ignasiak (13.9 ppg)
*Ranked 15th in the NAIA Division II coaches’ preseason poll
Cardinal Stritch University
Location: Milwaukee, Wis.
Head coach: John Pfaffl (8th season)
2017-18 record: 19-11 (reached national tournament)
Conference affiliation: Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (NAIA Division II)
Leading returning scorer: Kelli Schrauth (18.8 ppg)
*Ranked 22nd in the NAIA Division II coaches’ preseason poll
Viterbo University
Location: La Crosse, Wis.
Head coach: Lionel Jones (1st season)
2017-18 record: 6-23
Conference affiliation: North Star Athletic Association (NAIA Division II)
Leading returning scorer: Alyssa Nilssen (12.5 ppg)
Easy going Wragge ready for last hurrah as lone senior on top-ranked team
Oct. 25, 2018
It feels like it was just yesterday when Quinn Wragge was being asked to shoulder the role of go-to player as a freshman on the 2015-16 Concordia women’s basketball team. In retrospect, it may have been a good thing for Wragge, who was forced to be aggressive. She came out of her shell in a big way and was even named first team all-conference and CIT MVP as just a rookie.
A few years later, Wragge finds herself as the lone senior on the varsity roster. She’s experienced a lot. She’s played in three national tournaments, including a national championship game. She’s scored more than 1,000 career points. She’s been an All-American and she’s been a first team All-GPAC selection every year of her career.
On the eve of the team’s first official game of the 2018-19 season, Wragge has some advice for herself. Says Wragge, “I really think for most seniors it’s not to take it for granted. You always think you have that next year and now I don’t. For me it’s about taking all of the opportunities that I have and using them. It’s the last year.”
Special players and special young women like Wragge are what have defined Bulldog women’s basketball, a program clearly established as one of the nation’s elite. If there is only going to one senior, it may as well be someone like Wragge. Confident but never boastful. Soft-spoken but loud in her actions. Star on the court. Star in the classroom. If she’s ever nervous, she doesn’t show it. She’s as steady as they come.
In what ways might her game expand this winter? She wants to ramp up her leadership and be more of an outside shooting threat.
“I think that’s the biggest thing this year for Quinn is stepping up into that leadership role and being that solid rock that we need,” said head coach Drew Olson. “She’s been great so far. As far as her game, we’re asking her to be aggressive and also expand her game and maybe shoot a little more from the perimeter. She’s just such a steady kid and doesn’t get phased by a whole lot.”
Prior to becoming a standout for the 2018-19 preseason No. 1 team, Wragge starred at Crofton High School. She made big-time contributions not only on the hardwood, but also as a track athlete. She seemed to have the right pedigree. Her father Mark racked up 1,821 career points during his career at Doane. Clearly basketball is one piece of the family’s identity. In addition, Quinn’s brother Grant is a sophomore on the Bulldog men’s basketball team.
The Wragges are also now a Concordia family. Please don’t even think about breaking out any old Doane gear, Mr. Wragge. Says Quinn, “Oh no. That’s not allowed in our house anymore. No Doane gear. It’s all Concordia.”
In her father, Quinn not only has loving support, she also has another excellent source for basketball knowledge and insight.
“He’s a coach at heart,” Quinn says. “He’s played for years. We’ve gone back and forth a couple of times. He’s like, ‘I think you could have done this’ and I’ll get a little defensive but then I usually come around. We always have some great conversations about the game or things that I could be working on and things he sees. I really enjoy it.”
While Quinn is well-known on campus for her first three years of fine achievement as a Bulldog, her brother is one to watch on the men’s team. We had to ask it. Do they still play each other one-on-one?
Let’s just say that Quinn knows when to call it quits. “For about 15 years when we played I was usually the one on top,” Quinn said. “I just like to remind him of those years when I was the one blocking him. Now we don’t play as much anymore because I don’t think it would go as well for me.”
Most things are going quite well for Wragge, an NAIA Scholar-Athlete in addition to being an All-American. No matter how things transpire this winter, there will always be fond memories of Concordia and the moments shared with teammates on and off the court. She mentions trips to Hawaii and California and this season’s upcoming stay in Phoenix as part of what has made it such a rewarding experience.
Additionally, there have been the memorable on-the-court snapshots such as CIT at home, the crazy overtime win last season at College of Ozarks, GPAC championships and 10 national tournament games. They all pale in comparison to the lessons learned by being a member of the program.
“There are so many,” Wragge said. “That’s one of my favorite things about being in this program. It is so much bigger than basketball. Obviously the most important one is our faith. I think that across the board most girls come in and when they leave they’re going to be able to say, ‘wow, I’ve grown in my faith.’ I’ve learned so many things from Coach Olson, from the girls and the speakers that we’ve listened to. That’s huge. I think another one that’s great is that we talk about leaving things better than we found them.”
It seems safe to say that will be the case with Wragge, who has big goals for this winter. She’s just not really flaunting them loudly. That’s not her style. But clearly she and her teammates are ready to embrace their top billing in the national poll. For a program that has been so close to the ultimate goal, the Bulldogs hope this is their year.
“There’s only one step further we can go than we were last year,” Wragge said. “That’s our goal for this year. When it (meaning the 2018 national championship game) does come up, it’s a motivator. It’s something that we want to get past so it’s not a negative this year. Let’s get there again and then go one step further.”
It's time to focus and finish.
Cockerill drops 40 in season opening win
Oct. 26, 2018
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Cat quick guard Taylor Cockerill hinted at future stardom last season as a freshman. After Friday (Oct. 26)’s season opener, it’s safe to say she has officially arrived. She rang in the new season by dropping 40 points while leading the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team to an 81-68 victory over No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan University in the opening game of the Viterbo Invitational in La Crosse, Wis.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad begins a new season with the usual lofty expectations. The Bulldogs are now 58-3 in regular-season games since the start of the 2016-17 campaign.
“Overall we did play well,” Olson said. “Defensively we’re getting better. We’re just not quite where we need to be. Today we were able to take a decent step forward in certain aspects. We’re still trying to figure out who we are. I think we’ll get there.
“We have so much more that we can do. We beat a good team by double digits, but yet Philly (Lammers) fouls out. I know Grace (Barry) has more in her. We had 25 turnovers and we shot terribly. We had wide open looks. We have to have kids step up and knock shots down. Considering we still won by double digits it shows how good we can be.”
Concordia found itself trailing in the second quarter (27-24) after the Wildcats put together a 13-2 run. During which, the Bulldogs went ice cold offensively. They went just 4-for-22 (.182) from 3-point range for the game, but even when the shots aren’t falling they find ways to make an impression. The ‘gnats’ forced 38 Indiana Wesleyan turnovers in another suffocating performance.
Those miscues and an inability to contain Cockerill doomed the Wildcats. This was an outing to remember. She came off the bench to make 14-of-20 shots from the floor and 10-of-13 tries from the charity stripe. Cockerill’s 40 points are second most in school history behind only the 45-point effort from Bailey Morris in 2014. That’s good company to keep.
“She did that against good defensive team,” Olson said. “I thought they did a really nice job. They switched a lot of stuff. Taylor carried us at times. When we were struggling she could get to the rim. A lot of those baskets we generated off of defense. We got a whole bunch of steals.”
And when Indiana Wesleyan made a late push with a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter, Cockerill was there to stamp out the rally. Twelve of her points came over the final 4:09 of game time. In the process, she blew away her previous career high of 20 points in a game.
It was also a nice day for the lone senior on the roster, Quinn Wragge. She totaled 17 points (7-for-11 from the field), five rebounds and three steals. Meanwhile, point guard Grace Barry notched 12 points, dished out seven assists and swiped six steals while making her Bulldog debut. Another five players also donned Concordia uniforms for the first time. Riley Sibbel added five steals.
The Wildcats got double-digit point outputs from two players off the bench: Anne Secrest (14) and Elaina Ededuwa (12). When they weren’t turning it over, they were an efficient 51.1 percent (23-for-45) from the field. Indiana Wesleyan also had the fortune of seeing the All-American Lammers play only 15 minutes. She fouled out with six points.
Olson’s starting lineup in the opener included Barry at the point, junior MacKenzie Helman at off guard and a lengthy frontline of freshman Elsie Aslesen, Lammers and Wragge. Cockerill and junior Colby Duvel logged the most minutes off the bench. A day earlier, the Bulldogs were defeated in an exhibition at NCAA Division I South Dakota State University.
The Bulldogs will remain in La Crosse overnight in preparation for Saturday’s championship game of the Viterbo University NAIA Invitational. In the other matchup at the invite, No. 22 Cardinal Stritch University was upset by host Viterbo, 61-56. Saturday’s game versus Viterbo will tip off at 3:30 p.m. and can be streamed live via Viterbo’s Stretch Internet portal.
Top-ranked Bulldogs dominate Viterbo Invitational championship game
Oct. 27, 2018
LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Concordia University women’s basketball team hopes there are more championships on its horizon, but for now it can call itself champions of the Viterbo University Invitational. The Bulldogs hit host Viterbo hard on Saturday (Oct. 27) in the opening quarter on the way to a dominant 93-43 victory in the title clash of the four-team weekend tournament in La Crosse, Wis.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad also defeated 15th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan, 81-68, on Friday afternoon in La Crosse. Grace Barry, Taylor Cockerill and Quinn Wragge each represented Concordia on the Viterbo Invitational all-tournament team.
“Our kids came out with good energy and were very aggressive in our press, which caused them to turn the ball over a lot,” Olson said. “We were able to capitalize in the first quarter. In the second quarter we got a little sloppy with our defense and fundamentals. Viterbo kept their composure and they were still playing hard. In the fourth quarter the floodgates opened. Our bench players just played awesome.”
After pouring in 38 points on Friday, Cockerill added 20 (5-for-10 from the field) more on Saturday in 19 minutes of action. She also contributed five rebounds and three steals. The thefts were a major story in this game. The Bulldogs racked up 32 steals and forced 49 V-Hawks turnovers. The giveaways were a big reason why Concordia outscored Viterbo 32-8 in the first quarter and then 33-4 in the fourth.
With the game out of hand quickly, all 14 Bulldogs who made the trip saw action. Thirteen of them registered in the scoring column. Philly Lammers (16 points, eight rebounds, three steals), Wragge (11 points, three steals) and Mackenzie Koepke (10 points, three steals) joined Cockerill as double figure scorers. Off the bench, Colby Duvel and Rylee Pauli swiped four steals apiece.
In the early going, Olson is still figuring out how to best position his team for success. While there are proven stars like Lammers and Wragge on board, there are plenty of new pieces to the rotation. None is bigger than Barry at the point. She produced a stat line of eight points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals on Saturday.
“I think Grace is doing a really nice job,” Olson said. “She’s going to keep getting better. Defensively she’s improving and understanding what I want out of her as a point guard. She’s a great player.”
Concordia still has yet to find its shooting touch from the perimeter (6-for-25 from 3-point range on Saturday), but gave itself plenty of margin for error by getting 24 more field goal attempts and 20 more free throw tries than Viterbo (1-1). It was an overall impressive dismantling of a squad that had just upset No. 22 Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) the day before.
The V-Hawks were paced by 15 points from Ambree Schlosser. They were held to just 32.7 percent (16-for-49) shooting from the floor. Each of their five starters was harassed into committing six or more turnovers apiece.
Now the Bulldogs get ready to make their home debut next week at the Cattle Classic (Nov. 2-3). Concordia will open the event by taking on Peru State College at 6 p.m. CT on the first day of the annual classic. More details and the complete schedule for the Cattle Classic can be found HERE.
Previewing the 2018 women's Cattle Classic
Oct. 30, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – The 19th annual Cattle Classic is set to tip off on Friday afternoon inside Walz Arena. The basketball classic features a total of four men’s games and four women’s games over the course of the two-day extravaganza. The event, co-sponsored by Concordia and Cattle Bank & Trust, raises money and food for the Blue Valley Community Action's Food Pantry. Pac N Save of Seward will match all canned food donations.
Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods in exchange for admission. Ten canned items will get an adult a weekend pass. Complete admission information for the Cattle Classic can be found HERE.
2018 CATTLE CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 2
- Women: Doane University vs. University of Saint Francis (Ind.), 1 p.m.
- Men: Barclay College (Kan.) vs. Hastings College 3 p.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. Peru State College, 6 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. St. Thomas University (Fla.), 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 3
- Women: Doane University vs. Peru State College, 10 a.m.
- Men: Midland University vs. St. Thomas University (Fla.), 12 p.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. University of Saint Francis (Ind.), 3 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. Barclay College (Kan.), 5 p.m.
The Women’s Field
Concordia University
Head coach: Drew Olson, 13th season
2018-19 Record: 2-0
2017-18 Record: 36-2
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Seward, Neb.
Top Player: Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge both earned All-America honors last season and return to lead perhaps the top frontcourt in the nation at the NAIA Division II level. Lammers averaged 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds last season. It should also be noted that budding star Taylor Cockerill poured in 58 combined points, including 38 in the 81-68 win over 15th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University, over last week’s pair of victories at the Viterbo Invitational.
Overview: “Focus and finish” is the theme this season for a program looking to return to the national championship game again in 2019 and finish it. The expectations are understandably high for a team ranked No. 1 in the preseason national poll. Head coach Drew Olson has another well-rounded squad that also features University of Nebraska-Kearney transfer Grace Barry at the point. The biggest concern centers upon how the Bulldogs can replace the defensive prowess in the backcourt of 2017-18 seniors Dani Hoppes and Mary Janovich.
Doane University
Head coach: Tracee Fairbanks, 20th season
2018-19 Record: 1-0
2017-18 Record: 7-21
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Crete, Neb.
Top Player: At least statistically, this is to be determined. Last season’s leading scorer McKenna Dodd (15.5 ppg) has graduated. Sophomore Haylee Heits of Rulo, Neb., may be one player who can help fill the void. She notched 19 points in last week’s season opening victory after averaging 9.7 points as a freshman.
Overview: Doane has not generated a lot of preseason buzz after going 7-21 last season, but it did start the season by knocking off Kansas Wesleyan, 67-55, at home. The Tigers were picked 11th in the GPAC preseason poll. Head coach Tracee Fairbanks’ squad struggled offensively last season (62.5 ppg, 40.7 percent shooting), but did manage to twice put a scare into Concordia
Peru State College
Head coach: Joan Albury, 1st season (interim head coach)
2018-19 Record: 0-0
2017-18 Record: 3-25
Conference: Heart of America Athletic Conference (NAIA Division I)
Location: Peru, Neb.
Top Player: Guard Claire Cudney averaged 14.3 points per game last season and was named to the honorable mention list of the Heart of America Athletic Conference team. Cudney figures to shoulder a heavy offensive load for a Bobcat team that had trouble putting the ball in the basket last season (34.2 team shooting percentage).
Overview: The Bobcats have an interim head coach in Joan Albury who served as the team’s head coach in 2013-14 and 2014-15 before moving to Florida. Peru State has been picked to finish last (13th) in the HAAC by league coaches. One of the program’s three victories last season came against a GPAC opponent (College of Saint Mary).
University of Saint Francis
Head coach: Jason Ridge, 4th season
2018-19 Record: 0-0
2017-18 Record: 17-14
Conference: Crossroads League (NAIA Division II)
Location: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Top Player: Expectations are rising for Saint Francis, in part because of the return of star Kara Gerka, a preseason first team All-Crossroads League selection. In two seasons, Gerka has already surpassed 1,000 career points. She averaged 18.4 points and 5.1 rebounds and shot 55.5 percent from the floor last season.
Overview: The Cougars are expected to make a jump this winter after finishing 17-14 in 2017-18. Crossroads coaches picked Saint Francis to place second. They also appeared at No. 14 in the NAIA Division II preseason coaches’ poll. Also on the preseason all-conference teams, Savannah Buck and Lauren McBryar appeared on the second team. Gerka and company have their sights set on making it back to the national tournament after missing out this past March.
Top-ranked Dawgs run away with home debut
Nov. 2, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – A slow start for the Concordia University women’s basketball team had little effect on the outcome. The Bulldogs overmatched visiting Peru State College with superior depth and their patented pressure defense to run away with a 100-55 victory on the opening day of the 19th annual Cattle Classic on Friday (Nov. 2). The Bobcats committed 39 turnovers, including 27 in the first half.
Games like these are nothing new for 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s program. His latest squad improved to 3-0 overall this season with the help of runs of 9-0 to open the first quarter, 15-0 to begin the third quarter and 9-0 to start the fourth period.
“I thought we did a nice job, especially after that slow start,” Olson said. “I thought our kids picked it up in the second quarter and carried it into the third quarter. Defensively we’ve been really, really good. That continued today. I thought we took care of the ball better in the second half. We just moved the ball better in the second half.”
Friday’s contest marked the first-ever home appearance for eight new Bulldogs, including starting point guard Grace Barry, a transfer from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She turned in one of the game’s more impressive stat lines, going for 12 points (6-for-7 from the floor), six assists (only one turnover) and two steals in 16 minutes of action.
Barry is especially adept at setting up her own teammates. That skill will come in handy even more when Concordia breaks out from 3-point range (6-for-24 on Friday). She’s a perfect fit for this roster.
“It was a lot of fun,” Barry said of her first Walz experience. “The biggest thing to me is I’m around a great group of girls, a great group of coaches. Then you have professors here and friends here that I’ve met from classes. It’s just a great environment. There’s lots of energy and excitement.”
It is clear that junior Taryn Schuette has developed to the point of taking on more minutes this winter. She was the game’s high scorer with 17 points. She accomplished that in 14 minutes of playing time. Freshman Mackenzie Koepke (11 points, eight rebounds) and junior Philly Lammers (10 points, four steals) also reached double figures.
Peru State (0-1) was coming off a three-win season and was forced to play short-handed on Friday – only eight players were in uniform. Two Bobcat starters were harassed into 11 turnovers apiece. One of them was Giovanna Silva, who did manage to contribute nine points, eight rebounds and five steals.
Olson continues tinker with different lineup combinations during the early season. Junior guard Riley Sibbel started in the backcourt alongside Barry and sophomore Taylor Cockerill. Koepke shined in a reserve role while carrying the flag during a fourth quarter that was all about the bench players. Other rookies also contributed with Claire Cornell chipping in seven points and Delani Fahey adding six points.
The Friday game was something like an appetizer for Saturday’s big matchup with 14th-ranked University of Saint Francis (Ind.). The Cougars blew away Doane, 82-49, in the very first game of the Cattle Classic. Saint Francis’ top returner is All-American Kara Gerka. Saturday’s tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. CT.
“They look like an awesome team,” Olson said. “They have a lot of really good shooters and they’re well organized. They’re going to be a tough team to beat. They’re a great defensive team. Hopefully our kids will be ready to go.”
Concordia dogs St. Francis in battle of top 15 teams
Nov. 3, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – For some opponents, it must feel like the Concordia University women’s basketball team is playing with six players on the court. That would seem to reasonably explain how the first four Bulldog foes are averaging more than 40 turnovers per game. Top-ranked Concordia forced 41 more turnovers Saturday afternoon (Nov. 3) while pummeling 14th-ranked University of Saint Francis (Ind.), 84-55, as part of the 19th annual Cattle Classic.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has now made victims out of two top 15 nationally-ranked squads as part of its 4-0 start. The Bulldogs also own a victory over No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan University.
“I thought that was a really good team that we just beat,” Olson said. “Our kids played awesome defensively to force 41 turnovers against a team that is probably going to the national tournament. That says a lot. That’s a really good team. I was just really impressed with our ball movement. We shared the ball a lot better today.”
Junior Grace Barry and Philly Lammers were both named to the All-Cattle Classic team. In the latest contest, Lammers needed only 16 minutes to pile up 18 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the field. She also swiped four steals while contributing to another suffocating defensive performance. Barry led the way with five thefts while putting up eight points and five assists.
This game really got out of hand in the third quarter when Concordia built an 11-point halftime advantage (43-32) up to a 23-point lead (61-38) with an 18-6 run punctuated by a MacKenzie Helman trey. The Cougars of the NAIA’s Crossroads League never got closer than 16 points the rest of the way.
Just like Friday, many Bulldogs got in on the fun. After totaling 17 points in the win over Peru State College, Taryn Schuette added 11 more on Saturday to lead the bench group. Taylor Cockerill (11 points, five rebounds, two steals) joined Lammers in double figures as part of a balanced attack. Quinn Wragge (nine points, four steals, four assists) also had a nice afternoon. So too did freshman Mackenzie Koepke (eight points, three steals) off the bench.
“It was really awesome that we were able to do that against such a great team,” Lammers said. “I think it came a lot from our defense, which always helps out. We forced a lot of turnovers and were able to capitalize on that.”
An All-American last season, Kara Gerka topped Saint Francis (1-1) with 19 points and 11 rebounds. She was also named to the All-Cattle Classic team.
The Bulldogs now get ready for conference play next week. Concordia will return to the site of its only regular-season loss in 2017-18 when it takes on Midland (3-0) in Fremont, Neb., for a 6 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday. The Warriors have started impressively by earning wins over Central Methodist College and Bellevue University in the opening week of nonconference play.
All-Cattle Classic Team
Haylee Heits, Doane
Swaranga Fernando, Peru State
Kara Gerka, St. Francis
Grace Barry, Concordia
Philly Lammers, Concordia
Defending GPAC champs to open conference play at Midland
Nov. 5, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – Based on the way the conference is tearing it up in non-league play, the GPAC appears as strong as usual in women’s basketball. That means a challenging week lies ahead for the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team, which will tip off conference play at Midland on Tuesday. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad will also journey to Briar Cliff on Saturday.
This Week
Tuesday, Nov. 6 at Midland, 6 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Nov. 10 at Briar Cliff, 2 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
Through four games, the Bulldogs (4-0) have backed up their No. 1 national ranking. Unfamiliar conference opponents have struggled mightily against the Concordia press. Even without departed defensive standouts Dani Hoppes and Mary Janovich, the Bulldogs have already forced 167 turnovers (41.8 per game). Concordia is represented on the GPAC leaderboard with five of the top eight in the steals category. No. 1 on that list is junior guard Grace Barry, a transfer from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She was named to the All-Cattle Classic team along with Philly Lammers over the weekend.
The numbers in terms of per game averages are not gaudy for Lammers, mostly because she has not been needed to play heavy minutes. The Bulldogs have won each of their first four games by margins of at least 13 points, including triumphs over No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan University and No. 14 University of Saint Francis (Ind.). In the latest victory, Lammers went for 18 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the floor. The scoring leader has been sophomore guard Taylor Cockerill (19.3 ppg), who had 40 points in the season opener.
Plenty of newcomers are making an impact for Olson’s squad, which has gone at least 12 players deep in every game. In terms of scoring, the top player off the bench has been junior Taryn Schuette, who put up a career high 17 points versus Peru State College last week. Freshman Mackenzie Koepke, a Lincoln Lutheran graduate, also looks the part. She has averaged 7.3 points per game on 47.8 percent shooting from the floor. The only thing missing right now for Olson’s squad is shooting touch from the perimeter. The Bulldogs are 25-for-100 (.250) from 3-point range.
Picked eighth in the GPAC preseason poll, Midland (3-0) could surprise some people if the early season results are any indication. Head coach Shawn Gilbert’s squad opened up its season on Halloween with a 79-62 win over Central Methodist University (Mo.), which is ranked 11th at the NAIA Division I level. The Warriors followed with wins over Bellevue University, 86-74, and Nebraska Christian College, 71-39. A balanced Midland team has been paced so far by former Bulldog Maddie Egr (11.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg). Concordia suffered its only regular-season loss in 2017-18 in Fremont.
Briar Cliff (3-0) is fresh off a big weekend in Chicago where it upset fourth-ranked Saint Xavier University (Ill.) and No. 18 Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.). Though picked ninth in the GPAC, head coach Mike Power’s squad appears to have the makings of a potential national tournament qualifier. The team’s primary scorers have been Alyssa Carley (17.0), Logan Ehlers (16.0) and Taylor Wagner (15.7). The Chargers are looking to make a jump this season after dipping below .500 in each of the past two seasons.
Projected starters
Concordia (4-0)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11
Midland (3-0)
G – Amanda Hansen, Jr., 5-7
G – Maddie Meadows, Jr., 5-11
G – Madison Severson, Sr., 5-3
F – Maddie Egr, Sr., 6-0
F – Makenna Sullivan, So., 5-11
Briar Cliff (3-0)
G – Alyssa Carley, Jr., 5-11
G – Taylor Wagner, Sr., 5-9
F – Faith Troshynski, Jr., 5-10
F – Taylor Vasa, Sr., 6-0
C – Logan Ehlers, So., 6-2
Bulldogs avenge only 2017-18 regular-season loss, move to 5-0
Nov. 6, 2018
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland gave the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball a push early on, but hanging with the Bulldogs for the full 40 minutes is no easy task. Eventually Concordia wore down the Warriors with pressure and put it away with a couple of back-breaking buckets down the stretch from point guard Grace Barry. Colby Duvel added the punctuation with a trey in the final minute of an 83-65 Bulldog victory in Fremont, Neb., on Tuesday night (Nov. 6).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has played two ranked teams in the early going, but this was as challenging of a test as it has faced so far. Concordia, now 5-0, also had revenge on its mind having suffered its only 2017-18 regular-season loss at Midland.
“I thought Midland did a really good job breaking down our zone,” Olson said. “They took care of the ball really well and they hit shots. I felt like they played harder and were tougher than us in the first quarter. It was a little bit of us freaking out because we weren’t turning them over as much as other opponents. I thought our kids did a nice job of settling down in the second half.”
The Bulldogs trailed by a point after the first quarter, but they got the better of the Warriors (3-1, 0-1 GPAC) in each of the final three periods. Barry has become the team’s steadying force. She posted 16 points and dished out four assists without a single turnover. She came through with two key fourth quarter buckets at a time when Midland still had a glimmer of hope.
“She can get us going because she can create at any time,” Olson said. “We’re just trying to get her to be more aggressive looking to score herself. She’s starting to buy into that a little more. I just thought she did a great job controlling the tempo of the game and balancing her scoring and distributing.”
There was no chance Olson’s squad was going to overlook the Warriors after suffering an 86-77 loss in Fremont back on Jan. 31. Midland has also opened some eyes early this season by knocking off Central Methodist University (Mo.), which is ranked 11th in NAIA Division I. Former Bulldog Maddie Egr had a solid evening, turning in 16 points and nine rebounds. Amanda Hansen added 15 points.
But it was going to take an extra special effort to take down Concordia. It used double-figure point performances from five players to pull away. Senior Quinn Wragge topped all scorers with 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the floor. Others to reach 10 or more were Barry, Philly Lammers (11), Taryn Schuette (11) and Taylor Cockerill (10).
The Bulldogs entered the evening averaging a gaudy 41.8 turnovers forced per game. That number was not going to hold all season long. Midland did a commendable job in turning it over only 21 times. Concordia was even better, giving it away just seven times. That’s the type of focus needed to win comfortably on the road in the GPAC.
“We were much more focused, knowing that this team is capable of beating us,” Olson said. “Revenge plays in the mind a little bit. I think the returners passed that down to our newcomers.”
Another road test is coming up on Saturday when the Bulldogs will head to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Briar Cliff (3-0). Tipoff from the Newman Flanagan Center is set for 2 p.m. CT. The Chargers have already taken down two ranked opponents: No. 4 Saint Xavier University (Ill.) and No. 18 Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.).
Wragge and company storm past Briar Cliff
Nov. 10, 2018
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – It’s been an impressive opening week of conference play for the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team. Fresh off a road win over Midland on Tuesday, the Bulldogs forced 42 more turnovers, pressed on the accelerator in the fourth quarter and cruised to a 99-71 win over Briar Cliff at the Newman Flanagan Center on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 10).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s program is no stranger to lengthy unbeaten runs to begin a season. The 2017-18 squad started out 24-0 before its first defeat. The latest Concordia edition is now 6-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
“I thought we could come out in the second half and put the hammer down, but Briar Cliff did a good job in that third quarter,” Olson said. “But then in the fourth quarter our kids really stepped up and played well defensively. We hit shots and really broke it open. We just have to stay disciplined and focused for all four quarters.”
After trailing 51-33 at the half, the Chargers (3-2, 0-2 GPAC) put together an 8-0 third quarter run that put them within 10 points (55-45). However, that was the closest Briar Cliff got after halftime. Taylor Cockerill drilled a trey for the final points of the third quarter, sparking a dominant performance over the final 10 minutes. During which, the Bulldogs outscored Briar Cliff 31-17 to effectively put the game on ice.
Concordia senior Quinn Wragge got that fourth quarter started with a bucket as part of her game high 19-point outing. She made 9-of-13 shots from the floor for a Bulldog team that shot 48.2 percent (40-for-83) overall. Once again, the offensive attack was fueled by a tenacious defensive approach led by junior point guard Grace Barry.
She’s the type of player that Concordia didn’t necessarily have on last season’s national runner up. Barry filled the stat sheet with 13 points, eight steals, six assists and four rebounds. She fits right in with the rest of the ‘gnats’ that have given opponents fits so far. Cockerill (14 points, four assists) and Philly Lammers (10 points, seven rebounds) also reached double figures in scoring. Off the bench, Delani Fahey and Taryn Schuette contributed nine points apiece.
It all added up to a quality road victory over a Briar Cliff outfit that already owns wins over No. 4 Saint Xavier University (Ill.) and No. 18 Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.).
“I think they’re much improved,” Olson said of the Chargers. “They’re a better team than they were last year. This was a good win. We just know that we have to keep getting better. To not put someone away was our learning lesson. When we’ve got somebody down by 18 at the half, you have to come out and start really well.”
When Briar Cliff took care of the ball, it did quite well offensively. It shot 47.8 percent (22-for-46) from the floor, 56.3 percent from long distance (9-for-16) and a perfect 18-for-18 from the foul line. The Chargers were paced in the scoring column by Faith Troshynski (15), Logan Ehlers (14) and Breanna Allen (12).
After a week on the road to begin GPAC play, the Bulldogs will be back home this coming week for a pair of clashes with nationally ranked opponents. Up first is Wednesday (Nov. 14)’s matchup with No. 13 Hastings (3-1, 2-0 GPAC). Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT from Walz Arena. Concordia has won five straight in the series with the Broncos.
Two top 25 foes set to invade Walz
Nov. 12, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – After a week on the road, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team is ready to get back inside friendly Walz Arena. Though the Bulldogs will be at home, that doesn’t necessarily mean this week will be a breeze. It’s rather the opposite, Concordia will host 13th-ranked Hastings on Wednesday before welcoming No. 16 Jamestown to Seward on Saturday. Head coach Drew Olson’s squad is coming off of GPAC road wins over Midland and Briar Cliff.
This Week
Wednesday, Nov. 14 vs. No. 13 Hastings (3-1, 2-0), 6 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Nov. 17 vs. No. 16 Jamestown (5-1, 2-0), 2 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
The powerhouse Connecticut program of NCAA Division I currently owns the longest active home win streak for in collegiate women’s basketball with 78-straight wins when playing in Storrs, Conn. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have won each of their last 38 home games since suffering a defeat at Walz at the hands of Doane on Jan. 27, 2016. (Southeastern University of Florida has an active home win streak of 37). Concordia went 17-0 at home during the 2016-17 season and then 15-0 at home in 2017-18. Since the beginning of the 2011-12 season, the Bulldogs are a combined 104-9 at home.
Senior Quinn Wragge continues to move up the program’s all-time charts. With her 19 points in the win at Briar Cliff, Wragge passed Melissa Tinkham (1,452) for 10th on the career scoring list with 1,459 points over 112 career games. Wragge also ranks in a tie for ninth all-time in rebounds (662) and is 17th in steals (199). Just a junior, Philly Lammers has climbed to 17th in rebounds (605), 18th in steals (188) and 22nd in points (1,085).
While Lammers and Wragge are the returning All-Americans, they have plenty of a help. At the point guard position, transfer Grace Barry has been an immediate impact player. She’s averaging 11.7 points and 4.33 steals and has a rock solid assist-to-turnover ratio of 31-to-16. On the flip side, turnovers provide the biggest explanation for Concordia’s dominance so far (average victory margin of 30.5 points). The Bulldogs have forced an average of 38.8 turnovers per game. They flustered Briar Cliff into 42 turnovers over the weekend in Sioux City, Iowa. Five Concordia players rank in the top 10 of the GPAC leaderboard in steals per game.
Hastings has regrouped from a season opening loss at Kansas Wesleyan University by winning three games in a row. The Broncos have a particularly challenging week ahead with road trips to No. 1 Concordia and No. 2 Dakota Wesleyan. The stretch follows blowout home wins over Doane and Mount Marty to open conference play. Head coach Jina Douglas’ squad brought back one of the league’s top players in Shandra Farmer, a defensive hound. Farmer is also the team’s leading scorer at 12.3 points per game.
Jamestown will has a midweek bye before making the trek to Seward on Saturday. The Jimmies have a new head coach in Thad Sankey, a CUNE graduate who had spent the previous five seasons as the head women’s basketball coach at Concordia University, Ann Arbor. Sankey also spent one season as a graduate assistant under Olson. Sankey inherited a program that has been a perennial national tournament qualifier. The Bulldogs and Jimmies have met in the national quarterfinals in three of the past four seasons with Concordia coming out on top in each instance. This Jamestown team prefers to grind it out. It is holding opponents to 51.5 points per game and 34.9 percent shooting.
Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (6-0, 2-0)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.7)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (16.7)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.7)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (13.2)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (11.8)
Hastings (3-1, 2-0)
G – Shandra Farmer, Jr., 5-3 (12.3)
G – Emma Grenfell, Jr., 5-6 (8.5)
G – Sophia Pankratz, Jr., 5-7 (4.3)
F – Mackenzie Willicott, Sr., 5-9 (12.0)
C – Kennedy Sander, Jr., 6-0 (6.0)
Jamestown (5-1, 2-0)
G – Mya Buffetta, So., 5-4 (5.0)
G – Paige Schmidt, Jr., 5-8 (6.0)
F – Jory Mullen, Sr., 6-0 (8.2)
F – Emma Stoehr, So., 5-8 (8.2)
C – Jenna Doyle, Sr., 6-3 (7.5)
Barry dazzles, home win streak continues
Nov. 14, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – Even an opponent led by an All-American point guard is not immune to the landmines that have detonated on foes of the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team. For the second game in a row, the Bulldogs absorbed a third quarter push from the opposition. The latest outing turned into an 82-68 victory over 13th-ranked Hastings inside Walz Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 14).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s top-ranked squad remains unbeaten at 7-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Concordia has an active streak of 39-straight home wins.
“That’s probably going to be one of the hardest teams to press because of Shandra Farmer,” Olson said. “I thought we did a really good job, especially in that first half. I was really pleased with how we could extend the lead in that second quarter. Again we came out flat in the third quarter. We have to set the tone better, especially on the defensive end.”
The visiting Broncos did manage to cut their turnovers down from 20 in the first half to nine in the second half. But by the break, Hastings found itself in a 15-point hole (44-29). A dominant second quarter by the Bulldogs saw point guard Grace Barry delight the crowd. She even dropped a no-look dime to Philly Lammers on the break. The half ended with Barry scoring on a pretty finish at the rack. Said Olson, “She’s a really dynamic player, very creative. We are not the team we are without her.”
If you want to nitpick, Concordia did allow its opposition to get back in the game in the third quarter for the second-straight outing. With Farmer leading the way, Hastings (3-2, 2-1 GPAC) found an offensive groove after regrouping and poured in 16 points in the opening 4:10 of the third quarter. It whittled the Bulldog lead down to six (51-45).
Concordia kept coming. An 8-0 run early in the fourth quarter made for an 18-point (74-56) cushion that made it a real chore for the visitors. After working through some early foul trouble, Philly Lammers (14 points, eight rebounds) got rolling. Then with a chance to put the nail in the coffin, Taylor Cockerill drained a dagger of a triple in the closing minutes.
These rock fights with the Broncos are no bother to a scrapper like junior Colby Duvel. She came off the bench early on and finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
“You’re putting two teams together that work hard every day,” Duvel said. “When you get two teams that are really competitive, we just want to be the team that comes out on top. Battling inside just fuels the fire. It creates for a great atmosphere and a great game.”
Cockerill led all players with 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting from the floor. Barry once again did it all. The team’s catalyst posted 14 points, eight assists and seven steals to just two turnovers. Senior Quinn Wragge chipped in with 14 points and six rebounds.
Farmer battled foul trouble of her own that limited her to 15 minutes (12 points). Mackenzie Willicott (14) and Kennedy Sander (13) also reached double figures in scoring.
Concordia used the night to raise money and support for Jackson Einspahr, a fourth grader at St. John Lutheran School in Seward. The son of former track and field and cross country head coach Kregg Einspahr, Jackson has been undergoing chemotherapy to treat his cancer.
The Bulldogs will remain at home on Saturday to host 16th-ranked Jamestown (5-1, 2-0 GPAC) in another clash with a ranked opponent (fourth so far this season). The Jimmies are in their first season as a member of the GPAC and also have a new head coach in CUNE graduate Thad Sankey. Tipoff on Saturday is set for 2 p.m. CT from Walz Arena.
Top-ranked Dawgs ride dominant third quarter to 40th-straight home win
Nov. 17, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – Any hopes 16th-ranked Jamestown had of ending the Concordia University women’s basketball home win streak were stamped out with a dominant third quarter by the Bulldogs. The backcourt of Grace Barry and Taylor Cockerill controlled the game for No. 1 Concordia, which trampled the Jimmies, 87-59, inside Walz Arena on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 17).
First-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad not only moved to 8-0 overall (4-0 GPAC), it extended the program’s home win streak to 40. The most recent home defeat was suffered in January 2016.
“We’ve talked about (starting better in the second half) a little bit,” Olson said. “That was a good reminder at halftime of ‘hey, let’s make sure we stay focused and provide a lot of really good energy on the defensive end.’ They were phenomenal. You could just see them suffocate Jamestown in that third quarter.”
The script on Saturday was a familiar one for the Bulldogs, who often make it a chore for opponents to simply get the ball past midcourt. The Jimmies (5-2, 2-1 GPAC) actually held a 28-26 lead at the six-minute mark of the second quarter before crumbling in the face of Concordia’s pressure defense. Jamestown was guilty of 29 turnovers (21 in the first half). By the break, the Bulldogs had built a 12-point advantage (51-39) while wreaking havoc in transition.
Thus far, it’s been difficult to find a weakness in Concordia’s game. Barry and Cockerill continued to tear it up in backcourt, combining for 28 points and nine steals. Of course, whenever they run into trouble, they can drop it into the post to Philly Lammers, who racked up 21 points (7-for-11 from the field, 7-for-7 from the foul line) in 17 minutes of action. The length of Quinn Wragge was also a problem for Jamestown. She stole the ball seven times.
The versatility and depth of the roster has been on full display for Olson, who can throw a variety of zone looks at the opposition. That tenacious defense limited Jamestown to 36.2 percent shooting (6-for-31 in the second half).
“We have so many girls. We have a deep bench,” Cockerill said. “Everyone is just ready to play defense. We’re just having fun out there.”
That third quarter was a lot of fun from Concordia’s perspective. There was even a touch of déjà vu for those who recall how the Bulldogs outscored the Jimmies 38-10 during the third period of their matchup in the national quarterfinals this past March. This time around, Concordia owned the third quarter, 28-9. It ended with an 11-1 Bulldog splurge capped by a pair of Barry buckets. By the time the 10-minute stanza was up, Concordia had put the game away (79-48 lead).
Lammers was joined in double figures in scoring by Cockerill (15), Barry (13), Wragge (12) and Colby Duvel (10). Duvel especially sparked the Bulldogs in the opening quarter during which she dropped eight points. She also collected five rebounds and three steals for the game. As a team, Concordia shot 47.9 percent (34-for-71) from the floor and limited its turnover count to 15.
While scoring often grabs the headlines, it’s the Bulldog defense that gives opponents the most nightmares. Concordia entered the game leading the nation in steals per game and turnover margin.
“With our starting five it’s really good,” Olson said of its defensive performance. “We’re still trying to develop some of our kids off the bench. It’s still a work in progress, but I think our kids are getting better every day and we’re making really good strides.”
The Jimmies, coached by CUNE alum Thad Sankey, got a team high 17 points from Jory Mullen. Noelle Josephson added 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
The Bulldogs still have one contest coming up prior to Thanksgiving. They will be at College of Saint Mary (1-7, 0-3 GPAC) on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff in Omaha. The Flames are still seeking their first GPAC victory after an 82-62 home loss to Dordt on Saturday.
Bulldogs to meet Flames in Omaha Tuesday
Nov. 19, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – Just one contest will be on the plate for Thanksgiving week. The top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team will be at College of Saint Mary on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff in Omaha. The Flames are home to the Lied Fitness Center.
This Week
Tuesday, Nov. 20 at College of Saint Mary (1-7, 0-3), 6 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
College of Saint Mary will have to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued many of the first eight opponents for head coach Drew Olson’s squad. The tenacious Bulldog press has been wreaking havoc again this season. Entering the week, Concordia (8-0, 4-0 GPAC) tops all NAIA Division II women’s basketball teams in steals per game (23.1) and turnover margin (+17.4). In two more victories over nationally-ranked opponents last week, the Bulldogs forced 29 turnovers from both No. 13 Hastings and No. 16 Jamestown. Each Concordia foe has committed at least 21 turnovers with an average of 36.0 turnovers per game.
Transfer point guard Grace Barry has been the catalyst for a program that has started 8-0 for the fifth time during Olson’s 13 seasons. Barry currently boasts national rankings of first in steals per game (4.63) and fourth in assists per game (5.75) while also operating as an efficient scorer (51.9 percent shooting from the floor). Barry has teamed up Taylor Cockerill on a terrific backcourt. Combined, they have recorded 68 assists compared to 34 turnovers. Cockerill is the team’s leading scorer at 16.5 points per game.
Senior Quinn Wragge is on the verge of becoming the 10th player in program history to reach 1,500 career points. She’s now at 1,485 after putting up 14 versus Hastings and 12 against Jamestown. Last season Concordia had five different players eclipse 1,000 career points. Wragge and Philly Lammers (1,120 career points) are the only current 1,000-point scorers on the roster. Additionally, Wragge has moved to No. 9 on the program’s all-time rebounding list with 672 career boards. Lammers at No. 17 on that same list with 616 rebounds.
College of Saint Mary has a new head coach in Kirk Walker, a former assistant at the University of Nebraska Omaha. The program has slipped since going 27-7 and qualifying for the national tournament in 2014-15. The Flames went 5-25 last season and are off to a 1-7 start in 2018-19. Last season’s matchups with Concordia resulted in Bulldog wins by scores of 114-56 and 86-57. So far, College of Saint Mary has averaged 63.1 points and shot 38.7 percent from the floor. The team’s leading scorers are Corryne Millet (11.9 ppg) and Trista Merrival (11.5 ppg).
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (8-0, 4-0)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (12.1)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (16.5)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.3)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (13.1)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (13.3)
College of Saint Mary (1-7, 0-3)
G – Lynsey Curran, Jr., 5-5 (8.9)
G – Alyssa Laudato, Jr., 5-0 (8.8)
G – Trista Merrival, Jr., 5-6 (11.5)
F – Corryne Millett, Sr., 6-1 (11.9)
F – Ashley Nelson, Sr., 5-9 (7.4)
Bulldogs blow out Flames, now 9-0 for third time under Olson
Nov. 20, 2018
OMAHA, Neb. – Heading into Thanksgiving, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team is exactly where it wants to be, at least in terms of wins and losses. The Bulldogs ran away and hid with the help of a 15-0 run to begin the third quarter in Tuesday night (Nov. 20)’s matchup at College of Saint Mary in Omaha. Concordia blew out the Flames, 88-55.
This marks the third time during head coach Drew Olson’s 13-year tenure that the Bulldogs have won nine-straight games to open up a season. Concordia is 5-0 in conference play.
“Everybody kind of got in on making some threes and that was nice to see,” Olson said. “I know we can still shoot at a higher percentage. I was pleased with how we adjusted defensively in the second half and how our players were leading and talking to each other. They did a great job of figuring out how to attack them with our press, especially in that third quarter.”
It doesn’t necessarily have to be Thanksgiving week for the Bulldogs to feast on turnovers, but the takeaways continue to drive their dominance. They forced 31 more on Tuesday in a contest that was pretty well in hand by the close of the first quarter when Concordia led 26-14.
Turnovers bit College of Saint Mary (1-8, 0-4 GPAC) especially hard right out of the halftime break. Four in the opening minute-and-a-half allowed the Bulldogs to build a lead that turned out to be insurmountable. It also wound up being a night to shine for freshman Mackenzie Koepke, who drilled back-to-back treys to cap the 15-0 run. At that point it was 63-26 in Concordia’s favor at the 5:29 mark of the third quarter.
The mismatch created another opportunity for plenty of reserves to see extended minutes off the bench. Koepke, a Lincoln Lutheran High School grad, topped the Bulldogs with a career best 14 points to go along with seven rebounds. Also in a reserve role, Elsie Aslesen contributed seven points, nine rebounds and three steals. The starting group was led by Quinn Wragge (12 points, eight rebounds), Taylor Cockerill (11 points, seven rebounds, three steals) and Philly Lammers (nine points, nine rebounds, two blocks).
Though it was a victory by a 33-point margin, the Bulldogs were not as razor-sharp as they are capable of playing. College of Saint Mary came out and surprised Concordia by playing a zone defense. At times, the Bulldogs burned it (15-for-40 from 3-point range), but they shot only 35.7 percent overall and committed 28 turnovers.
“Tonight I wanted to see us do the little things right and I thought we did a lot of that defensively, rebounding and running the floor,” Olson said. “But I thought the turnovers were too much.”
The Flames are still looking for their first win of conference play. Trista Merrival paced the home team with 15 points and five assists. Corryne Millett added 10 points. College of Saint Mary was held to 32.8 percent shooting from the floor.
The Bulldogs will now enjoy Thanksgiving weekend off before returning to action next Wednesday (Nov. 28) when they will host 11th-ranked Morningside (6-1, 4-1 GPAC). Concordia has won five meetings in a row over the Mustangs. Head coach Jamie Sale’s squad suffered its only loss so far this season at the hands of No. 8 Northwestern, 91-66, on Nov. 17.
Undefeated mark to be tested by No. 11 Morningside
Nov. 26, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – After a lull in the schedule for the Thanksgiving holiday, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team now gears up for a big showdown with 11th-ranked Morningside on Wednesday. Tipoff from Walz Arena is set for 6 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs will then break for a weekend bye in the schedule.
This Week
Wednesday, Nov. 28 vs. No. 11 Morningside (6-1, 4-1), 6 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson has his program out to a 9-0 start of the third time during his tenure (2012-13 and 2017-18). In the team’s most recent outing, Concordia cruised to an 88-55 win at College of Saint Mary on Nov. 20. Not a single Bulldog saw more than 18 minutes of action, but Mackenzie Koepke (14), Quinn Wragge (12) and Taylor Cockerill (11) each managed to reach double figures in scoring. In addition to her career high point total, Koepke added seven rebounds. Concordia forced 31 turnovers and knocked down 15 3-point field goals in its latest rout.
That turnover number actually comes in below the season average for Bulldog opponents, who have committed 319 turnovers over nine games (35.4 per game). As a team, Concordia sports national rankings of first in steals per game (22.1), second in turnover margin (+15.8), fourth in scoring offense (88.6) and fourth in scoring margin (+28.7). The Bulldogs have maintained such dominance while going up against a schedule that Massey Ratings currently lists as the 23rd toughest in the NAIA to date. Concordia owns wins over four ranked opponents: No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 14 University of Saint Francis (Ind.), No. 13 Hastings and No. 16 Jamestown.
Junior Grace Barry was needed for only 17 minutes in the win at College of Saint Mary, but she will be counted upon heavily against the league’s top teams. On the national leaderboard, the point guard from Lincoln East High School ranks third in assists per game (5.78) and third in steals per game (4.11). She’s the catalyst in the backcourt for a team that also has one of the nation’s top frontcourts. The unit features senior Quinn Wragge, who needs just three more points to become the 10th player in program history to reach 1,500 for a career. Wragge also ranks among the school’s top 10 all-time in rebounding.
Morningside will attempt to snap a 40-game home win streak for the Bulldogs, who have not suffered a loss inside Walz Arena since January 2016. The Mustangs also hope to end Concordia’s five-game win streak in the series. Head coach Jamie Sale’s squad has endured just one defeat so far this season – a 91-66 loss to No. 8 Northwestern on Nov. 17. Morningside will have had the same break as the Bulldogs with their last outing resulting in an 89-46 victory over Doane on Nov. 20. Behind Sierra Mitchell (20.6 ppg), the Mustangs have rated as one of the top 10 offensive squads in NAIA Division II.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (9-0, 5-0)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.2)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.9)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.3)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (13.0)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (12.8)
Morningside (6-1, 4-1)
G – Grace Meyer, So., 5-8 (1.9)
G – Sierra Mitchell, So., 5-6 (20.6)
G – Jordyn Moser, Jr., 5-5 (9.3)
F – Sydney Hupp, Jr., 6-1 (12.3)
F – Sophia Peppers, So., 5-10 (6.4)
Morningside stuns top-ranked Bulldogs in Walz
Nov. 28, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – Normally it’s the Concordia University women’s basketball program that wears its opponents down by the fourth quarter. Not this time. Eighth-ranked Morningside befuddled the Bulldogs at times with its 2-3 zone while playing unafraid down the stretch. The Mustangs got a big performance from Skyler Snider off the bench and pulled the upset, 84-75, over the top-ranked Bulldogs on Wednesday night (Nov. 28).
The loss snapped a 40-game home win streak for 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s program, which had won the previous five meetings with Morningside. Concordia (9-1, 5-1 GPAC) has been knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten.
“I really feel like they just made more easy baskets,” Olson said. “We gave up way too many easy baskets, whether we were in our press, whether we were in our half-court zone or whether we were in man. We weren’t the tougher team today and that’s really disappointing knowing the type of team that we have.”
The way the third quarter opened made this contest feel a little like some of the other comfortable wins the Bulldogs had earned during the home win streak. The Mustangs quickly called timeout in the third quarter after a Grace Barry steal led to a Quinn Wragge layup. At that point, Concordia had equaled its largest lead of 11 (53-42).
The Bulldogs still clung to a 64-60 lead in the fourth quarter before things began to unravel. Morningside then put together a 9-0 run in a stretch that partly defined the game. Though Mustang star Sierra Mitchell did not have her best shooting night, she began the spurt with a bucket and added a deep triple that provided the visitors a lead they would not relinquish. Morningside sealed it on the defensive end by not surrendering a field goal over the final two minutes of the game (0-for-6 from the field by Concordia).
“I told them we have to be a little bit more responsible and mature,” Olson said. “We go on a big break and I’m not sure we came back ready. That was the start of it and then we have to be focused at practice every single day and be sharper every single day.”
MacKenzie Helman shook off a shooting slump to help keep the Bulldogs tight in the final minutes. She drilled two of her four 3-point field goals in the fourth quarter, including one that brought the Bulldogs within one (74-73) with 2:13 left in the game. Helman (12 points) was joined by teammates in Wragge (18 points, 11 rebounds), Philly Lammers (13 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, three steals) and Taylor Cockerill (11 points) in double figures. Barry added 11 assists. Wragge became the 10th player in program history to eclipse 1,500 career points.
Snyder topped Morningside (7-1, 5-1 GPAC) with 17 points. Mitchell totaled 14 and Sydney Hupp (11 points, 10 rebounds) produced a double-double. The Mustangs owned a massive advantage at the foul line (22-for-28 compared to 6-for-7) and committed a reasonable 21 turnovers. Concordia (7-for-30 from 3-point range) was unable to burn the Mustang zone from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs will now have another break in the schedule with a bye coming this weekend. Concordia will return to action next Wednesday with a short road trip to Doane (2-9, 0-6 GPAC) for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff from the Haddix Center. The upset-minded Tigers actually led the Bulldogs entering the fourth quarter of both of last season’s meetings. Concordia won by scores of 76-63 in Crete and 68-59 in Seward.
Off first loss, Concordia eyes rebound vs. Doane, Mount Mary
Dec. 3, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – For the first time this season, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team finds itself seeking to rebound from a loss. The 40-game home win streak came to an end in the only outing of last week. Now the Bulldogs have to refocus this week while up against two squads hovering near the bottom of the league standings. Concordia will be at Doane on Wednesday before hosting Mount Marty on Saturday.
This Week
Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Doane (2-9, 0-6), 6 p.m.
-Webcast: YouTube
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Dec. 8 vs. Mount Marty (4-5, 1-5), 2 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
The loss last week, even though it came at the hands of No. 8 Morningside, felt like a bit of a stunner. The Bulldogs are now 43-3 in GPAC regular-season play since the start of the 2016-17 season. Prior to the meeting with the Mustangs, Concordia had not lost at home since Jan. 27, 2016. The Bulldogs, who will remain at No. 1 in the poll until at least Dec. 11 (next poll release), entered the campaign having won back-to-back GPAC regular-season and postseason titles.
In last week’s action, senior Quinn Wragge became the 10th player in program history to eclipse 1,500 career points. Wragge (13.5 ppg) is one of four Concordia players averaging double figures. The others are Taylor Cockerill (15.4), Philly Lammers (12.8) and Grace Barry (10.7). Barry and Cockerill uncharacteristically went a combined 6-for-25 from the floor in the loss to Morningside. However, Barry dished out 11 assists. The transfer from the University of Nebraska-Kearney leads all NAIA Division II players in assists per game (6.3) and steals per game (4.0).
The road to another conference championship will not be an easy one. In the national coaches’ poll released last week, eight GPAC teams appeared in the top 25 and another one received votes. According to Massey Ratings, the conference is actually being underrated in the poll. Massey lists Dakota Wesleyan, Concordia, Northwestern and Morningside as the top four teams in NAIA Division II. Massey also ranks Hastings and Dordt among the top 10.
Doane made its most serious bid for its first GPAC win last week in what culminated in a 68-67 home loss to College of Saint Mary. The Tigers have been offensively challenged, as evidenced by their 54.5 point scoring average and 35.4 percent shooting from the floor. Haylee Heits (13.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg) has been the team’s most dependable player. She and Emma Areman are the lone Tigers to start each of the first 11 games this season. Head coach Tracee Fairbanks is in her 20th season at Doane.
Mount Marty is fresh off a 78-64 upset win at No. 20 Jamestown on Nov. 28. Todd James Schlimgen is in his first season as head coach after taking over the post from his father. The Lancers continue to be a strong perimeter shooting team. Nationally, they rank 11th in 3-point field goals per game (9.0) and 19th in 3-point field goal percentage (.348). For a balanced scoring squad, junior Ali Kuca is the leading scorer at 11.6 points per game.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (9-1, 5-1)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.2)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.9)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.3)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (13.0)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (12.8)
Doane (2-9, 0-6 GPAC)
G – Emma Areman, So., 5-7 (5.6)
G – Lauren Schmidt, Sr., 5-9 (5.8)
F – Sidney Blackburn, Sr., 5-9 (8.3)
F – Haylee Heits, So., 6-0 (13.0)
F – Nicole White, Sr., 5-10 (3.5)
Mount Marty (4-5, 1-5 GPAC)
G – Ali Kuca, Jr., 5-9 (11.6)
G – Mikayla Prouty, Sr., 5-8 (4.8)
F – Karissa Chamley, Sr., 5-9 (7.4)
F – Sammy Kasowski, Sr., 6-0 (9.4)
F – Jamie Tebben, Jr., 6-0 (10.1)
Bulldogs bounce back, pummel Doane in Crete
Dec. 5, 2018
CRETE, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s basketball team made sure to put this one away early. After trailing entering the fourth quarter of both of last season’s meetings with Doane, the Bulldogs overwhelmed the host Tigers with their nasty press on Wednesday night (Dec. 5). While forcing 38 turnovers, Concordia emerged from the Haddix Center with a 93-53 victory.
It seemed 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s message got through to the Bulldogs, who were coming off their first defeat of the 2018-19 season. Concordia has improved to 10-1 overall and to 6-1 in conference play.
“I thought our kids did a great job of coming with the right mindset and being really focused,” Olson said. “We did a really good job of not turning the ball over. That was a big emphasis. We were able to play with tempo and get into a little better rhythm offensively.”
The Bulldogs owned just a modest 7-4 lead more than six minutes into action before blowing the game open with a 14-2 surge to close out the opening period. The contest got away from Doane as the turnovers mounted. On four separate occasions in the opening stanza, a Concordia steal led to an immediate layup or 3-point bucket. Not only that, Philly Lammers presented a significant matchup problem for the Tigers. She put up 10 of her 18 points in the first half.
By halftime, the Bulldogs led 43-18 and had already pestered Doane into 24 turnovers. The second half then took on a tone that has not been unfamiliar for either side this season. Still winless in conference play, the Tigers (2-10, 0-7 GPAC) have been beaten by margins of greater than 20 points five times by GPAC opponents.
The night also showcased a nice bounce-back effort by point guard Grace Barry, who was near perfect shooting the ball (6-for-7 from the field and 3-for-3 from the foul line). She added a little show time by throwing a reverse layup over her shoulder just before the third quarter buzzer. Barry (15 points, four assists), Delani Fahey (14 points, 5-for-6 from the field), Mackenzie Koepke (13 points, 3-for-4 from 3-point range) and Taylor Cockerill (10 points) joined Lammers in double figures in the scoring column.
Blowout or not, Koepke has earned her playing time. The Lincoln Lutheran grad has been one of the team’s top scorers off the bench. Said Koepke, “It all stems from the team, working hard and putting up shots outside of practice. It’s nice to know that my teammates can trust me to score off the bench.”
This may have been the best collective effort from the Concordia freshmen yet this season. Not only did rookies Fahey and Koepke bomb away for a combined seven 3-point field goals, first-year players Elsie Aslesen (eight points, four rebounds, four steals) and Claire Cornell (six points) also made contributions. Eleven Bulldogs had at least one steal for the nation’s leader in thefts.
“She played really well, and I wouldn’t say I was surprised,” Olson said of Koepke. “She knocks down threes and she’s so long defensively. She gives us something that we definitely need on the offensive end. I thought Delani was fantastic too and Elsie came in and gave us really good minutes.”
Doane got a team high 10 points from Haylee Heits. Scoring has been a challenge for the Tigers, who shot 35.4 percent from the floor on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs will be back inside Walz Arena on Saturday where they will seek to begin a new home win streak. Mount Marty (4-6, 1-6 GPAC) will be in town for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff. Concordia has won each of the last four meetings against the Lancers, who were defeated, 64-59, by second-ranked Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday.
Barry, Lammers star in blowout of Mount Marty
Dec. 8, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – The ball lived on the offensive end for the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team in arguably its sharpest performance yet this season. Stars Grace Barry and Philly Lammers dictated the terms of the contest while leading the Bulldogs to a 99-68 home victory over Mount Marty on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 8). The Lancers turned the ball over 43 times.
It was a week of utter dominance for 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad, which also blew away Doane, 93-53, in Crete on Wednesday. Concordia has moved to 11-1 overall and to 7-1 in conference play.
“I thought our kids came out with really good focus,” Olson said. “The defensive energy was phenomenal. I just liked our pace offensively, too. We’re improving in that area. There were a lot of good things in this game.
“We keep getting better offensively. We’re still trying to figure out our offense, but they’re starting to connect with each other and know where each other is going to be. Philly was fantastic. She just dominated inside. She runs the floor so well.”
This was a ransacking. The turnovers mounted early as part of a day that saw the Bulldogs swipe a season high 35 steals. All those giveaways led to a whopping 50 points off turnovers for Concordia. In those situations, Barry knew exactly what to do with the ball. Her wizardry resulted in 13 assists. Six of those dimes were dropped into Lammers, who went 13-for-15 from the floor on her way to a game high 28 points. She added three blocked shots and two steals.
While Barry and Lammers collaborated on many of the offensive highlights, everyone got in on the defensive smothering of Mount Marty (4-7, 1-7 GPAC). The Bulldogs do not necessarily need Riley Sibbel to score. She seems to relish getting in the grill of opposing guards. She stole the ball a career high eight times on Saturday.
“This whole week in practice we’ve been working on fixing a few little details in our press and in our half-court defense,” Sibbel said. “I think that’s really helped. We have so many bodies that work so hard. It makes it easy for us because if we get tired a new five comes in and we’re all refreshed.”
Sophomore guard Taylor Cockerill helped set the tone early by pouring in 12 of her 17 points in the opening quarter – and what a quarter it was. The Bulldogs racked up 37 points over the first 10 minutes. The period’s final bucket came on an out-of-bounds play in which Barry lobbed the ball to Lammers for the deuce inside. Concordia shot better than 70 percent in the first quarter and 52.8 percent (38-for-72) for the game.
Twelve Bulldogs registered in the scoring column. Delani Fahey is one of a group of freshmen becoming more confident. She tallied eight points on Saturday while making all three shots from the floor, concluding a week that saw her go 6-for-7 from 3-point range.
Concordia may not have played the upper tier of the league this past week, but it certainly responded to its first loss in impressive fashion. Said Sibbel, “The loss wasn’t fun, but I think it was good for us. It really showed us that we have to get better every single day. I think it lit a spark in us.”
The lone Lancer to reach double figures was Karlee McKinney, who put up 12 points. Known as a 3-point shooting team, Mount Marty went 9-for-18 from long range.
The Bulldogs will be idle until next Saturday (Dec. 15)’s showdown with second-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (12-0, 8-0 GPAC) at the Corn Palace. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. CT from Mitchell, S.D. The contest will be a rematch of last season’s NAIA Division II national championship game. The two sides met four times during the 2017-18 campaign with Concordia winning three of them.
Rivals set to clash for first time since national title game
Dec. 12, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – A rivalry that has blossomed in recent seasons will get another reboot on Saturday when 2018 NAIA Division II national championship game combatants Concordia and Dakota Wesleyan meet at the Corn Palace. Tipoff from Mitchell, S.D., is set for 4 p.m. CT between sides who currently occupy the top two spots in the GPAC standings.
Game Info
No. 3 Concordia (11-1, 7-1) at No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan (12-0, 8-0)
Saturday, Dec. 15 | 4 p.m. CST
Mitchell, S.D. | Corn Palace
Radio: 104.9 Max Country (Tyler Cavalli)
Webcast: Stretch Internet
The storylines essentially write themselves this week. The two GPAC and national powerhouses met four times last season. Head coach Drew Olson’s program swept the regular-season matchups and then won another pulse pounder in the GPAC tournament championship game with the help of a game-winning layup by Brenleigh Daum in the final seconds. Dakota Wesleyan ultimately avenged those defeats by drubbing the Bulldogs, 82-59, in the national title tilt in Sioux City, Iowa. The bitter loss again kept Concordia from realizing its ultimate goal.
Olson’s 2018-19 team appears capable of making another push deep into March. The possession of a game-dictating point guard in Grace Barry and a dominant post player in Philly Lammers are enough to make plenty of opponents envious. Barry has proven to be the perfect addition to the lineup so far. She entered the week as the national leader in assists (6.7) and steals (4.17) per game. She’s coming off a 13-assist, seven-steal performance in last week’s 99-68 win over Mount Marty. Meanwhile, Lammers was unstoppable last week. She totaled 46 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and five steals while shooting 20-for-28 from the floor in the victories over Doane and Mount Marty.
Matchups with No. 1-ranked teams are nothing new for Olson’s program, which has played against squads sporting the No. 1 ranking eight times since the start of the 2014-15 season. In two of those instances, the Bulldogs won on the home court of the opponent – March 3, 2015, at No. 1 Morningside in the GPAC tournament final and Dec. 29, 2017, at No. 1 Saint Xavier University (Ill.). Concordia also clipped top-ranked Dakota Wesleyan, 85-82, inside Walz Arena on Dec. 3, 2016.
Versus No. 1 teams since 2014-15
12/29/17 at No. 1 Saint Xavier (Ill.) – W, 81-60
12/3/16 vs. No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan – W, 85-82
11/28/16 vs. No. 1 Marian (Ind.) – L, 64-72
11/21/15 vs. No. 1 Morningside – L, 66-77
3/17/15 vs. No. 1 Morningside – L, 57-59 (national title game)
3/3/15 at No. 1 Morningside – W, 80-72 (GPAC tournament championship game)
2/21/15 at No. 1 Morningside – L, 76-77
The Tigers will enter Saturday’s contest without a blemish on their record, pending Wednesday’s game versus Dakota State University (S.D.). Head coach Jason Christensen’s program returned two players who started in last season’s national championship game – standouts in junior guard Kynedi Cheeseman and senior guard Rylie Osthus. They also welcomed back another key performer in Sarah Carr, who has started all 12 games this season. Dakota Wesleyan remains an elite team despite the graduation of the Bray twins. Nationally, the Tigers rank fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.31), fifth in field goal percentage (.462), eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (.371) and 10th in scoring margin (+20.4).
In terms of competitiveness, the national championship game was an outlier. Four of the past seven meetings between Concordia and Dakota Wesleyan have been decided by margins of four points or less. The Bulldogs won at the Corn Palace last season, 70-66. Following action on Saturday, Concordia will wait until its Phoenix, Ariz., trip (Dec. 27-28) for a return to the court. The two-game swing in Phoenix will feature a matchup with No. 2 Southeastern University (Fla.).
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (11-1, 7-1 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.2)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.9)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.3)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (13.0)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (12.8)
Dakota Wesleyan (12-0, 8-0 GPAC)
G – Kynedi Cheeseman, Jr., 5-10 (19.2)
G – Madison Mathews, Sr., 5-8 (5.6)
G – Rylie Osthus, Sr., 5-9 (10.8)
F – Sarah Carr, Jr., 6-0 (16.1)
F – Makaela Karst, Jr., 6-2 (10.5)
'Amazing Grace' perfect fit as selfless point guard
Dec. 13, 2018
Honorary captain of the Omaha World-Herald’s All-Nebraska team. Super-State selection by the Lincoln Journal Star. Point guard of the 2016 Class A state championship girls’ basketball team. Those are some of the many accolades that followed Lincoln East High School graduate Grace Barry to the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
There’s a reason why young girls held up signs displaying the words “Amazing Grace” as Barry made her run through the 2016 state tournament. It was one of the best memories of her life to date, but not because of the limelight that suddenly illuminated her game.
“It was a truly incredible experience,” Barry said. “You talk about it throughout your childhood and say, ‘I want to win a state championship someday.’ When you finally reach that goal, yes, it’s awesome but the reason it’s awesome is because of all the work and the relationships that were built. We achieved something great because of what we put in it. I was able to do it with a great group of girls and have a lot of fun playing basketball.”
In the midst of her first season as a catalyst for head coach Drew Olson’s 2018-19 squad, Barry appears to be having plenty of fun as Concordia’s new point guard. The Bulldogs have let Barry loose to do the things she did as a prep. She ended her high school career as Lincoln East’s all-time leader in assists and steals. She’s the current national leader in both of those categories, averaging 6.7 assists and 4.17 steals per game.
Fittingly, a Barry pass led to the game-winning basket in the state title game her senior year. Even at that time, she was described by the Lincoln Journal Star as someone with a “flair” to her game. Lincoln East coach Dennis Prichard commented that Barry “sees the floor better than any player I’ve ever had.” Olson was similarly impressed.
“I loved her in high school with the type of player she was and her fierce competitiveness,” Olson said. “What she did in the state finals was really, really impressive. We were very interested at that time. We had talked, but ultimately she was going to Kearney. Right about national tournament time (March 2018) their season was done and I was told she would be interested in coming here. I was immediately like, ‘Yes, we would definitely be interested.’ She’s a phenomenal player.”
Barry spent her first two collegiate seasons as a Loper. She came off the bench and played in 54 of a possible 56 games at the NCAA Division II level. She may have been in line for more playing time as a junior, but she wanted something different or a “better fit” as she put it. Whatever reservations Barry may have had about playing at Concordia out of high school have vanished.
With Barry leading the way, Lincoln East closed the deal and won it all. She will certainly do everything she can to make the same happen for the Bulldogs, who have been excruciatingly close in recent seasons. Her work in the summer, which included time spent getting to know her teammates, has paid dividends.
“It hasn’t been too difficult honestly,” Barry said of the transition. “I came into such a great program already and everyone was so welcoming. I lived here this summer, which was supper helpful. Coach and I were able to do workouts and Taylor Cockerill, Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge were able to do workouts with me. Taylor and I spent the entire summer playing one-on-one and working out together. It’s been a great experience because everyone is so welcoming and nice.”
With All-Americans Lammers and Wragge returning, Concordia already figured to have one of the top frontcourts in the nation. The arrival of Barry has elevated the backcourt to elite status. The biggest question mark this 2018-19 squad faced was how it would replace guards Dani Hoppes and Mary Janovich, particularly defensively.
Barry is a different type of player, but exactly what this year’s team needed. A stellar offensive player, Barry has been better than advertised defensively and is a major reason why the Bulldogs and their pesky zone press force an average of 35.1 turnovers per game.
“It’s awesome. I absolutely love playing super intense defense,” Barry said. “I love the offensive end and I love passing and scoring, but when you can get steals and layups all day – that is the most fun kind of basketball. I hadn’t played full-court pressure since high school. It’s been a little bit of an adjustment, but when you’re able to bring that fire with your teammates and camaraderie around defensive intensity, it’s just so much fun. That’s probably my favorite part about our team.”
In turn, Barry is quickly becoming a fan favorite. She’s the closest thing the program has had to a Bailey Morris since Morris graduated in 2015. Barry’s teammates must be on their toes at all times, especially in transition. It’s not just for show when she drops a no-look or behind-the-back dime, it’s part of her game.
When the time is right, Barry can get her own buckets. However, she proved in last week’s 99-68 win over Mount Marty how thoroughly she can dominate a game without scoring. She had only six points on 3-for-5 shooting, but dished out a career high 13 assists and swiped seven steals.
Said Olson, “She controls the game now because of what she does defensively. That’s a credit to her and her work ethic this summer. She had to change her game a little bit defensively. She’s really worked hard at it and her hands are phenomenal. She’s always been great offensively, but she’s really added to the other parts of her game.”
Though basketball was not necessarily a favored pastime within her family, Barry began hooping at an early age. Her competitiveness was fueled initially by one-on-one driveway battles with her older brother Andrew.
Also a four-year soccer player at Lincoln East, Amazing Grace is still that same competitor, but with a much more advanced game. She may be the missing ingredient in the program’s continued quest for the ultimate prize, but her contributions will eventually leave an impression beyond basketball. Just listen to the way she gushes about her new surroundings.
Says Barry, “I absolutely love Concordia because of the welcoming nature of all the people, including the staff outside of basketball. Specifically in basketball, they brought me in like I was part of the family. When I talk to my parents, I tell them that this is my second family. They care about basketball and who you are as a person. The combination of those two is how you become the best basketball team you can be.”
Bulldogs topple No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan in national title rematch
Dec. 15, 2018
MITCHELL, S.D. – This wasn’t just an ordinary regular-season game in the middle of December. In a Saturday (Dec. 15) contest that could ultimately help decide the GPAC regular-season title, the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team quieted the Corn Palace by making the big plays down the stretch. The rematch of the 2018 NAIA Division II women’s basketball national championship game amounted to an 82-68 win for the third-ranked Bulldogs over No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has now triumphed in each of its last two trips to the Corn Palace. Concordia moved to 12-1 overall and to 8-1 in conference play.
“You want to beat the top teams in the conference if you’re going to win conference, but I’m just happy we’re getting better each day,” Olson said. “I was really pleased with our bench group. They came in and played with great confidence. Just overall really pleased with our improvement.”
Olson displayed a calmness about his group heading into Saturday’s big clash that featured a renewal of a blossoming rivalry. His team backed up that quiet confidence. Many times in recent years, the Bulldogs have gotten past the Tigers in classics that have gone wire-to-wire. This particular go-round did not require such nervousness. In the sequence that broke Dakota Wesleyan’s back, All-American Philly Lammers emerged.
A 7-0 fourth-quarter Tiger run chopped the Concordia lead to 68-63 and brought the Corn Palace to life. With a chance to draw even closer, Dakota Wesleyan had its next two shots blocked by Lammers, who then muscled in two on the other end. Taylor Cockerill followed with another bucket and the air had come out of the balloon for the host team. The Bulldogs led 72-63 with under 2:30 to play.
Concordia downplayed the revenge factor coming into this weekend, but this one still feels pretty good.
“All of us were pretty excited for this game knowing what happened last season,” Cockerill said. “We definitely focused on our finals early in the week, but then later in the week we made sure we were ready for the game. We watched film and had some good practices. We were excited for today.”
This matchup was a case of 10 versus seven. Olson shortened his bench to 10 while regularly subbing five-for-five. On the other side, the Tigers (13-1, 8-1 GPAC) used only two reserves. It was no surprise that the Bulldogs wanted to push the pace. Sometimes the result was uncontested layups for Dakota Wesleyan, but it also helped open up Concordia’s perimeter shooting.
After an early 25-16 deficit, the Bulldogs exploded by going 6-for-9 from 3-point range in the second quarter on the way to taking a 44-37 lead to the break. Cockerill put up 11 of her 19 points in the second period. She netted 4-of-6 3-point tries for the game. As a team, Concordia went 14-for-33 from deep with the likes of Elsie Aslesen, Colby Duvel, Mackenzie Koepke and Taryn Schuette all getting into the act.
It was a workmanlike day for Lammers, who posted a line of 10 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. At the point, junior Grace Barry turned in another fine day. She equaled Cockerill for a team high 19 points. She added four assists and four steals.
“Our kids shot really well with good confidence,” Olson said. “They are such a good defensive team with good help side. I thought our kids did a good job early on of picking them apart and figuring out where to go with the ball. Late in the game we got a little more passive, which is another thing to work on.”
Sarah Carr has stepped into a starting role this season. She topped Dakota Wesleyan with 19 points to go along with five rebounds. Star Kynedi Cheeseman notched 17 points (5-for-14 from field) and nine rebounds. The Tigers were held to 38.6 percent shooting.
The Bulldogs will now be idle until appearing at the Arizona Christian Holiday Classic in Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 27-28. Concordia will take on host Arizona Christian University on the first day of the classic before going head-to-head with second-ranked Southeastern University (Fla.) on day two. Conference play will resume after New Year’s Day.
Lammers named GPAC Player of the Week
Dec. 18, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – A stellar all-around performance in last week’s win at No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan has netted junior Philly Lammers the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Basketball Player of the Week award, as announced by the league on Tuesday (Dec. 18). Lammers also garnered GPAC and NAIA Division II National Player of the Week accolades last season after the Bulldogs won on the home court of then No. 1 Saint Xavier University (Ill.).
A two-time All-American, Lammers recorded her 20th career double-double in the rematch of the 2018 NAIA Division II national championship game. The product of Millard West High School filled the stat sheet with 10 points, 13 rebounds, six blocked shots and four steals while leading Concordia to an 82-68 victory at the Corn Palace. On the season, Lammers is averaging 14.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.62 blocks per game. She ranks fourth nationally in field goal percentage (.614).
Lammers continues to climb the program’s all-time lists. She currently ranks 10th in rebounds (661), 18th in steals (204) and 20th in scoring (1,198). She continues to be one of the nation’s most efficient scorers. She averages 0.71 points per minute (second best among GPAC players).
The Bulldogs will idle until after Christmas. Next up on the schedule is the Arizona Christian Holiday Classic coming up Dec. 27-28. While in Phoenix, Ariz., Concordia will take on host Arizona Christian University and No. 2 Southeastern University (Fla.).
2018-19 GPAC leaders, points per minute played
Erika Feenstra, Dordt – 0.92
Philly Lammers, Concordia – 0.71
Shandra Farmer, Hastings – 0.69
Darbi Gustafson, Northwestern – 0.66
Sierra Mitchell, Morningside – 0.64
Sydney Hupp, Morningside – 0.64
Taylor Cockerill, Concordia – 0.61
Kassidy De Jong, Northwestern – 0.60
Sarah Carr, Dakota Wesleyan – 0.59
Kynedi Cheeseman, Dakota Wesleyan – 0.59
Haley Birks, Northwestern – 0.56
Maddie Egr, Midland – 0.55
Haylee Heits, Doane – 0.55
Mackenzie Willicot, Hastings – 0.54
Annie Rhinesmith, Dordt – 0.52
Two ranked foes to greet Bulldogs in desert
Dec. 21, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – Immediately after Christmas, it will be back to business for the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team. The Bulldogs will fly out of Nebraska the morning of the 26th destined for Phoenix, Ariz., site of the Arizona Christian Holiday Classic. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad will take on No. 21 Arizona Christian University (NAIA Division I) and No. 2 Southeastern University (Fla.) during the event.
Arizona Christian Holiday Classic
Thursday, Dec. 27 vs. No. 21 Arizona Christian University (9-4), 5:30 p.m. MST / 6:30 p.m. CST
Friday, Dec. 28 vs. No. 2 Southeastern University (11-0) 5:30 p.m. MST / 6:30 p.m. CST
Both games at the holiday event will be streamed live via Stretch Internet at a cost of $7.95 per game. In addition, Concordia play-by-play voice Tyler Cavalli will be live from Fultz Memorial Gymnasium in Phoenix to call the action on 104.9 Max Country.
At least on paper, Concordia (12-1, 8-1 GPAC) earned its most impressive win to date in its most recent outing. In a rematch of the 2018 NAIA Division II national championship game, the Bulldogs toppled No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan, 82-68, inside the Corn Palace on Dec. 15. Concordia now owns five wins over nationally-ranked opponents. Thanks to her performance in that contest, junior All-American Philly Lammers raked in the GPAC Player of the Week award. She posted a line of 10 points, 13 rebounds, six blocks and four steals at Dakota Wesleyan.
While Lammers and Quinn Wragge are the returners with All-America accolades to their credit, the Bulldog backcourt represents another reason why the Bulldogs are again a strong contender to win the GPAC title. Among all NAIA Division II players, point guard Grace Barry ranks first in steals per game (4.15) and second in assists per game (6.46). Barry can also score. She turned in a career high 19 points at Dakota Wesleyan. Meanwhile, backcourt mate Taylor Cockerill (team high 15.4 ppg) has established herself as a star. She nailed three treys during a 17-2 second quarter run at the Corn Palace.
Concordia will be exceedingly difficult to beat if it can consistently replicate the shooting performance it put together at Dakota Wesleyan. The Bulldogs buried 14-of-33 shots (.424) from 3-point range. Over the last five outings, they have averaged more than 11 3-point field goals per game. Cockerill is seven for her last nine from beyond the arc. Off the bench, Lincoln Lutheran product Mackenzie Koepke has not been shy. She’s hoisted 57 3-point attempts and has knocked them down at a 35.1 percent clip.
Host Arizona Christian will enter its own classic with a four-game win streak that featured a 71-63 win over then 14th-ranked The Master’s University (Calif.) on Dec. 1. The Firestorm have been an efficient shooting team, sporting shooting percentages of 76.2 from the free throw line and 46.7 from the field. The headliner of the squad is senior guard Courtney Christmas, who tops Arizona Christian in scoring (23.3), rebounding (6.5), steals (3.3) and blocks (2.85). She is the national scoring leader at the NAIA Division I level. The Firestorm were ousted from the 2018 national tournament in the first round.
Like Concordia, Southeastern has aspirations of winning a national title. A member of The Sun Conference, the Fire reached the national quarterfinals last season are off to an 11-0 start that includes Thursday’s 83-66 home win over No. 4 College of the Ozarks (Mo.). Head coach Tim Hays squad will also be in action today (Dec. 21) against sixth-ranked Indiana Tech. Southeastern lists four guards as starters, but all five are 5-foot-11 or taller. All five also began their college careers elsewhere. The Fire have dominated their conference having won 41 regular-season league games in a row.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (12-1)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.3)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.4)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (4.8)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (11.9)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.2)
Arizona Christian (9-4)
G – Courtney Christmas, Sr., 6-0 (23.3)
G – Toni Davis, Jr., 5-7 (10.2)
G – Jada Willingham, Sr., 5-10 (13.0)
F – Makayla Enders, Sr., 5-11 (15.6)
F – Jac Moody, Sr., 5-9 (7.1)
Southeastern (11-0)
G – Makenzie Cann, Sr., 6-1 (15.5)
G – Jaycee Coe, Sr., 5-11 (14.7)
G – Elsa Paulsson-Glantz, Sr., 6-0 (19.6)
G – Halee Printz, Sr., 5-11 (7.7)
C – Marlena Schmidt, Jr., 6-6 (9.4)
Bulldogs dictate tempo in thrashing at Arizona Christian
Dec. 27, 2018
PHOENIX, Ariz. – There were no signs that the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team had gone 11 days between games. In their first outing since an 82-68 win at No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan, the Bulldogs dominated from the opening tip in a 105-63 win over 21st-ranked Arizona Christian University on Thursday evening (Dec. 27). Concordia left Nebraska early on Wednesday morning in order to make its way to the Arizona Christian Holiday Classic.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has now made victims out of six nationally-ranked opponents this season. The Bulldogs stand at 13-1 overall.
“It was really impressive what we did in the first half,” Olson said. “I thought we did a great job of getting the ball inside and not settling. Then we were able to open up a lot of shooters and we were able to knock down shots.
“Philly (Lammers) was just dominant. I also thought Colby (Duvel) played really, really well. When you can do that (inside), the defense has to adjust. That’s what got our shooters open.”
Using superior depth, Concordia pushed the tempo exactly to its liking. At this point in the season, Olson has plenty of reason to be confident going at least 10 deep, no matter the competitiveness of the contest. It would be challenging to highlight just one individual after 40 minutes of textbook team Bulldog basketball. Collectively, Concordia shot 51.2 percent (42-for-82) from the floor and outhustled the opposition to the tune of a 58-34 rebound advantage.
Four Bulldogs notched at least 10 points, led by 18 Philly Lammers (eight rebounds), as the visitors took turns scorching the net. When the Firestorm made a bit of a nudge in the second quarter, Taylor Cockerill sliced into the lane for a pretty finish. Cockerill (14) Colby Duvel (14) and Grace Barry (10) each joined Lammers in double figures. Duvel added eight rebounds in her 14 minutes of action.
Not only that, NAIA Division I leading scorer Courtney Christmas of Arizona Christian was held off the scoreboard entirely in the first half. She entered the evening averaging 23.3 points, but managed only six on 3-for-12 shooting on Thursday. As a team, the Firestorm (9-5) shot 37.8 percent (28-for-74) from the field. It trailed 33-22 after the first quarter and watched as Concordia put up 26 or more points in three periods.
“Our kids did a great job knowing where (Christmas) was at in the high post,” Olson said. “When she did catch it, we had really good help coming over and just bothered her all night.”
Arizona Christian had not been used to getting bullied in this fashion. The Firestorm came into play having won four in a row, including a home victory over then 14th-ranked The Master’s University (Calif.). Arizona Christian is a member of the NAIA’s Golden State Athletic Conference.
The host may not have been accustomed to seeing an opponent employ such depth to go along with a frenetic style. Four Firestorm players average more than 30 minutes per game. It had to deal with Concordia’s entire roster on Thursday. Fourteen Bulldogs registered in the scoring column. Elsie Aslesen recorded eight points and five boards off the bench and Delani Fahey pushed Concordia past the 100-point mark with a late triple.
The Bulldogs will play their second and final game of the ACU Holiday Classic on Friday. Tipoff from Fultz Memorial Gymnasium is set for 5:30 p.m. MST / 6:30 p.m. CST in a matchup that will feature Concordia against second-ranked Southeastern University (Fla.) (11-1). The Fire suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of No. 6 Indiana Tech on Dec. 21.
Bulldogs top No. 2 Southeastern in desert slugfest
Dec. 28, 2018
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A battle between NAIA powers and predominantly zone defensive teams made for an anticipated holiday season clash in the desert on Friday evening (Dec. 28). The third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team mounted a 31-12 halftime lead, then went cold in the second half and still found a way to fend off No. 2 Southeastern University (Fla.), 59-51, in Phoenix, Ariz.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad made an impressive statement during a two-day run at the Arizona Christian Holiday Classic. The Bulldogs pulverized host and 21st-ranked Arizona Christian University, 105-63, on Thursday before winning Friday’s grinder. In a span of less than two weeks, Concordia has beaten the teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the NAIA Division II poll.
“Both teams walk out thinking they didn’t play their best game,” Olson said. “But I feel like we worked harder. We outworked them on the boards and just made the plays. Every possession became a grind. It’s a credit to our kids and how hard they played. The work ethic of our kids over the break really came through these past two days.”
In recent seasons, Concordia and Southeastern have jockeyed for positioning near the top of the national poll, but they had yet to go head-to-head. When the Bulldogs blitzed the Fire with a 20-5 run to open the game, it appeared Philly Lammers and company might run away with it. Concordia led by as many as 19 points before watching the advantage melt to five on two separate occasions in the second half.
These battle-tested Bulldogs always had an answer. Southeastern seemingly had momentum when a 15-1 run pulled it within five (32-27) midway through the third quarter – but freshman Mackenzie Koepke responded with a trey to calm the waters. The Fire had one more push left in it, pulling within 45-40 with under 7:00 left – but All-Americans Quinn Wragge and Lammers responded with back-to-back buckets. Wragge, on a beautifully executed dime from MacKenzie Helman, then added a three-point play to snuff out the comeback bid.
Southeastern (11-2) was left to wonder what could have been, as in what if it hadn’t started the game so miserably. The Fire went just 4-for-26 (.154) from the floor over the opening 20 minutes. The trio of Elsa Paulsson-Glantz, Makenzie Cann and Jaycee Coe came in averaging a combined 48.4 points per game. They totaled a collective 17 points on Friday while at times flummoxed in the face of Concordia’s zone press.
Southeastern can play defense too. It’s 2-3 zone helped hold the Bulldogs without a field goal for more than 10 minutes of play that stretched from the second quarter and into the third. Concordia overcame its 28.4 percent shooting with the toughness inside from Lammers (17 points, 10 rebounds), by taking care of the ball (10 turnovers) and by owning a significant rebounding edge (55-40) over one of the nation’s most physically imposing squads.
Grace Barry and Taylor Cockerill joined Lammers in double figures with 11 points apiece. Koepke nailed a trio of triples off the bench, which was tightened on Friday. The offensive numbers were not pretty, but these are the types of games championship teams somehow have to gut out.
GPAC play will resume in the new year with a trip to 13th-ranked Dordt (12-4) coming up on Wednesday (Jan. 2). Tipoff from De Witt Gymnasium is slated for 6 p.m. CST. The Bulldogs have won each of the last 12 meetings with the Defenders, who will ride a four-game GPAC win streak into next week’s clash.
But first, Concordia will enjoy a couple more days in Phoenix before flying back to Nebraska. Activities will include visits to the Grand Canyon and an NBA game.
Run of clashes with ranked foes to continue in new year
Dec. 30, 2018
SEWARD, Neb. – A successful swing at the Arizona Holiday Christian Classic concluded 2018 for the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team. The Bulldogs are now getting set to ring in the new year with a return to GPAC play. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad will look forward to taking on two more ranked opponents: No. 13 Dordt and No. 5 Northwestern.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 2 at No. 13 Dordt (13-4, 6-3), 6 p.m.
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Jan. 5 vs. No. 5 Northwestern (14-1, 8-1), 2 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Concordia polished off an impressive December by posting victories over 21st-ranked Arizona Christian University (NAIA Division I), 105-63, and second-ranked Southeastern University (Fla.), 59-51, in Phoenix, Ariz., over the past week. In a span of less than two weeks, the Bulldogs defeated both of the teams ranked above them in the national poll. In the toppling of Southeastern, Concordia jumped out to a 20-5 lead in the opening quarter before the contest turned into a grinder. The Fire twice got within five points in the second half, but the Bulldogs always had an answer. Philly Lammers recorded her 21st career double-double, notching 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Lammers continues to be one of the most productive players in the nation. She needed only 39 minutes of action in Phoenix to record 35 points, 18 rebounds and four steals. Lammers also went 13-for-19 (.684) from the floor. The All-American was one of few players with a gaudy shooting percentage in the game against Southeastern. The Fire went just 4-for-26 from the field in the first half with many of its stars being held well below their season scoring averages. Lammers is a key figure for a relentless Concordia press that remains the national leader in steals per game (20.1).
The victories over ranked opponents continue to mount. The Bulldogs have made victims out of seven top 25 foes: No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan, No. 2 Southeastern, No. 13 Hastings, No. 14 University of St. Francis (Ind.), No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 16 Jamestown and No. 21 Arizona Christian. The loss to then eighth-ranked Morningside on Nov. 28 resulted in Concordia slipping from No. 1 to No. 3 in the NAIA coaches’ poll. With the next poll set to be released on Jan. 8, the Bulldogs have a chance to regain the top spot. Concordia will also attempt to remain at the top of the conference standings. It is currently tied with Dakota Wesleyan and Northwestern.
This has been a breakthrough season thus far for Dordt, which has never reached the national tournament. The Defenders went 6-1 during the month of December, which included wins over three ranked opponents. Sophomore forward Erika Feenstra has become a star. Feenstra leads all NAIA Division II players in scoring average (24.8) and field goal percentage (.638). She’s a beast on the offensive boards (4.5 offensive rebounds per game). As a team, Dordt outrebounds its opponents, on average, 47.1 to 35.9.
Northwestern has the look of a serious challenger for the conference title in Chris Yaw’s eighth season as head coach. Spurred by Kassidy De Jong, the Red Raiders can really score. Nationally, they rank first in field goal percentage (.495), third in scoring average (89.7) and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (.396). Northwestern advanced to the 2018 national semifinals where it fell, 84-77, to Concordia. The Red Raiders feature an experienced core headlined by seniors in De Jong, Darbi Gustafson and Haley Birks.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (14-1, 8-1 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.2)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.0)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (4.5)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (11.3)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.6)
Dordt (13-4, 6-3 GPAC)
G – Payton Harmsen, Jr., 5-8 (9.5)
G – Annie Rhinesmith, Jr., 5-8 (13.0)
G – Siennah Stamness, So., 5-10 (5.9)
F – Rachel Evavold, Jr., 6-1 (11.4)
F – Erika Feenstra, So., 6-0 (24.4)
Northwestern (14-1, 8-1 GPAC)
G – Sammy Blum, So., 5-7 (11.1)
G – Kassidy De Jong, Sr., 5-10 (19.7)
G – Breana Schiteman, So., 5-8 (8.1)
F – Haley Birks, Sr., 6-0 (14.7)
F – Darbi Gustafson, Sr., 6-1 (17.8)
Quick start, Cockerill surge not enough in double OT battle
Jan. 2, 2019
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Concordia University women’s basketball team had not suffered defeat at the hands of Dordt since falling in double overtime in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Jan. 5, 2013. History repeated itself on Wednesday night (Jan. 2) with a downer to begin 2019 for the Bulldogs. The 13th-ranked Defenders rallied from a 20-point first half deficit and won in two extra periods, 97-92.
The defeat snapped a five-game win streak for 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad, which had notched December wins over No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan and No. 2 Southeastern University (Fla.). Concordia is now 14-2 overall and 8-2 in conference play.
“They’re a really good basketball team,” Olson said of Dordt. “We let them have a little bit of hope in that second quarter, which ended up costing us. They kept fighting and fighting and it turned into a really good basketball game in the second half. I’m proud of our kids for fighting, especially in the fourth quarter and in overtimes. Dordt just made more plays than us.”
Few observers watching the action inside De Witt Gymnasium likely would have predicted the eventual outcome when a Grace Barry basket pushed the Bulldog lead to 39-19 midway through the second quarter. Similar to the situation in the victory over Southeastern, Concordia’s offense ran dry and Dordt, led by star Erika Feenstra, rattled off the final 13 points of the first half.
Despite that push, the Bulldogs seemingly had weathered the storm. Budding star guard Taylor Cockerill went off after halftime, at times carrying the Concordia attack. She displayed just about every move in the arsenal while staking her side to a 75-59 lead with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. Cockerill poured in each of her team high 29 points after the break.
“TC was great,” Olson said. “We just need more kids to be able to step up like that. Grace did a great job, but she can defend better. Philly (Lammers) and Colby (Duvel) have to stay out of foul trouble. We need Quinn Wragge to be more aggressive consistently. Hopefully we learn from this.”
The Defenders (14-4, 7-3 GPAC) responded with a stunning 18-2 run to force overtime. Siennah Stamness capped it by burying the game-tying triple. With the shot clock off, the Bulldogs turned the ball over with a chance to win it. It felt in those moments that Concordia was back on its heels. As good as Cockerill was, the Bulldogs failed to go on one of their patented runs during the 10 minutes of overtime.
Feenstra is as impressive as advertised. She tallied 32 points and 12 rebounds in powering a signature win for the host. A much improved outfit, the Defenders are on track to reach the national tournament for the first time in program history. One of the NAIA’s top rebounding squads, Dordt held a 63-47 advantage on the boards, helping it overcome a 35-24 disadvantage in turnovers.
Barry (15) and Lammers (10) joined Cockerill in double figures. Lammers fouled out during the first overtime period. Quinn Wragge snagged 10 rebounds, blocked four shots and swiped two steals. As a team, Concordia shot 39.4 percent (37-for-94) from the floor. It got burned at the foul line – 10-for-14 compared to 24-for-37 for the Defenders.
A run of six-straight games versus nationally ranked opponents will continue on Saturday when fifth-ranked Northwestern (15-1, 9-1 GPAC) pays a visit to Walz Arena for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff. It will be the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Red Raiders since they clashed in the 2018 national semifinals. Concordia won, 84-77.
Bulldogs bounce back in battle of GPAC powers
Jan. 5, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – In a matchup featuring two 2018 national semifinalists, the third-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team got the result it had to have in order to keep hopes alive for a third GPAC regular-season title in a row. The Bulldogs played a cleaner game while toppling No. 5 Northwestern, 93-85, inside Walz Arena on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 5). The Red Raiders were plagued by 31 turnovers.
In improving to 15-2 overall and to 9-2 in conference play, 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad avoided what would have been a rare feeling: losing back-to-back games. That hasn’t happened in a season since the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
“I love our toughness and the fight that we had,” Olson said. “Early on it looked like we were on our heels again like how we ended the last game, but our kids really, really fought throughout the game and stepped up and made a lot of big plays.”
Northwestern (15-2, 9-2 GPAC) held a lead as large as seven points, but the game flipped on an 11-0 run at the tail end of the opening quarter. For the second-straight game, Concordia tossed in at least 30 points in the first period. The Red Raiders never owned a lead in the second half, though they did manage to slice what had been a 12-point third-quarter deficit to five early in the final stanza.
When Northwestern tried to pick itself back up off the mat down the stretch, freshman Mackenzie Koepke would not let it. In cold blood, she buried two 3-point daggers in the final four minutes. There was also the matter of Grace Barry blowing to the rim for two quick buckets that set a tone for the final quarter. ‘Amazing Grace’ served as the maestro for an offense that committed only 13 turnovers in a frenetically paced tilt. Barry dished out eight assists to just one giveaway.
“That was a big key for us and something we talk to our team about,” Olson said of his team’s plus-18 turnover margin. “We do have to fight better on rebounds and try to win the rebound margin. If we are going to be negative in rebound margin then we have to make up for it somewhere and that’s taking care of the basketball.”
Offensive firepower was needed to help combat 51.5 percent shooting and a 47-31 rebound advantage for the Red Raiders. All-American Philly Lammers did her part by doing a little bit of everything. She totaled a game high 19 points to go along with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and three steals.
To be clear, Lammers has never lost back-to-back games in her Bulldog career and she wasn’t about to let it happen now following Wednesday’s 97-92 double overtime loss at Dordt.
“I think we just went back to our principles in being aggressive,” Lammers said. “We were really looking to get steals out of our press. We just stayed true to our fundamentals, our identity and who we are.”
Lammers was joined in double figures by four teammates: Quinn Wragge (15), Colby Duvel (13), Barry (12) and Taylor Cockerill (11). Wragge opened with a bang, notching nine points in the first quarter. Koepke and MacKenzie Helman added nine apiece off the bench while providing a spark from long distance. Additionally, four of Concordia’s starters swiped two or more steals.
Northwestern’s only other loss came at the hands of Dakota Wesleyan. The Red Raiders also put five players in double figures, led by 16 from star Kassidy De Jong. But even she was prone to the turnover. Three Northwestern starters turned it over five or more times.
The second go-round through the GPAC will begin on Wednesday when the Bulldogs travel to play 15th-ranked Hastings (10-7, 6-5 GPAC). Tipoff from Lynn Farrell Arena is set for 6 p.m. CT. Concordia extended its series win streak over the Broncos to six with an 82-68 win in the meeting that took place in Seward on Nov. 14.
Halfway through conference slate, Bulldogs again in GPAC title race
Jan. 7, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Exactly halfway through the conference schedule, the Concordia University women’s basketball team again finds itself in the thick of the GPAC championship race. Last week’s double overtime loss at No. 13 Dordt caused the Bulldogs to fall one game out of the lead atop the league. Concordia bounced back with a crucial 93-85 home win over fifth-ranked Northwestern on Jan. 5. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s program is aiming for a third conference regular-season title in a row.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 9 at No. 15 Hastings (10-7, 6-5), 6 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Jan. 12 vs. Briar Cliff (10-9, 4-7), 2 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
A fresh set of national rankings will be released by the NAIA on Tuesday (Jan. 8). Despite the defeat at Dordt, the Bulldogs have made a compelling case for the No. 1 ranking having defeated eight nationally-ranked foes while up against the most challenging schedule in the nation, according to Massey Ratings. Massey’s formula illustrates what an accomplishment it would be to win the league. According to Massey, the top five teams in NAIA Division II are all GPAC teams: Concordia, Dakota Wesleyan, Northwestern, Morningside and Dordt.
The narrative in last week’s victory over Northwestern revolved around the contributions of many and the ability to win big in the turnover count (31-13). The national leader in both assists (5.88) and steals (3.94) per game, point guard Grace Barry dished out eight assists while committing just one turnover. Philly Lammers posted a line of 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and two steals. Fellow All-American Quinn Wragge notched nine of her 15 points in the first quarter and moved up to No. 9 on the program’s all-time scoring list.
The dynamics offensively have changed a bit for this edition of Bulldog women’s basketball. Concordia is reliant on scoring in the paint, something its adept at thanks to the off-the-dribble exploits of Barry and Taylor Cockerill (team high 15.6 points per game) and the work inside of Lammers and Wragge. The Bulldogs went from shooting 34.4 percent from beyond the arc last season to 30.3 percent from long range this season. Freshman Mackenzie Koepke is emerging as perhaps the team’s best perimeter shooter. She nailed a pair of treys in the fourth quarter versus Northwestern and is shooting 38.0 percent from 3-point range this season.
Hastings has not been quite the same team without star point guard Shandra Farmer, who has not played since a 72-61 home win over then No. 8 Morningside on Dec. 1. With Farmer still absent, the Broncos managed to snap a four-game losing streak by topping Briar Cliff, 74-66, last week in a game played at the Tyson Events Center. Hastings is likely to try to slow the pace on Wednesday. Among GPAC teams, it ranks eighth in field goal percentage offense (.411) and ninth in scoring offense (71.9). Sans Farmer, the team’s leading scorer is Mackenzie Willicott at just 10.9 points per contest.
Briar Cliff is 10-9 overall, but has played the nation’s 14th toughest schedule, according to Massey. Like Concordia, the Chargers aspire to put pressure on their opponents. They average nearly 14 steals per game (No. 6 in the nation) led by Alyssa Carley. Head coach Mike Powers’ squad struggled to take care of the ball in its first meeting with the Bulldogs. Concordia forced 42 turnovers and won handily, 99-71. Briar Cliff owns two wins over teams that were ranked in the most recent NAIA coaches’ poll.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (15-2, 9-2 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.6)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (4.7)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (11.2)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.6)
Hastings (10-7, 6-5 GPAC)
G – Emma Grenfell, Jr., 5-6 (9.2)
G – Sophia Pankratz, Jr., 5-7 (3.9)
G – Kaitlyn Schmit, So., 5-6 (6.6)
F – Gabby Grasso, Jr., 5-11 (7.3)
F – Mackenzie Willicot, Sr., 5-9 (10.9)
Briar Cliff (10-9, 4-7 GPAC)
G – Breanna Allen, So., 5-6 (4.5)
G – Alyssa Carley, Jr., 5-11 (12.4)
G – Taylor Wagner, Sr., 5-9 (12.1)
F – Madelyn Deitchler, Fr., 5-11 (8.1)
C – Taylor Vasa, Sr., 6-0 (8.3)
Bulldogs Barry Hastings with hot shooting
Jan. 9, 2019
HASTINGS, Neb. – It’s just not fair when the Concordia University women’s basketball team combines red hot shooting with its typically devastating press. The second-ranked Bulldogs had it all working in a 102-85 blowout of 21st-ranked Hastings inside Lynn Farrell Arena on Wednesday night (Jan. 9). Concordia made 10 of its first 19 attempts from 3-point range and held a 30-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
This was about as torrid of an offensive road performance as 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has put together this season. For the third game in a row, the Bulldogs put up at least 30 points in the opening quarter while improving to 16-2 overall (10-2 GPAC).
“We knew their depth was kind of depleted so our game plan was to make the game go in a frenzied pace,” Olson said. “That’s usually how we want to play anyway, but we really wanted to pressure them and wear them out. Part of that first half was a little bit of craziness, but I thought we played well and shot well.
It’s without question that the Broncos have been weakened by the injury that has sidelined their All-American point guard Shandra Farmer, who last played on Dec. 1. With Farmer again out of the lineup, Concordia pounced in a contest that got out of hand quickly. Elsie Aslesen, Taylor Cockerill and Riley Sibbel all canned a triple apiece as part of a 21-5 spurt to open up the game.
It may not have mattered if Farmer had played considering how the Bulldogs torched the nets. They shot just under a season best field goal percentage of 51.4 while blowing away the scoring average (67.1) Hastings opponents had sported entering the night. Though the Broncos (10-8, 6-6 GPAC) put forth a solid shooting effort of their own, they lacked the firepower to dig out of a significant hole.
Not surprisingly, balance was again a theme for the Concordia attack. Grace Barry (seven assists) carved up the Hastings defense with 19 points in one of her more aggressive offensive outings as a Bulldog. Four teammates joined her in double figures: Quinn Wragge (16), Philly Lammers (14), Cockerill (12) and Aslesen (11). The 11 tallies were a career high for Aslesen, a freshman from Elk Point, S.D. It was also a stellar night for junior Riley Sibbel, who chipped in nine points and swiped six steals.
“I loved her attack today,” Olson said of Aslesen. “She came in with a good mindset and knocked down some shots. I thought the biggest thing for her was her defense. She did a really good job diving back down in the zone and helping out. She got a couple steals that way.”
Olson hopes to continue to bring along bench players such as freshmen Claire Cornell and Rylie Pauli. Cornell put up five points and Pauli scored a bucket in transition. Said Olson, “It was good for those kids. To get them experience is an awesome thing. Hopefully they keep getting more confident.”
On the other end, the Broncos shot 46.7 percent from the floor and got a team high 15 points apiece from Gabby Grasso and Kaitlyn Schmit. Taylor Beacom (14) and Mackenzie Willicott (12) also put up double digit point totals. Hastings got beaten soundly despite a near even turnover margin (28-27). Concordia won the rebound battle, 37-32.
Barry and company earned a regular-season sweep of Hastings and also picked up its ninth victory this season over a top 25 opponent. According to Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs have played the nation’s most challenging schedule.
Concordia will be back inside Walz Arena on Saturday to welcome Briar Cliff (11-9, 5-7 GPAC) to town. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CST. In this season’s first meeting that took place in Sioux City, Iowa, the Bulldogs forced 42 turnovers and trounced the Chargers, 99-71.
Concordia pressure cooker wilts Chargers
Jan. 12, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – A slow offensive start was forgotten by the time 40 minutes of gnats-at-a-picnic defensive smothering left another downtrodden opponent in its wake. While thriving on 42 Briar Cliff turnovers, the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team did more than enough on the offensive end in walking away with an 87-58 victory over the visiting Chargers on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 12).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad forced exactly 42 turnovers in both regular-season meetings with Briar Cliff. The Bulldogs have moved to 17-2 overall and to 11-2 in conference play.
“I thought the biggest thing in this game was just how hard we played,” Olson said. “We understood how to execute with our press and did a great job of that. The hard part about playing Briar Cliff is they do such a nice job of taking away post touches. Our guards were open and thankfully in the second half they knocked down shots.”
It took Briar Cliff more than five-and-a-half minutes before it finally cracked the scoreboard with a Logan Ehlers basket. The Chargers were lost in the face of Concordia’s zone press. The Bulldogs were so thoroughly dominant in that aspect of their game that they built a 40-20 halftime lead without even a single point from All-American Philly Lammers. Briar Cliff’s 2-3 zone opened the door for a wealth of 3-point looks. Concordia went 15-for-46 from beyond the arc.
The advantages at the 3-point arc and in the turnover battle made for the lopsided final score. Concordia had only a modest edge in overall field goal percentage (41.6 to 40.0). At the point, Grace Barry again served as a steadying force. She dished out eight assists while helping find the open shooters on the perimeter. Backcourt mate Taylor Cockerill provided needed scoring punch in slashing her way to a team high 15 points to go along with six rebounds and five steals.
The bench added some juice. Efficient performances were turned in by the likes of Elsie Aslesen (six points, 4-for-4 from the free throw line), Delani Fahey (12 points, 4-for-6 from 3-point range) and Taryn Schuette (10 points, 2-for-5 on 3-pointers). Though MacKenzie Helman went only 1-for-8 from the field, she dropped nine dimes and plucked a steal. Eleven Bulldogs had at least one steal, led by the six thefts from Riley Sibbel. Concordia even outdid its NAIA leading average of 20.2 steals per game with 29 takeaways.
Fahey is shooting a cool 50 percent from 3-point territory this season. Said Fahey of her experience as a rookie, “It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been way better than I expected it to be. It’s exceeded all my expectations and I’m really excited for the rest of the season.”
Quinn Wragge added 11 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the floor. Lammers was held to two points on 1-for-5 shooting. Post play was limited by Briar Cliff’s zone although Concordia did manage to outscore the Chargers in the paint, 30-24.
The Chargers (11-10, 5-8 GPAC) have proven capable of hanging with ranked foes. They entered the day having beaten three top 25 opponents. They struggled to get out of their own way on this particular day. Briar Cliff had just one player in double figures: Taylor Vasa (10 points, seven rebounds).
The Bulldogs will remain home to host Midland (11-7, 6-6 GPAC) on Wednesday. Tipoff from Walz Arena is slated for 6 p.m. CST. In the first meeting this season between the two sides, Barry and Wragge put up 17 points apiece in an 83-65 Concordia win in Fremont. The Warriors received votes in this week’s NAIA coaches’ poll.
Midland, Jamestown up next for No. 2 Bulldogs
Jan. 14, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Three wins, including two in convincing fashion and another over a fellow top-five opponent, followed the double overtime road defeat to begin 2019. The second-ranked Bulldogs continue to keep pace a game behind No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan at the top of the GPAC standings with nine GPAC regular-season contests to go. Head coach Drew Olson’s squad will knock out two of those league games this week.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 16 vs. Midland (11-8, 6-7), 6 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Jan. 19 at Jamestown (11-10, 5-8), 2 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Anyone who has watched Concordia women’s basketball knows that its press is a handful to deal with, especially for opponents without sound decision makers in the backcourt. The impressive thing about the 2018-19 Bulldogs is that they are turning teams over at a rate much greater than even the recent squads that Olson has led to the national semifinals. The current group is forcing an average of 32.0 turnovers per game, significantly better than the 2014-15 (26.7), 2016-17 (26.3) and 2017-18 (24.4) teams that each won at least 34 games. Last week the Bulldogs caused a combined 70 turnovers in wins over Hastings and Briar Cliff.
The rash of turnovers has led Concordia to wealth of blowouts. Of its 17 victories, 15 have come by double-digit margins. The other two wins came by exactly eight points versus No. 2 Southeastern University (Fla.) and No. 5 Northwestern. The Bulldogs have done all of this damage against a schedule that Massey Ratings has listed as the toughest in all of NAIA women’s basketball. Concordia ranks sixth nationally in per game scoring margin (+22.8).
Defensive tenacity is its driving force, but Concordia actually rates as the top offensive team in the NAIA, according to Massey Ratings. While the Bulldogs rank a modest sixth among GPAC teams in 3-point field goal percentage (.310), they have a knack for getting opportunities at the bucket. They are converting 51.0 percent of their shots inside the 3-point arc. All-Americans Philly Lammers (.610) and Quinn Wragge (.520) are both shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. Concordia ranks fourth nationally in scoring average (88.6).
Midland, Wednesday’s opponent, could use a victory over the Bulldogs to bolster its résumé moving down the stretch. The Warriors appeared in the national top 25 in November and December before dropping to the “receiving votes” category last week. Former Bulldog Maddie Egr is enjoying a fine season, averaging 14.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.56 blocks per game. Head coach Shawn Gilbert’s squad is coming off a 98-78 loss at Dakota Wesleyan on Sunday. In the first meeting with Concordia, Midland led after the first quarter before the Bulldogs took control over the final three quarters.
Jamestown is finding out how challenging it is to navigate the GPAC grind. CUNE alum and Jimmie head coach Thad Sankey’s squad bounced back from back-to-back GPAC defeats by winning at Doane, 70-62, over the weekend. It’s looking like Jamestown will have to make a run down the stretch in order to extend the program’s run of seven national tournament appearances in a row. The Jimmies will try to slow things down on Saturday. They average 67.2 points and allow 62.8.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (17-2, 11-2 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.6)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.4)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.0)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (11.5)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (13.9)
Midland (11-8, 6-7 GPAC)
G – Amanda Hansen, Jr., 5-7 (11.6)
G – Maddie Meadows, Jr., 5-11 (5.1)
G – Madison Severson, Sr., 5-3 (7.4)
F – Maddie Egr, Sr., 6-0 (14.5)
F – Makenna Sullivan, So., 5-11 (6.2)
Jamestown (11-10, 5-8 GPAC)
G – Mya Buffeta, So., 5-4 (4.7)
G – Paige Schmidt, Jr., 5-8 (9.2)
F – Noelle Josephson, Fr., 5-10 (7.7)
F – Emma Stoehr, So., 5-8 (8.9)
C – Jenna Doyle, Sr., 6-3 (6.3)
Fourth quarter surge pushes Bulldogs into first-place GPAC tie
Jan. 16, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Midland put a scare into the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team with a solid third quarter performance. Once again, it has proven to be a chore to hang with the Bulldogs for a full 40 minutes. Behind All-American Philly Lammers, the Bulldogs opened the fourth quarter on an 18-4 run and motored to an 84-74 victory inside Walz Arena on Wednesday night (Jan. 16).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad now finds itself in a three-way tie for first place in the GPAC standings. Concordia has improved to 18-2 overall and to 12-2 in league play.
“Defensively we were a little bit sharper and did a little bit better job in the press,” Olson said of the fourth quarter eruption. “Ultimately it was about hitting shots. (Mackenzie) Koepke hit two threes and Philly hit a three. That was why we were able to pull away.”
The opposing duo of Maddie Egr and Lexis Haase turned out to be a handful. Egr and Haase dropped in 20 points apiece. They went back-to-back with buckets, capping a third quarter that ended with Concordia hanging on to just a four-point (64-60) lead. In the face of a stiff challenge, the Bulldogs answered the bell in the fourth quarter. Lammers got the run kick-started with a bucket in the paint and then even canned a trey. Concordia led by as many as 18 points.
The Bulldogs were unable to muster one of their patented blowouts due in large part to the play of Egr and Haase, but also because the Warriors limited their turnovers to a reasonable count of 24. Midland enjoyed a solid offensive day, shooting 49.1 percent for the game (53.3 percent in the second half). On the flip side, the Warriors had a decided disadvantage from the free throw line, where Concordia went 20-for-28 and Midland went 12-for-19.
The Warriors also don’t have Lammers on their side. The All-American finished with 19 points on 9-for-16 shooting despite a bout with foul trouble. Cockerill equaled her with 19 points, thanks mostly to her 12-for-14 effort from the foul line. Quinn Wragge added 15 points and five rebounds, Grace Barry chipped in six points and seven assists and Colby Duvel put up seven points and eight rebounds. Duvel has earned her stripes as a super sub.
“We just have to play off each other,” Duvel said of her and Lammers in the post. “Each time we’re going in and out of the game we’re telling each other what’s working and what’s not working. A big thing is talking to our guards. It’s a collective group. We’re there for each other.”
Koepke may have made only two shots, but they were both big ones from 3-point range during the fourth quarter push. The Lincoln Lutheran product also swiped five steals.
Midland dropped to 6-8 in GPAC play (11-9 overall). The Warriors may not get their proper due simply because of having to play in the rugged GPAC.
“You look at the standings and see they’re in the middle. That’s a really good basketball team,” Olson said. “Very well coached. Very good defensively. They had a good attack against our press. I think that’s a team that should go to the national tournament, but we’ll see what happens. I’m just glad our kids had the focus to make enough plays to win that game.”
A long road trip awaits the Bulldogs, who will leave on Friday in preparation for Saturday’s 2 p.m. CST contest at Jamestown (11-10, 5-8 GPAC). The Jimmies have not played since their 70-62 win at Doane on Jan. 12. In the first meeting this season between Concordia and Jamestown, the Bulldogs emerged with an 87-59 victory on Nov. 17.
Dawgs adjust on the fly, pummel Jamestown
Jan. 19, 2019
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Both sides made early adjustments in the second go-round this season between the second-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team and Jamestown. With a slight tweak, the Bulldogs shook loose from the Jimmies, dominated the third quarter and rode 13 3-point field goals to a 98-67 win inside Newman Arena on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 19).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has moved to 19-2 overall and to 13-2 in league play. With top-ranked Dakota Wesleyan falling at No. 21 Hastings on Saturday, Concordia now shares first place with No. 3 Northwestern.
“I felt like we had a really good start and really pressured them,” Olson said. “Then they did a nice job of breaking our press and cracking our zone. After the first quarter we switched up and went to a man press. At that point defensively we just kind of locked them down. It was just up to our kids to knock down shots. We had some good bench contributions in that second half.”
A flurry of turnovers from the opposition again helped the cause for Concordia, which forced 39 of them at Jamestown. There is just something about those third quarters when these two squads get together. In the first meeting on Nov. 17, the Bulldogs outscored the Jimmies, 28-9, in the third period. Concordia held an even more decisive edge (35-14) in that 10-minute stretch this time around. During which, Taylor Cockerill exerted control by notching 11 of her game high 22 points.
Cockerill, who made 5-of-6 shots from 3-point range, watched most of the fourth quarter from the bench with the game well in hand. She was joined in double figures by Quinn Wragge (16), Philly Lammers (15) and MacKenzie Helman (10). The quartet of Cockerill, Helman, Mackenzie Koepke and Wragge combined to net 12-of-18 attempts from beyond the arc.
Jamestown (11-11, 5-9 GPAC) had stretches of solid play offensively. It shot 56 percent (14-for-25) from the field in the first half. It just wasn’t near enough to overcome the massive turnover differential (39-18). Five pesky Bulldogs recorded three steals or more, led by five from Wragge.
The latest outing was just another example of how ably this Concordia team can find different ways to win. Just when you think you may have that zone press figured out, the Bulldogs can flip a switch.
“It’s a really important thing for us to have both (types of presses) as we start to play teams a second or third time,” Olson said. “They might be a little more prepared for what we do, but we now have the ability to switch things on teams and keep them off balance. Hopefully that continues.”
CUNE alum and Jamestown head coach Thad Sankey actually got most of the scoring production from his bench. The Jimmie starting five combined for only 13 points. In reserve roles, Mackensi Higlin (20) and Olivia Anderson (14) provided the scoring Jamestown needed to climb back into the game near the end of the first quarter – until the turnovers did it in. Concordia’s lead grew as large as 34 points.
With a new NAIA coaches’ poll set to be released on Tuesday, the Bulldogs are likely to move back into the No. 1 spot. Concordia was the preseason No. 1 and remained there until sliding back to No. 3 with the poll release on Dec. 11.
The Bulldogs will return home to host Doane (4-18, 1-14 GPAC) on Wednesday. Tipoff from Walz Arena is set for 6 p.m. CST. Concordia won the season’s first meeting with the Tigers, 93-53, in Crete on Dec. 5. Doane picked up its first GPAC win of the season by topping Hastings, 68-62, this past Wednesday.
Previewing CIT 2019 week on the women's side
Jan. 21, 2019
#CIT2019
Hosted by Concordia University, Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, Michigan (Cardinal Field House)
CIT links
CU-Ann Arbor tournament page
Advance tickets (available until 10 p.m. Jan. 23)
Live webcasts for CIT games
Radio coverage: 104.9 Max Country
Game recaps/interviews
CIT alumni and friends social
Tickets
$15 advanced weekend pass | $20 weekend pass purchased on site | $12 day pass | children under six are free
2019 Concordia Invitational Tournament Schedule
Friday, Jan. 25
- 12 p.m. CST / 1 p.m. EST – Nebraska vs. Wisconsin (women)
- 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST – Nebraska vs. Wisconsin (men)
- 5 p.m. CST / 6 p.m. EST – Ann Arbor vs. Chicago (women)
- 7 p.m. CST / 8 p.m. EST – Ann Arbor vs. Chicago (men)
Saturday, Jan. 26
- 9:30 a.m. CST / 10:30 a.m. EST – Dance/Cheer competition
- 11:30 a.m. CST / 12:30 p.m. EST – Women’s consolation game
- 1:30 p.m. CST / 2:30 p.m. EST – Men’s consolation game
- 4:30 p.m. CST / 5:30 p.m. EST– Women’s championship game
- 6:30 p.m. CST / 7:30 p.m. EST – Men’s championship game
Watch Party at Bottle Rocket
Bottle Rocket Brewing Co. in Seward will host a watch party for all Bulldog games during CIT. Bottle Rocker Brewing Co. is located at 230 South 5th Street in Seward.
CIT dominance
Since seizing the program’s first CIT title in 1983, the Bulldogs have been utterly dominant in this annual event. CUNE’s 28 all-time CIT titles are far away the most in the tournament’s history, which dates back to 1973 on the women’s side (Concordia St. Paul has the second most titles with eight). The Bulldogs have come out on top in 27 of the last 32 CITs. Head coach Drew Olson’s program owns a 10-game CIT win streak during which each of the victories have come by double-digit margins. Over the past five CIT championship games, CUNE has won by margins of 20, 52, 22, 27 and 46, respectively.
At the 2018 event hosted by Concordia-Wisconsin, the Bulldogs defeated CU-Ann Arbor, 104-66, and CU-Chicago, 102-56, while celebrating another championship. Then senior Dani Hoppes went 10-for-19 from 3-point range and totaled a combined 36 points over the two victories. She became the 17th different Bulldog to earn the CIT MVP award. Current senior Quinn Wragge is a two-time CIT MVP (2016, 2017). Wragge is one of six Bulldogs all-time to earn multiple CIT MVP awards. The others are Bailey Morris (2014, 2015), Whitney Stichka (2006, 2008, 2009), Sarah Harrison (2002, 2004, 2005), Stacey Miller (1997, 1998) and Lynda Beck (1990, 1991).
First place Bulldogs
What was a three-way tie for first place atop the GPAC standings after action on Jan. 16 is now a two-way tie between the Bulldogs and Northwestern. Both teams won twice last week while No. 1 Dakota Wesleyan fell twice. The Tigers were even upset over the weekend by No. 21 Hastings, which had lost earlier in the week to Doane (previously winless in GPAC play). Concordia is aiming for its third GPAC regular-season title in a row.
The Bulldogs are now 19-2 overall (13-2 GPAC) after winning games last week over Midland, 84-74, and at Jamestown, 98-67. Sophomore guard Taylor Cockerill put up a combined 41 points in those victories. After a 3-for-14 shooting effort versus Midland, Cockerill nailed 5-of-6 3-point attempts at Jamestown. All-Americans Philly Lammers (34 points, eight rebounds, four steals) and Quinn Wragge (31 points, six steals) also enjoyed a fine week. Of the team’s 19 wins this season, 17 have been decided by double digit margins with the lone exceptions being eight-point victories over then No. 2 Southeastern University (Fla.) and then No. 5 Northwestern.
The scary thing for opponents is that Concordia seems to have hit its stride in terms of perimeter shooting. After failing to shoot above 40 percent from 3-point range in any of this season’s first 11 games, the Bulldogs have now accomplished that feat five times over the past 10 outings. As far as percentage, Concordia’s 13-for-29 shooting from beyond the arc at Jamestown was its best yet. The team leaders in 3-point percentage (with at least 15 makes) are Delani Fahey (.463), Wragge (.386), Cockerill (.384), Taryn Schuette (.348) and Mackenzie Koepke (.344).
Up next
Before heading out for CIT, the Bulldogs hope to take care of business on Wednesday when Doane (4-18, 1-14 GPAC) visits Walz Arena for a 6 p.m. CST tipoff. The Tigers got off the schneid in conference play last week by upsetting No. 21 Hastings, 68-62, behind 26-point, eight-rebound performance from Haylee Heits. There have been some rough moments this season for Doane, but head coach Tracee Fairbanks’ squad has been more competitive of late. It dropped a 48-45 decision at Midland on Jan. 9. In this season’s first meeting, Concordia trampled the Tigers, 93-53, in Crete. Low scoring outputs have been common for Doane, which averages 55.3 points and shoots 35.2 percent from the floor. Heits is the team scoring leader by a wide margin (14.5 ppg).
Wednesday’s game will be covered live by the Concordia Sports Network and by 104.9 Max Country.
The women’s CIT field
Concordia University, Nebraska
Head coach: Drew Olson, 13th year
Record: 19-2
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA Division II)
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Top player: The Bulldogs really have a ‘Big Four,’ but junior Philly Lammers has been the most decorated in terms of honors. The Omaha native has totaled 1,312 points, 709 rebounds, 223 steals and 129 blocked shots over her first 96 career collegiate games. CUNE boasts a three-year record of 89-7 with Lammers on its side.
Key stat: The majority of Bulldog opponents struggle mightily when faced with the press. CUNE has forced an average of 32.0 turnovers per game, which has fueled an offense that averages 88.9 points per game.
CIT titles: 28 (most recent: 2018)
Concordia University, Ann Arbor
Head coach: Kiefer Haffey, 1st year
Record: 4-18
Conference: Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (NAIA Division II)
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Top player: Sophomore guard Katie Snow has been by far the team’s biggest scoring threat, averaging 16.2 points per game. The 5-foot-9 Snow also grabs 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 steals per contest. She has racked up 743 points over 58 career games for CU-Ann Arbor.
Key stat: Three senior starters and the head coach (CUNE alum Thad Sankey) departed after the Cardinals enjoyed a 22-14 campaign in 2017-18. Without star guard Kari Borowiak, CUAA has struggled to put the ball in the basket, averaging 58.8 points per game.
CIT titles: 2 (most recent: 2013)
Concordia University, Chicago
Head coach: Lauren Rosengarden, 1st year
Record: 6-11
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Top player: Sophomore guard Sam Bloom is a legitimate threat from the perimeter (37.5 3-point field goal percentage) who averages 13.1 points per game. She went off for 29 points in a conference game at Aurora University on Jan. 2.
Key stat: After a run of struggles in CIT, the Cougars topped CU-Wisconsin, 71-61, at the 2018 event and advanced to the CIT championship game. CU-Chicago put together a solid 17-9 record in 2017-18 under Rusty Rogers. Lauren Rosengarden is now in her first season as head coach.
CIT titles: 4 (most recent: 1986)
Concordia University, Wisconsin
Head coach: Stacey Brunner-Jones, 15th year
Record: 12-4
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin
Top player: The Falcons boast a nice combo of seniors in Baylee Barker in the backcourt and Ashley Solberg in the frontcourt. Barker is shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range while averaging 12.7 points per game. Solberg tops the team in rebounds at 6.1 per outing.
Key stat: CUW has improved offensively, going from an average of 64.8 points per game to 70.7 through 16 games this season. The Falcons have been a strong program under Stacey Brunner-Jones’ direction. She is 280-119 as CUW’s head coach.
CIT titles: 3 (most recent: 2007)
Top-ranked Dawgs show off depth, pulverize Doane
Jan. 23, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – A day after regaining the No. 1 ranking in NAIA Division II, the Concordia University women’s basketball team looked like the No. 1 team. The Bulldogs set the tone early with a 15-0 run out of the gate in the process of demoralizing the hopes of visiting Doane. Philly Lammers notched the game’s first six points in a 106-47 Concordia victory inside Walz Arena on Wednesday night (Jan. 23).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad moved to 20-2 overall and to 14-2 in GPAC play. This marks the 11th time the program has reached at least 20 wins in a season during Olson’s tenure.
A week ago Doane surprised then 21st-ranked Hastings with an upset win in Crete. Any thought of a shocker happening at Walz on this particular evening died quickly. From the opening tip it became clear that Lammers was too talented inside, the Bulldog press was too pesky and that the host just had too much depth. It’s also nearly impossible to beat Concordia went it shoots 58.1 percent from the floor.
This one was essentially decided before the first quarter culminated. Delani Fahey threw in a couple of triples to make it 28-8 late in the stanza. The Bulldogs then tacked on five more points before the close of the period while adding to a commanding lead. The Tigers (4-19, 1-15 GPAC) just didn’t have an answer for a Concordia team that had clearly not overlooked an opponent situated at the bottom of the league.
The numbers tell the tale of the Bulldogs’ dominance. Concordia forced 38 turnovers and committed only 13. It also shot 42.3 percent (11-for-26) from 3-point range and limited Doane to just 25.9 percent (14-for-54) shooting overall. The 106 points scored by the Bulldogs were a season high.
Lammers got each of her game high 15 points in the first half and then mostly became a spectator over the final 20 minutes. She gave way to the likes of Claire Cornell, who went on the attack and poured in a career high 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Fahey added 11 as one of 10 Concordia players to net at least seven points. Koepke put home nine points on 3-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Riley Sibbel chipped nine points and five steals. At the point, Grace Barry totaled eight points and five assists – and the list of contributors goes on.
“I just went hard,” Cornell said of her big run in the second half. “It wasn’t all me. You had Rylee Pauli, you had Jayda (Lyon) up top and Taryn (Schuette). Without those girls creating opportunities those fast breaks wouldn’t happen. I have to give a lot of credit to them.”
Reigning GPAC Player of the Week Haylee Heits of Doane paced her squad with 10 points (4-for-12 from the field). Eight Tigers who saw action had just as many or more turnovers as compared to points scored. Doane dropped its two meetings with the Bulldogs this season by a combined margin of 99 points.
The 68th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament is up next for the Bulldogs, who have drawn Concordia University, Wisconsin (13-4) in Friday’s action. Tipoff from Cardinal Field House in Ann Arbor, Mich., is set for 12 p.m. CST / 1 p.m. EST. CUNE has won 28 CIT titles in program history and carries a 10-game CIT win streak into the tournament.
Count Cornell among the freshmen who are pumped to experience CIT for the first time.
Said Cornell, “I’m super, super excited. I heard the last time it was home it was a really big deal from a lot of the upperclassmen. They said it’s a lot of fun and a lot to remember so I’m looking forward to it.”
Cockerill, bench mob push Dawgs to CIT title game
Jan. 25, 2019
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A solid offensive performance from Concordia University, Wisconsin pushed the top-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska women’s basketball team, but the Bulldogs still had far too much firepower to fall victim to an upset. Taylor Cockerill sparked CUNE with a big first half while leading her side to a 102-74 victory on day one (Jan. 25) of the 68th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament. Concordia University, Ann Arbor serves as this year’s host.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has now won 11 CIT games in a row. The Bulldogs are 21-2 overall.
“I thought the bench group came in and did a great job,” Olson said. “Delani Fahey came in and hit a bunch of threes and so did Mack Koepke. The whole group did a really nice job overall. I will credit Wisconsin. They played well and made a lot of shots.”
This wound up being a more competitive contest than the previous CIT meeting between the two sides that occurred in 2017 and resulted in a 107-65 CUNE win. This edition of the Falcons has a bit more in the tank offensively. With the help of 17 points off the bench from Camryn Szolyga, CUW got within 14 points in the opening minute of the third quarter. The Falcons actually shot a higher percentage from the field (46.0 to 43.2) than the Bulldogs.
CUNE fought back with the three ball (12-for-33 for the game). Cockerill made a trio of triples as part of her game high 21-point performance. In reserve roles, Fahey (4-for-6 from beyond the arc) and Koepke (3-for-8 from 3-point range) were instrumental in widening a lead that grew to as many as 34 points. In the post, Philly Lammers did what she does. She recorded 17 points, eight rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals.
Things were called a bit tighter than the Bulldogs would prefer. They were whistled for 32 fouls, which partially negated the effectiveness of the press. CUNE still managed to swipe 18 steals (four by Koepke) and force 30 turnovers.
Many teams have had trouble containing Cockerill, who can score in a variety of ways. Now oozing with confidence, Cockerill has made a jump to stardom in her sophomore season.
“It’s just game-by-game with what the team needs,” Cockerill said. “I try to provide what the team needs, whether it’s energy, points, passing or whatever.”
CUW (13-5) competes as a member of NCAA Division III’s Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. The Falcons last won the CIT title in 2007. Emily Hafemann (12) joined Szolyga in double figures in the defeat. While CUW shot the ball efficiently, it got outrebounded, 48-34.
At the point guard spot, Grace Barry totaled 12 points, five assists and three steals. Barry was one of eight Bulldogs who experienced CIT for the first time on Friday. CUNE deployed 14 players, including Elle Luehr and Jayda Lyon, who were recently added to the varsity roster. A two-time CIT MVP, Quinn Wragge contributed five points, six rebounds and three assists.
The Bulldogs now get set for the CIT championship game slated to tip off at 4:30 p.m. CST / 5:30 p.m. EST inside Cardinal Field House in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Saturday. CUNE is looking for its sixth CIT title in a row and 29th all-time.
The Bulldogs are again in the role of heavy favorite, but it’s something they have become accustomed to. Said Cockerill, “We just want to keep getting better every day. We’re focusing on one game at a time and how we can get better individually and as a team. We just take the games as they come.”
MVP Lammers shows the way to 29th CIT title
Jan. 26, 2019
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Philly Lammers exerted her will early and often while spurring the top-ranked Concordia University Nebraska women’s basketball team to another dominant Concordia Invitational Tournament weekend. Lammers beasted her way to a double-double on Saturday (Jan. 26) while earning CIT MVP honors. CUNE won going away in the CIT championship game, 82-56, over host Concordia University, Ann Arbor.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s program has won six CIT titles and 12 CIT games in a row. The weekend ended with the 29th CIT championship in program history. The Bulldogs are 22-2 overall.
“This is a really special event,” Olson said. “Any time you win a championship or a trophy of some kind it’s special. I hope our kids don’t take that for granted because not everybody gets to win it. Thankfully we did. We take a lot of pride in that and being able to bring it back home.”
Lammers had no equal at CIT in terms of post play. Over the two CIT games, she powered home a combined 40 points while adding 22 rebounds, seven steals and four blocked shots. She went off for 23 points (10-for-14 from the field) and 14 rebounds in the championship game, which CUNE controlled from start to finish. The Bulldogs won handily despite being far from their best from an offensive standpoint. They shot only 33.0 percent (29-for-88) from the floor.
But CUNE packs a defense that always serves it well on the road. In an amped up environment CIT environment inside Cardinal Field House, the home team knew it had to be near perfect to have a chance. It wasn’t CUAA (5-20) shot 34.0 percent from the floor, sank only three 3-point field goals and turned it over 32 times.
Even when the starting backcourt has an uncharacteristically tough night shooting the ball, the Bulldogs have proven they have many ways to skin a cat. It’s what champions are made of.
“I think CIT is always awesome,” Lammers said. “It’s always a great time. When the crowd is into it that makes it such a great atmosphere. Obviously the teams were going at each other really hard. It’s just always a lot of fun.”
Also a CIT All-Tournament selection, sophomore Taylor Cockerill did a lot of her damage from the free throw line (7-for-8) on her way to 14 points. She added eight rebounds. Quinn Wragge (12 points, five rebounds, two steals) also reached double figures. Off the bench, Delani Fahey and MacKenzie Helman both knocked in a pair of treys.
The Cardinals got little in the way of offensive production outside of Katie Snow, who totaled 18 points and four steals in 32 minutes of action. No other CUAA player had more than six points. The Cardinals also lost the rebound battle, 53-45.
Olson has now presided over 10 CIT championships. No other coach in the history of the women’s event has won more than seven since the women became part of CIT in 1973. CUNE’s all-time record at CIT is now 74-18.
Now the Bulldogs look forward to a Sunday flight back to Nebraska and a return to Walz Arena. They will attempt to avenge one of this season’s two losses on Wednesday when they host No. 14 Dordt (17-7, 10-6 GPAC) at 6 p.m. CST. The Defenders won the first meeting in a classic double overtime tilt that ended in a 97-92 final score on Jan. 2.
Said Olson, “I think our kids understand what’s ahead. At the same time, we want to enjoy this because this is a really special event. When we get back home we’ll get back to work and focus on Dordt and only Dordt.”
CIT All-Tournament Team
MVP – Philly Lammers, CUNE
Taylor Cockerill, CUNE
Crystal Corr, CUC
Katie Snow, CUAA
Camryn Szolyga, CUW
Back to GPAC grind for CIT champs
Jan. 28, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – After celebrating the 29th Concordia Invitational Tournament title in program history, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team will now refocus its attention upon the remainder of the conference slate. This week will be a challenging one for the Bulldogs, who will host No. 14 Dordt on Wednesday before traveling to take on second-ranked Northwestern on Saturday. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad enters the week alone atop the GPAC standings.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 30 vs. No. 14 Dordt (17-7, 10-6), 6 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Feb. 2 at No. 2 Northwestern (20-3, 14-3), 2 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Concordia regained the No. 1 ranking on Jan. 22 when the NAIA unveiled a new Division II poll. It marked the 18th time in program history that the Bulldogs have reached that lofty perch. Concordia has taken up residence in the top five of the national poll ever since moving up into that position on Dec. 13, 2016. The program also has an active top 25 poll streak of 87, which dates back to the 2011-12 preseason poll. During Olson’s tenure, the highest poll finish has been No. 2 – in 2015 and 2018. The Bulldogs began this campaign as the preseason No. 1.
Junior Philly Lammers has played like an All-American again this season. She put together a string of dominant performances last week, averaging 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.67 steals and 1.67 blocks per game over the victories over Doane, Concordia University, Wisconsin and Concordia University, Ann Arbor. Lammers was named the CIT MVP after her latest outing – a 23-point, 14-rebound effort in the title game versus CU-Ann Arbor. Lammers was joined on the CIT All-Tournament Team by Taylor Cockerill, who put up a combined 35 points at CIT.
Since falling in double overtime at Dordt on Jan. 2, the Bulldogs have won eight games in a row – most in blowout fashion. Only one of those contests (a 93-85 win over then No. 5 Northwestern) was decided by a single digit margin. Concordia may not have been tested significantly last week, but that will change down the stretch of conference regular season play. After this week’s action, the Bulldogs will be at No. 8 Morningside and host fourth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan. In other words, a schedule that Massey Ratings pegs as the third toughest in the entire NAIA is about to get even more challenging.
Dordt appears to be on the verge of the first national tournament appearance in program history. Sophomore forward Erika Feenstra (22.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg) is a candidate for the GPAC Player of the Year award. She posted 32 points and 12 rebounds in the victory over Concordia. That was the signature win of the season thus far for the Defenders, who are 4-3 since beating the Bulldogs. On paper, one advantage Dordt has over Concordia is on the boards. The Defenders rank sixth nationally in rebound margin (+10.5).
Northwestern’s overtime loss over the weekend at Doane may be the most shocking result of the entire NAIA basketball season to date. The Red Raiders were seemingly rolling along with their only previous defeats on the season coming against teams currently ranked No. 1 and No. 4 in the national polls. Head coach Chris Yaw’s squad won’t overlook Concordia in the same manner. Led by Kassidy De Jong, Northwestern rates as one of the nation’s top offensive teams. It sports national rankings of No. 1 in field goal percentage (.483), No. 3 in 3-point field goal percentage (.374) and No. 4 in scoring offense (86.5).
Wednesday will serve as senior day for the Bulldog women's basketball program. Seniors to be honored are Jadyn High, Jerrica Tietz, Megan Vieselmeyer and Quinn Wragge.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (22-2, 14-2 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (10.8)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.6)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (4.9)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (11.2)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.7)
Dordt (17-7, 10-6 GPAC)
G – Payton Harmsen, Jr., 5-8 (8.3)
G – Annie Rhinesmith, Jr., 5-8 (12.8)
G – Siennah Stamness, So., 5-10 (6.0)
F – Rachel Evavold, Jr., 6-1 (12.5)
F – Erika Feenstra, So., 6-0 (22.5)
Northwestern (20-3, 14-3 GPAC)
G – Sammy Blum, So., 5-7 (11.2)
G – Kassidy De Jong, Sr., 5-10 (18.3)
G – Breana Schuiteman, So., 5-8 (7.7)
F – Haley Birks, Sr., 6-0 (13.3)
F – Anna Kiel, Jr., 6-1 (10.5)
Dawgs lose grip on sole possession of first place
Feb. 2, 2019
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – A battle between the top two rated teams in NAIA Division II women’s basketball lived up to the billing, at least in terms of late game drama. In this particular nail biter, the top-ranked Bulldogs let a 15-point first half lead melt away in an 81-75 loss at No. 2 Northwestern on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 2). The Red Raiders had been idle since a stunning upset loss at Doane last week.
Saturday’s result means that 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has dropped back into a three-way tie with Northwestern and No. 4 Dakota Wesleyan atop the GPAC standings. Concordia is now 23-3 overall and 15-3 in conference play.
“I thought our kids came out with really good focus,” Olson said. “Defensively we were fantastic and we got a lot of stuff offensively because of the pressure that we put on. In the second quarter we hit a wall a little bit. Offensively we weren’t moving the ball very well and Northwestern did a better job. They were tougher defensively and they handled our pressure a little better.”
The Red Raiders (21-3, 15-3 GPAC) made a nice recovery after missing their first 11 field goal attempts of the game. Those struggles helped the Bulldogs build a 21-6 lead by the end of the opening quarter. The roles reversed in the second stanza and it was a grind from that point. Northwestern trended upward as star Kassidy De Jong (team high 25 points) caught fire. The Red Raiders pushed their lead to 10 early in the fourth period.
Sophomore Taylor Cockerill led the charge in rallying Concordia back into the lead (74-73) with 2:15 left on the clock. The Bulldogs just couldn’t make the big play down the stretch. Three of Concordia’s final four possessions ended with turnovers in a frustrating final minute. Northwestern’s Haley Birks put the finishing touches on her team’s win by draining four free throws in the closing seconds.
The Bulldogs needed more production like what Cockerill provided. She racked up a game high 28 points (9-for-11 from the free throw line). The Waverly High School product knocked down a triple on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter to cut into the deficit. A hero down the stretch in Wednesday’s win over No. 14 Dordt, Mackenzie Koepke also surfaced with trey during the team’s push in the waning moments.
“I loved her mindset coming into the game,” Olson said of Koepke. “She came in very aggressive shooting the ball. Defensively she’s getting much better. Hopefully we can keep evolving her game and get her more minutes.”
Northwestern shot a fairly respectable 43.1 percent (25-for-58) from the floor considering how it started the game. De Jong and Birks (10 points, three steals) were the lone Red Raiders in double figures, though four players had either eight or nine points for the victors. This was quite a turnaround from one week ago for head coach Chris Yaw’s squad, which has its own aspirations of making a deep run in March.
Koepke finished with 14 points while going 4-for-6 from 3-point range. Grace Barry (11 points, two steals) also hit double figures. Northwestern was able to limit Philly Lammers to eight points and one rebound. The boards were an issue for the Bulldogs, who were outnumbered 49-29 in rebounds. Those troubles negated a 27-20 edge in turnovers. Concordia also shot only 38.8 percent from the field.
The Bulldogs will head back to northwest Iowa on Wednesday when they travel to No. 8 Morningside (18-8, 10-8 GPAC) for a 6 p.m. CST tipoff in Sioux City. Concordia hopes to avenge a home loss to the Mustangs that occurred on Nov. 28. In Saturday’s action, Morningside got upset at Mount Marty, 62-57.
Week of showdowns awaits as GPAC title race heats up
Feb. 4, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – This is where it gets fun. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team shares first place in the GPAC with fellow national powers in Dakota Wesleyan and Northwestern. If the Bulldogs are to win a regular-season title for the third year in a row, they will have to earn it. They will be at No. 8 Morningside on Wednesday before hosting No. 4 Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday.
This Week
Wednesday, Feb. 6 at No. 8 Morningside (18-8, 10-8), 6 p.m.
-Webcast: YouTube
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Feb. 9 vs. No. 4 Dakota Wesleyan (22-3, 15-3), 2 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad had its nine-game win streak interrupted in an 81-75 loss at Northwestern over the weekend. The program has suffered only seven defeats since the start of the 2016-17 campaign and has not endured back-to-back losses in a season since 2015-16. The 23-3 record this season is especially impressive when considering Concordia has played the most challenging schedules of any NAIA women’s basketball team, according to Massey Ratings. The Bulldogs are 9-3 in their 12 games versus top 25 opponents.
Concordia celebrated its senior day last week when it hosted No. 14 Dordt. The result was a 90-88 nail biter of a victory that featured a frantic final few seconds. The lone senior on the roster is Crofton, Neb., native Quinn Wragge, who continues to creep up the program’s all-time lists. In school history, she currently sits seventh in points scored (1,664), seventh in rebounds (767) and 11th in steals (233). Last week she moved past Kristen (Conahan) Vogt on the scoring list. Junior Philly Lammers has moved up to 13th in scoring with 1,395 points.
Sophomore Taylor Cockerill is likely to be the next Bulldog to join the 1,000-point club. She put up 45 more points last week while hoisting 20 field goal attempts in both outings. The 28 she scored at Northwestern marked the second highest single-game point total of her career. The Waverly High School product leads the team with her average of 16.2 points per game (754 career points). While Cockerill was the team’s premier freshman last season, Mackenzie Koepke seems to have be filling that billing this winter. She put up a combined 24 points last week. She played an instrumental role down the stretch of the win over Dordt, emerging with a blocked shot and critical bucket in the final minute.
The Bulldogs would love to return the favor after Morningside snapped their 40-game home win streak back on Nov. 28 (Concordia is now 46-1 over its past 47 home games). In addition to their signature win inside Walz Arena, the Mustangs own a pair of victories over Dordt. Winner of four national titles, head coach Jamie Sale leans upon the likes of Sierra Mitchell (17.8 ppg) and Sydney Hupp (12.7 ppg) as his top scorers. Like the Bulldogs, Morningside is adept at taking the ball away from opponents. It ranks ninth nationally in steals per game (12.1).
Concordia is the only team this season to have won at the Corn Palace. The Bulldogs have won four of the last five meetings with Dakota Wesleyan (everyone knows when that one loss occurred). Head coach Jason Christensen has another team capable of making an extended March run. The Tigers possess big-time stars in Sarah Carr, Kynedi Cheeseman and Rylie Osthus. The advantage the Bulldogs have in this matchup is depth. Dakota Wesleyan has typically gone only two deep into the bench. The Tigers’ two other defeats have come against Hastings and Northwestern.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (23-3, 15-3 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (10.9)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (16.2)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.0)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (10.9)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.7)
Morningside (18-8, 10-8 GPAC)
G – Grace Meyer, So., 5-8 (4.1)
G – Sierra Mitchell, So., 5-6 (17.8)
G – Jordyn Moser, Jr., 5-5 (8.2)
F – Sydney Hupp, Jr., 6-1 (12.7)
F – Sophia Peppers, Fr., 5-10 (4.6)
Dakota Wesleyan (22-3, 15-3 GPAC)
G – Kynedi Cheeseman, Jr., 5-10 (18.6)
G – Madison Mathews, Sr., 5-8 (6.9)
G – Rylie Osthus, Sr., 5-9 (11.5)
F – Sarah Carr, Jr., 6-0 (17.7)
F – Makaela Karst, Jr., 6-2 (10.2)
Lammers, Sibbel lead second half charge at Morningside
Feb. 6, 2019
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – There may have been some offensive struggles on Wednesday night (Feb. 6), but the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team packed a defense on the road. The Bulldogs forced 28 more turnovers and stifled host and 14th-ranked Morningside, 69-53, inside the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center. The win avenged one of Concordia’s three losses this season.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has no margin for error left in the race for a GPAC title after falling at No. 2 Northwestern last week. The Bulldogs (24-3, 16-3 GPAC) remain in a three-way tie in the loss column with Dakota Wesleyan and Northwestern at the top.
“It was ugly basketball, both teams, in that first half,” Olson said. “The second quarter we got tentative with the lead as opposed to doing what you do – be aggressive and play every possession. Hopefully our kids can keep getting better in that way. We can’t keep having big runs against us against great teams.
“I thought both (Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge) were way more aggressive today. Morningside plays a really good zone, but I thought we did a nice job in the second half of getting the ball to the high post. Philly was more effective down low and we did a great job communicating to make adjustments.”
When the offense is functioning at less than peak efficiency, it’s not a bad idea to lean upon a first team All-American. Lammers pulled her team out of a funk. The critical stretch in this contest came during the third quarter when the Bulldogs were forced to respond to a Mustang run. Concordia turned a 31-29 deficit into a 49-35 lead with a 20-4 run that featured six points and a pair of steals from Lammers alone.
Junior Riley Sibbel, most known for her ability as a defender, ensured that there would be no Morningside rally in the fourth quarter. The O’Neill, Neb., native dropped home a trio of treys in a three-minute stretch that staked the Bulldogs to their largest lead of 19. The 46-point second half for Concordia was a breath of fresh air following an unsightly first half of shooting by both squads.
“She was awesome today,” Olson said of Sibbel. “Her job is to defend. She does such a good job of that. If she can put in a three here and there it’s a bonus. For her to knock down four threes was huge for us.”
The Mustangs (18-9, 10-9 GPAC) have now dropped five of their last six outings. Only in brief moments were they able to string together successful offensive possessions on Wednesday. Sydney Hupp did her part by netting 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor. The rest of the team went a combined 11-for-37 from the floor. As a team, Morningside shot 38.8 percent overall and made only 4-of-26 tries from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs were able to win by a 16-point margin on an evening when Cockerill went 3-for-18 from the field against the zone. On the plus side, Lammers put up an impressive stat line of 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals. Sibbel finished with 14 points and four steals while making 4-of-5 3-point attempts. Quinn Wragge added 10 points and eight rebounds and Mackenzie Koepke chipped in with nine points off the bench. Grace Barry dished out nine assists.
A rivalry that has increased in intensity in recent years will be renewed on Saturday when the Bulldogs host No. 5 Dakota Wesleyan (24-3, 17-3 GPAC) at 2 p.m. CST. In the first meeting that took place on Dec. 15, Concordia rallied from an early deficit for an 82-68 victory inside the Corn Palace. It remains the Tigers’ only home loss of the season. Dakota Wesleyan will be playing its fourth game in eight days. It won a four-overtime battle at Jamestown on Monday.
Bulldogs keep pace at the top, sweep regular season from DWU
Feb. 9, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – For the sixth time in roughly 14 months, the Concordia University women’s basketball program met up with rival Dakota Wesleyan in another high intensity affair. As usual, a lot was on the line. The Bulldogs eventually pulled away with a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter and kept pace atop the GPAC standings with a 79-66 victory over the fifth-ranked Tigers inside Walz Arena on Saturday (Feb. 9).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has earned a season sweep of Dakota Wesleyan, which has also made trips to Seward for the past two GPAC tournament championship games. Concordia is now 25-3 overall and 17-3 in the GPAC (tied for first with Northwestern).
“You just know going into the game it’s going to be tough, it’s going to be really hard fought,” Olson said. “It’s going to come down to being able to defend in the half court and making shots. I thought our kids did a great job in the second half of that.”
When things got tight in the fourth quarter, the stars played like stars for the Bulldogs. The defining stretch started nearly midway through the fourth quarter when Grace Barry put home two in the paint to push Concordia’s lead to 67-63. Barry ignited a 9-0 run that was spurred by tenacious defensive effort. The Tigers were mired by a fourth-quarter scoring drought of nearly seven minutes. It finally ended with a Kynedi Cheeseman trey. By then it was too late.
Barry dazzled in crunch time. She capped the aforementioned 9-0 run with a steal and layup. Then with under two minutes left, Barry pushed the lead to double digits for the first time with a nifty back-breaking driving layup just before the shot clock buzzer. She finished with eight points, four assists and three steals.
“I really think that was all our defense,” Wragge said of the fourth quarter push. “We really locked down and made sure we were getting stops and forcing turnovers.”
Three players – Taylor Cockerill (19), Philly Lammers (18) and Wragge (16 points, 10 rebounds) accounted for a major portion of the offensive production. Cockerill attacked with her usual fearlessness and Wragge consistently got the lane off the dribble. Meanwhile, Lammers made all eight of her free throws as part of a 20-for-24 team effort from the charity stripe.
Though the final spread was 13, this was certainly no picnic. The defending national champion Tigers (24-4, 17-4 GPAC) boast a star trio of Cheeseman, Sarah Carr and Rylie Osthus. Cheeseman led that group with 17 points, but it was Makaela Karst who gave Concordia fits. She made layup after layup on her way to a career high 23 points.
The Bulldogs had more success in their zone defense as opposed to man-to-man. It was that look that stifled Dakota Wesleyan in the fourth quarter. Turnover margin (20-7) was again a key to victory. So too was a deeper bench while up against a Tiger squad playing its fourth game in eight days. Mackenzie Koepke chipped in five points, five rebounds and two blocks in a reserve role.
The Bulldogs will be back at Walz on Wednesday for their final home contest of the 2018-19 regular season. College of Saint Mary (2-25, 1-19 GPAC) will serve as the opponent for a game set to tip off at 7 p.m. CST. In this season’s first meeting, Concordia pummeled the Flames, 88-55, in Omaha on Nov. 20.
Now it’s time for the Bulldogs finish the regular season strong. They just concluded a 3-1 stretch against four teams all ranked in the top 15 nationally.
“Our kids embrace the challenge. That’s one of the reasons why they come here,” Olson said. “They want to be a part of a championship run. Our kids delivered today, but our job’s not done. We have to focus and finish like our motto is and be ready to go next week.”
Bulldogs ready to make title push in regular season's final week
Feb. 11, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Last week the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team concluded its post-CIT gauntlet that featured four consecutive games against conference foes ranked in the top 15 of the national coaches’ poll. With no margin for error left in the race for a third GPAC regular season title in a row, the Bulldogs won at No. 14 Morningside, 69-53, and defeated No. 5 Dakota Wesleyan, 79-66. Those victories allowed Concordia (25-3, 17-3 GPAC) to keep pace at the top of the standings with Northwestern (also 17-3 in the GPAC).
This Week
Wednesday, Feb. 13 vs. College of Saint Mary (2-25, 1-19), 7 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Feb. 16 vs. at Mount Marty (14-13, 8-13), 1:30 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s Bulldogs have put together a three-year run that is unprecedented in the program’s history. Over that stretch, Concordia has put together an overall record of 95-8. Winner of both GPAC regular season and tournament titles in 2016-17 and 2017-18, the Bulldogs became the first women’s basketball team in GPAC history (2000-present) to sweep conference championships in back-to-back years. Olson has led Concordia to a total of eight conference titles (four regular season; four postseason) since assuming the head coaching role prior to the 2006-07 season.
All-American Philly Lammers has never lost back-to-back games in her career and she helped ensure that fact would not change with her performance at Morningside. She collected 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals in that game while producing the 23rd double-double of her career. She then put up another 18 points versus Dakota Wesleyan. Lammers and company outscored last week’s opponents by a combined margin of 26 points over the second halves of those games. Grace Barry dished out a total of 13 assists and Taylor Cockerill put home 19 points against Dakota Wesleyan.
Senior Quinn Wragge’s continued rise up the program’s all-time lists will be a storyline as the stretch run of the season carries on. Still No. 7 in program history for career points, Wragge (1,690) is within striking distance of the fifth (Stephanie Schilke; 1,736) and sixth (Lynda Beck; 1,720) placeholders on the list. Wragge finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds versus Dakota Wesleyan. Lammers is also going to keep rising on the charts. She has recorded 1,431 points, 755 rebounds, 247 steals and 135 blocked shots over 103 career games.
This season has been a struggle for College of Saint Mary. The Flames have dropped 16 games in a row since their lone GPAC win – a 68-67 decision at Doane on Nov. 28. Head coach Kirk Walker’s squad averages 59.7 points per game and gives up 81.0 per contest. Going up against Concordia’s press will again be a chore for a squad that turns it over more than 21 times per game. Corryne Millett (11.6 ppg) is the only CSM player averaging double figures in scoring. The Bulldogs won the first meeting in Omaha, 88-55, on Nov. 20.
Mount Marty may get squeezed out of the eight-team GPAC tournament despite winning at Doane, 69-63, this past weekend. The Lancers enter the week having won four of their last five games with the lone loss coming at Dakota Wesleyan. Head coach Todd James Schlimgen’s squad likes to hoist the three. It ranks 17th nationally in 3-point field goals per game (8.3). The top Mount Marty scoring options are Karlee McKinney (13.3) and Ali Kuca (10.1). The Lancers have been solid defensively, holding opponents to 38.5 percent shooting through 27 games.
The GPAC tournament will begin with the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Concordia has clinched at least a top three seed and will be at home on that date. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. CST.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (25-3, 17-3 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (10.6)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (16.0)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.3)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (11.1)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.9)
College of Saint Mary (2-25, 1-19 GPAC)
G – Peyton Hagen, Sr., 5-8 (6.8)
G – Tyler Sumpter, Sr., 5-10 (9.0)
F – Dani Carlson, Jr., 6-0 (6.5)
F – Corryne Millett, Sr., 6-1 (11.6)
F – Ashley Nelson, Sr., 5-9 (5.6)
Mount Marty (14-13, 8-13 GPAC)
G – Molly Koisti, Jr., 5-8 (5.7)
G – Ali Kuca, Jr., 5-9 (10.1)
G – Karlee McKinney, So., 5-8 (13.3)
F – Sammy Kasowski, Sr., 6-0 (9.4)
F – Jamie Tebben, Jr., 6-0 (9.7)
Lammers honored with second GPAC weekly award this season
Feb. 12, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – For the second time this season, junior Philly Lammers has been awarded by the GPAC. On Tuesday (Feb. 12), the conference named Lammers the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. She garnered the same honor on Dec. 18. Lammers also earned an NAIA National Player of the Week accolade last season.
An Omaha native, Lammers played a major role in leading the top-ranked Bulldogs to a pair of wins last week over teams ranked in the top 15 of NAIA Division II. She put up 18 points in wins over both No. 14 Morningside and No. 5 Dakota Wesleyan. In the game at Morningside, the All-American also added 11 rebounds and seven steals while recording the 23rd double-double of her career. She also grabbed five rebounds and swiped three steals versus Dakota Wesleyan. For the week, Lammers went 11-for-23 (.478) from the floor and 14-for-16 (.875) from the free throw line.
It took Lammers only two seasons to surpass 1,000 career points. Through her first 103 collegiate games, Lammers has amassed 1,431 points, 755 rebounds, 247 steals and 135 blocked shots. On the program’s all-time lists, she ranks eighth in rebounding, ninth in steals and 12th in scoring. This season she is averaging 14.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Her field goal percentage of 57.6 ranks seventh best in the nation.
Lammers and company will conclude regular-season action this week. The team’s home finale will take place at 7 p.m. CST on Wednesday when College of Saint Mary (2-25, 1-19 GPAC) visits Walz Arena.
All Dawgs contribute in regular season home finale
Feb. 13, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – During a slow first few minutes offensively, it felt like it was just a matter of time before the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team took control. The Bulldogs made it a runaway in the second quarter while flustering another opponent with the press. Concordia won in a route, 95-51, over visiting College of Saint Mary on Wednesday night (Feb. 13).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad suffered only one home blemish during a 2018-19 regular season that is nearly in the books. The Bulldogs have moved to 26-3 overall and to 18-3 in the GPAC (tied with Northwestern for first place).
“There were some things we were trying to work on (tonight),” Olson said. “I’m not sure we accomplished all of our goals. I thought there were some nice spurts we had defensively going on some runs, but overall we can get a little bit better.”
The beginning of the second quarter is exactly what Concordia wanted this game to look like. As part of a 17-2 run in that carried over from the first period, one particular sequence featured four-straight Flames turnovers that immediately led to Bulldog baskets, three of which were dropped in by ‘Amazing’ Grace Barry. Concordia led 36-15 by the time the splurge ended with a Taylor Cockerill trey.
College of Saint Mary (2-26, 1-20 GPAC) is not built to keep up in a game like this, especially with some of the injury issues it has dealt with this season. The Flames came in averaging 59.7 points per game and have now lost 17 in a row since winning at Doane, 68-67, on Nov. 28. On this particular night, College of Saint Mary had little chance of overcoming its 37 turnovers.
Cockerill regained her 3-point shooting stroke in a big way. She went 5-for-7 from beyond the arc while leading the Bulldogs with 15 points. She also swiped a team high four steals on an evening when Concordia stole the ball 26 times as a team. Barry and Mackenzie Koepke added 10 points apiece. Elsie Aslesen chipped in nine points and Claire Cornell and Philly Lammers both notched eight points.
Olson took advantage of much of the second half to spread playing time around. All fifteen Bulldogs who suited up saw action and registered in the scoring column. Rylee Pauli hauled in eight rebounds in a solid effort off the bench. Concordia was dominant during the third quarter (27-6 scoring advantage) and limited the Flames to just 22.9 percent shooting in the second half (32.8 percent for the game).
College of Saint Mary will end its season Saturday at Briar Cliff. The Flames were paced on Wednesday by the 17 points from Dani Carlson. Ashley Nelson came up with four steals.
The Bulldogs will close out the regular season on Saturday with a trip to Mount Marty (15-13, 8-13 GPAC) for a 1:30 p.m. CST tipoff (originally scheduled for 2 p.m.). The Lancers have won three of their last four outings within conference play. In this season’s first meeting, Concordia toppled Mount Marty, 99-68, on Dec. 8.
A Bulldog win would lock up at least a share of the GPAC regular-season title for the third year in a row. It would also guarantee the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. As it stands now, Concordia could not fall any lower than the second seed.
“It’s a big game for us,” Olson said. “I think it would be pretty special to be able to win it three years in a row. I think our kids are pretty driven for that.”
Bulldogs gut out road win, claim three-peat
Feb. 16, 2019
YANKTON, S.D. – Sometimes life on the GPAC requires a gritty effort to get the job done. After staring down a halftime deficit, the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team used a big third quarter scoring plash from Taylor Cockerill and a lockdown defensive effort to pull out a 66-55 win at Mount Marty on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 16). The Bulldogs needed this one in order to keep pace atop the GPAC standings while the Lancers needed it to keep their season alive.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s program can now celebrate a third GPAC regular season title in a row (sixth in school history). Concordia (27-3, 19-3 GPAC) shares this one with Northwestern, which also went 19-3 in league play.
“I told our kids that I’m really, really proud of them,” Olson said. “To be able to do that three years in a row says a lot about their toughness. I felt like this year was even more special because of how good the GPAC was. Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan are great teams and that middle group is all really tough teams. Every night was a grind this year. We have a lot of returners, but we had a lot of new kids playing big minutes for us and learning how to play with each other. They’ve done a great job with that.”
The Bulldogs went just 3-for-19 from 3-point range, so they had to find other means to put away a pesky Mount Marty squad. Cockerill and fellow backcourt mate Grace Barry were up to the task. Cockerill poured in 11 of her game high 20 points during the third stanza. It was easily the most dominant stretch of the day for Concordia, which held a scoring advantage of 22-11 and limited the Lancers to 3-for-11 shooting during that 10 minutes.
On this day, Barry also needed to assert herself as a scorer. She put home 17 points and plucked a game high seven steals as a major pest in the backcourt. Barry helped build the lead up to as many as 15 points when she dropped a dime that resulted in a Philly Lammers three-point play in the fourth quarter. Lammers finished with 14 points and four rebounds (relegated to 18 minutes due to foul trouble).
Ali Kuca led the upset bid for Mount Marty (15-14, 8-14 GPAC), which saw its season draw to a close on Saturday. Kuca nailed six 3-point field goals for a team high 18 points. The Lancers never regained the lead after Concordia took it from them early in the third quarter, but they did hang within two (40-38) with less than 15 minutes remaining in the game.
In the scoring department, the Bulldogs had a major drop off after the trio of Barry, Cockerill and Lammers. In atypical fashion, the Concordia bench was good for only seven total points on Saturday. An advantage of 25-8 in turnover margin helped make up the difference. The Bulldogs came up with 21 steals and suffocated Mount Marty to the tune of 37.5 percent shooting.
As a reward for earning the league’s No. 1 seed, the Bulldogs will be at home as long as they remain alive in the GPAC tournament. Concordia now gets set to host eighth-seeded Briar Cliff (15-15, 9-13 GPAC) in the conference quarterfinals on Wednesday. Tipoff from Walz Arena will take place at 7 p.m. CST. The Bulldogs have successfully defended the home court by winning each of the past two GPAC tournaments as the top seed.
“It’s about keeping the focus and continuing to do what we do,” Olson said. “We have to get healthy and get back into shape. Hopefully we’ll be ready to go on Wednesday.”
Postseason run opens Wednesday for top-rated Dawgs
Feb. 18, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – With two championship trophies (CIT and GPAC regular season) already secured this season, the top-rated Concordia University women’s basketball team has a chance to add more hardware this postseason. The top-seeded Bulldogs begin the postseason on Wednesday when eighth-seeded Briar Cliff makes a visit to Seward. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST from Walz Arena.
Live coverage will be provided on Wednesday by 104.9 Max Country (play-by-play by Tyler Cavalli), the radio home of Concordia athletics. The game will also be streamed live via the Concordia Sports Network.
The Bulldogs can boast at least a share of the GPAC regular-season title now for the sixth time in program history. Five of those championships have come during Drew Olson’s tenure, which began with the 2006-07 season. In the history of the GPAC (began with 2000-01 campaign), Concordia owns the second most women’s basketball regular season titles behind only Morningside (nine). The Bulldogs are shooting for their sixth all-time GPAC tournament title. Postseason crowns were captured in 2005, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Olson’s latest GPAC champion has arrived at this point while following the lead of star backcourt of Grace Barry and Taylor Cockerill and frontcourt of Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge. Of course, Olson would also point out the value provided by defensive dynamo Riley Sibbel. While Concordia returned plenty of key components from last season’s national runner up, Barry, Cockerill and Sibbel are each first-year starters. They have made for a smooth transition after the graduation of Dani Hoppes and Mary Janovich from the 2017-18 squad.
Hoppes and Janovich were well regarded defenders in their own right, but somehow the Bulldog press has been even more devastating this season, at least by the numbers. The 2014-15 squad, led by NAIA National Player of the Year Bailey Morris, owns the school single season record for turnovers forced in a season (1,014). That team averaged 26.7 turnovers forced per game. The current squad has coaxed opponents into 939 turnovers for an average of 31.3 per contest. Concordia boasts each of the top three on the GPAC steals leaderboard: Barry (3.63), Sibbel (2.70) and Lammers (2.60).
Head coach Mike Power’s squad made its way into the GPAC tournament by winning two of its final three regular season games, including a 78-61 victory over intra-city rival Morningside. The Chargers play a style similar to what the Bulldogs employ. They rank sixth nationally in steals per game (13.3) and make 35.9 percent of their 3-point attempts. In the two meetings this season with Concordia, Briar Cliff fell by scores of 99-71 in Sioux City and 87-58 in Seward. Taylor Wagner is the team’s leading scorer at 11.1 points per game.
The team that emerges from Walz Arena as a winner will advance to the semifinals and play either fourth-seeded Dordt or fifth-seeded Hastings on Saturday. The GPAC championship game will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 26.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (27-3, 19-3 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (10.8)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (16.1)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.2)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (10.6)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.6)
Briar Cliff (15-15, 9-13 GPAC)
G – Breanna Allen, So., 5-6 (4.0)
G – Alyssa Carley, Jr., 5-11 (10.5)
G – Taylor Wagner, Sr., 5-9 (11.1)
F – Madelyn Deitchler, Fr., 5-11 (7.0)
C – Taylor Vasa, Sr., 6-0 (7.2)
2019 GPAC Women’s Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 20
No. 8 Briar Cliff (15-15, 9-13) at No. 1 Concordia (27-3, 19-3), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Hastings (18-11, 13-9) at No. 4 Dordt (20-10, 13-9), 7 p.m.
No. 6 Morningside (19-11, 11-11) at No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan (26-4, 18-4), 6 p.m.
No. 7 Midland (15-13, 10-12) at No. 2 Northwestern (25-3, 19-3), 7 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 23
No. 1/8 winner vs. No. 4/5 winner, time TBA
No. 2/7 winner vs. No. 3/6 winner, time TBA
Championship – Tuesday, Feb. 26
Time TBA
Usual suspects lead GPAC quarterfinal win
Feb. 20, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – For the most part, the opening night of the GPAC tournament went as scripted for the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team. It could have done without the rash of early layups that burned its press, but the Bulldogs were too good to be a quarterfinal victim. Concordia tightened the screws defensively and bounced Briar Cliff from the postseason, 80-55, inside Walz Arena on Wednesday night (Feb. 20).
In a streak that dates back to 2008, 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s program has won 17-straight GPAC tournament home games. The league’s top seed has moved to 28-3 overall.
“That first quarter was entertaining but part of that was our transition defense was really poor,” Olson said. “Once we figured that part out the second quarter came a little bit easier for us. I thought we shot really well in the first quarter and kind of went ice cold the rest of the game. That was the difference in why they lingered around a little bit.”
Like some of the other GPAC squads outside of the league’s top six, the 2018-19 Briar Cliff squad will probably never get the appreciation it deserves because of a conference record south of .500, albeit in the NAIA’s top women’s basketball league. The Chargers (15-16) came out of the gates with an effective plan of attack for taking on the press. Their ability to get the ball over the top of the press helped them hang tight for most of the first quarter.
But Concordia had its way in the second and third quarters while building the type of commanding lead that would have been forecasted on paper. Almost shockingly, All-American Philly Lammers had a career low two points the last time the Bulldogs went up against Briar Cliff’s zone. It wasn’t that way this time. The junior from Omaha muscled her way to 18 points and 10 rebounds on Wednesday. Lammers and fellow frontcourt star Quinn Wragge (19 points) combined to go 14-for-21 from the floor.
It obviously serves them well to have a point guard like Grace Barry setting them up. Barry posted a line of 11 points, eight assists and five steals. She’s been a major reason why Concordia celebrated a GPAC regular season title for the third year in a row.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Barry said of her first season so far as a Bulldog. “I’m around a great group of girls. They’re all really focused on basketball and being great people. The biggest thing is we are able to come together and compete and have fun.”
Briar Cliff entered the night averaging 67.3 points per game and just did not have the firepower to make a serious bid at an upset. Madelyn Deitchler (14) and Taylor Wagner (12) reached double figures for the Chargers. They were guilty of 33 turnovers (26 via steals) and made only two 3-point field goals (2-for-9).
Concordia is closing in on 1,000 turnovers forced (currently at 972) for the season. This year’s squad has turned over the opposition at a rate higher than any other in program history.
“Riley Sibbel and I always call it, ‘Calling on the Dawgs,’” Barry said. “We try to get as many steals as we can and just be great defensively. I think that’s our bread and butter right now – being the best we can be defensively. That makes up for any offensive mistakes we have.”
Added Olson, “Our kids really thrive on it. They feed off each other’s great hustle and physical play.”
Next up is a semifinal matchup on Saturday with 15th-ranked Hastings (19-11), the GPAC tournament No. 5 seed. Tipoff from Walz Arena is set for 3 p.m. CST. Spurred by Shandra Farmer, the Broncos have won nine of their last 10 outings, including Wednesday’s 66-63 quarterfinal win at No. 13 Dordt.
Concordia-Hastings to meet in GPAC semifinals
Feb. 21, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The path to a third-straight GPAC tournament title will require the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team to go through No. 15 Hastings. The two in-state GPAC rivals will collide inside Walz Arena on Saturday in the conference semifinals. Tipoff from Seward is set for 1 p.m. CST. The Bulldogs have won seven-straight meeting in the series with the Broncos.
Once again, the contest will be aired live via 104.9 Max Country, the radio home of Concordia athletics. The Concordia Sports Network will provide a live stream.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s co-GPAC regular season championship squad forced 33 more turnovers on Wednesday while breezing past eighth-seeded Briar Cliff, 80-55, in the GPAC quarterfinals. All-American Philly Lammers notched 18 points and 10 rebounds for the 24th double-double of her career. Lammers teamed with Quinn Wragge (19 points, 8-for-13 shooting) and Grace Barry (11 points, eight assists) for a dynamic trio in the latest victory. The Bulldogs have now won 17 GPAC postseason home games in a row, a streak that dates back to 2008.
Wragge’s 19 points equaled a season high (both 19-point performances this season have come versus Briar Cliff). The senior from Crofton, Neb., continues to make a push for the top five of the program’s all-time scoring list. Her 1,716 career points put her within striking distance of sixth-place Lynda Beck (1,720) and fifth-place Stephanie Schilke (1,736) on the school’s all-time list. Elsewhere on the charts, Wragge ranks seventh in rebounds (795) and 11th in steals (243). Wragge is the only player in program history to record 1,700+ points, 750+ rebounds and 240+ steals in a career.
Program’s all-time scoring leaders
1. Bailey Morris (2011-15) – 2,054
2. Sarah Harrison (2001-05) – 1,800
3. Kari Saving (2001-05) – 1,773
4. Whitney Stichka (2004-09) – 1,765
5. Stephanie Schilke (1994-98) – 1,736
6. Lynda Beck (1988-92) – 1,720
7. Quinn Wragge (2015-19) – 1,716
In the history of the GPAC (2000-present), Concordia and Hastings have been two of the league’s most storied women’s basketball programs. In the first 19 years of league play, there have been a total of 27 claims to regular-season titles. Of them, Morningside has the most with nine, followed by Concordia with six and Hastings and Northwestern with five apiece. The Bulldogs are now on the hunt for their sixth all-time GPAC postseason championship. They also have an opportunity to break the program record of 1,014 turnovers forced in a single season. The 2018-19 squad has forced 972 turnovers for an average of 31.4 per game.
Head coach Jina Douglas’ squad can combat the Concordia press with star point guard Shandra Farmer. The team’s catalyst missed roughly a month-and-a-half in the middle of this season due to injury. Her loss was felt in a big way. The Broncos are 17-5 with Farmer and 2-6 without her. Farmer helped steer Hastings to a 66-63 win at No. 13 Dordt in the GPAC quarterfinals on Wednesday. The Broncos have now won nine of their last 10 outings and seem to have secured their spot in the national tournament. Farmer (15.3) and Mackenzie Willicott (10.7) are the team’s lone double figure scorers. Hastings averages 12.1 steals per contest. Now its mission is to do something the program hasn’t done since January 2015 – win inside Walz Arena.
The team that emerges victorious in Seward on Saturday will advance to play in the GPAC tournament championships game on Tuesday (Feb. 26). The other semifinal matchup in the bracket features second-seeded Northwestern hosting third-seeded Dakota Wesleyan.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (28-3, 19-3 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (10.8)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (16.1)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.2)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (10.6)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.6)
Hastings (19-11, 13-9 GPAC)
G – Taylor Beacom, Fr., 5-6 (7.4)
G – Shandra Farmer, Jr., 5-3 (15.3)
G – Sophia Pankratz, Jr., 5-7 (5.3)
F – Gabby Grasso, Jr., 5-11 (8.4)
F – Mackenzie Willicot, Sr., 5-9 (10.7)
2019 GPAC Women’s Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 20
No. 1 Concordia 80, No. 8 Briar Cliff 55
No. 5 Hastings 66, No. 4 Dordt 63
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan 88, No. 6 Morningside 75
No. 2 Northwestern 60, No. 7 Midland 36
Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 23
No. 5 Hastings (19-11) at No. 1 Concordia (28-3), 1 p.m.
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan (27-4) at No. 2 Northwestern (26-3), 1 p.m.
Championship – Tuesday, Feb. 26
Time TBA
Barry, Lammers represent Bulldogs with CoSIDA All-District accolades
Feb. 21, 2019
2018-19 Google Cloud Academic All-District® Women's Basketball Teams
SEWARD, Neb. – Amongst a field of many deserving honors in NAIA District 3, Concordia University women’s basketball standouts Grace Barry and Philly Lammers emerged as 2018-19 Google Cloud Academic All-District® Women's Basketball Team selections, as announced by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday (Feb. 21). Lammers landed on the first team while Barry found her way onto the second team.
The CoSIDA Academic All-Distrct® Women’s Basketball Teams have been released to recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. For more information about the Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit http://cosida.com. District 3 includes the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
An Omaha native, Lammers has been a star in every since of the word since arriving in Seward. The two-time first team All-GPAC honoree is now an Academic All-District choice for the second year in a row. As a sophomore last season, Lammers garnered Academic All-America® accolades from CoSIDA. The list of honors goes on and on for the 2018 NAIA First Team All-American and NAIA National Tournament All-Tournament award winner. Lammers is studying biology and physics at Concordia. She is currently averaging 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. She has totaled 1,471 points, 772 rebounds and 251 steals in her career.
Barry, a transfer from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, has been a perfect addition as the point guard for the top-ranked team in NAIA Division II. The secondary education major sports national rankings of second in steals per game (3.68) and third in assists per game (5.71). The Lincoln East High School product has also averaged 10.8 points while starting all 31 games this season.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the Google Cloud Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team (if applicable) Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in mid-March.
All-Time Concordia Women’s Basketball All-District Honorees
Grace Barry (2019)
Philly Lammers (*2018, 2019)
Bailey Morris (2015)
Becky Muller (2016)
*Academic All-American
GPAC semifinal tipoff moved to 1 p.m.
Feb. 22, 2019
Due to the impending winter storm, the start time for Saturday (Feb. 23)'s GPAC postseason semifinal women's basketball game between No. 1 Concordia and No. 15 Hastings has been moved up to 1 p.m. CST, instead of the originally scheduled 3 p.m. tipoff. The contest will be played inside Walz Arena in Seward. The winner will advance and play either second-seeded Northwestern or third-seeded Dakota Wesleyan in the GPAC championship game on Tuesday, Feb. 26.
2019 GPAC Women’s Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 20
No. 1 Concordia 80, No. 8 Briar Cliff 55
No. 5 Hastings 66, No. 4 Dordt 63
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan 88, No. 6 Morningside 75
No. 2 Northwestern 60, No. 7 Midland 36
Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 23
No. 5 Hastings (19-11) at No. 1 Concordia (28-3), 1 p.m.
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan (27-4) at No. 2 Northwestern (26-3), 1 p.m.
Championship – Tuesday, Feb. 26
Time TBA
Offense sizzles in GPAC semifinal rout
Feb. 23, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – A 35-second stretch that included two Mackenzie Koepke bank shot 3-point field goals pretty much summed up Saturday (Feb. 23)’s GPAC semifinal clash. Everything came up golden in a dominant first half for the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team. The Bulldogs’ 56.4 percent shooting over the game’s first 20 minutes propelled them to an 89-66 win over No. 15 Hastings inside Walz Arena.
The victory means that 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s program will now host the GPAC postseason championship game for the third year in a row. The Bulldogs (29-3) are also one triumph away from reaching the 30-win mark for a third-straight season.
“I thought offensively we were really good,” Olson said. “We were sharp in what we were trying to do against them and then everybody hit shots. I also felt that our defensive effort in that first half allowed us to build the lead.”
The first half was a thing of beauty from an offensive execution standpoint. As usual, junior point guard Grace Barry operated as the maestro while racking up nine assists on the afternoon. Philly Lammers proved too much inside for the Broncos, who were also victimized by Concordia’s entire arsenal of weaponry. It’s just not going to be a good day for the visitors when the Bulldogs click like this offensively.
Concordia ultimately put this game away in the third quarter. It was forced to respond when Hastings sprinted out of the break with an 11-2 run. An advantage that had stood at 24 in the first half had been slashed in half. The Bulldogs then crushed Hastings’ soul with an 18-2 splurge that spilled into the fourth quarter. Taylor Cockerill capped the run with a triple.
The Broncos (19-12) entered the day having won nine of their previous 10 outings while following the lead of star point guard Shandra Farmer. On this particular day, Concordia’s dogged press just about took Farmer out of the equation. She shot only three times, totaling four points in 18 minutes of playing time. Taylor Beacom, who put home the first five points of the game, led Hastings with 11 tallies.
“Farmer is really good. That was one of the keys to the game today – that we had to control her,” said junior Riley Sibbel, who pilfered four steals in the contest. “We were able to double up on her and push up in the press. That’s how we got some steals. It was all a team effort.”
That team effort was reflected obviously in the statistics. The Bulldogs held big advantages in field goal percentage (.486 to .370) and turnovers (17-27). Four starters reached double figures in scoring: Cockerill (17), Lammers (14), Barry (13) and Sibbel (10). In addition, off the bench, Colby Duvel chipped in nine points and Elsie Aslesen and Koepke added eight points apiece. Barry swiped six of the team’s 18 steals.
You can essentially take the win to the bank when Concordia shoots the ball this well. The 48.6 field goal percentage was its highest since a 58.1 percent clip in a blowout of Doane on Jan. 23. The trick is to hold the Bulldogs below 40 percent. When that happens, Concordia is a bit more beatable (9-3).
“We want to peak at the right time and I feel like we took a really good step today,” Olson said. “We have to continue to get better and hopefully reach our potential.”
Somehow it always seems to come down to Concordia and Dakota Wesleyan (28-4). The two rivals will square off in the GPAC tournament title game for the third-consecutive year. The game will be played inside Walz Arena at 7 p.m. CST on Tuesday. The previous two GPAC title tilts between these two sides both came down to the wire, with the Bulldogs winning 78-77 in overtime in 2017 and 90-88 in 2018.
The fourth-ranked Tigers went on the road and defeated second-ranked Northwestern, 75-66, in the other semifinal matchup on Saturday. It sets the stage for another big-time clash on Tuesday.
Says Sibbel, “Dakota Wesleyan is a really good team. It’s going to be a battle. Those games are just really fun.”
Game preview: Concordia-DWU to meet again with GPAC title at stake
Feb. 25, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – There may not be two basketball programs in the country more familiar with each other than Concordia and Dakota Wesleyan. The top-ranked Bulldogs are getting set to welcome the fourth-ranked Tigers to Walz Arena in what will mark the third-straight GPAC championship meeting in Seward for the two rivals. Tipoff on Tuesday is set for 7 p.m. CST.
Once again, the contest will be aired live via 104.9 Max Country, the radio home of Concordia athletics. The Concordia Sports Network will provide a live stream.
Two comfortable postseason wins have led 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad into the title game. The Bulldogs have extended their GPAC tournament home win streak to 18 after toppling eighth-seeded Briar Cliff, 80-55, on Feb. 20 and fifth-seeded Hastings, 89-66, on Feb. 23. In the victory over the Broncos, who had won nine of their previous 10 games, Concordia put together one of its most efficient offensive performances of the season. The Bulldogs shot 56.4 percent in the first half while building a lead of greater than 20 points. Not surprisingly, Concordia displayed exceptional balance with eight players scoring eight points or more, topped by 17 from Taylor Cockerill.
The next turnover forced will be the 1,000th by Bulldog opponents this season. The 2014-15 squad (1,014 turnovers forced) is the only team in program history to cause 1,000+ turnovers in a season. That ’14-15 team, led by NAIA Division II National Player of the Year Bailey Morris, forced an average of 26.7 turnovers per contest, but even that pales in comparison to the 2018-19 team average of 31.2. Concordia continues to hold down the top three spots on the GPAC steals leaderboard: Grace Barry (3.75), Riley Sibbel (2.69) and Philly Lammers (2.59).
A 2017-18 NAIA first team All-American, Lammers has again made a case for GPAC Player of the Year accolades. He’s also been nearly unstoppable this postseason when catching the ball in the post. She’s a combined 13-for-17 (.765) from the field over the GPAC quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Among conference players, Lammers ranks first in blocks (1.34), second in field goal percentage (.584) and third in steals. She needs 15 more points to reach 1,500 for her career. In addition, senior Quinn Wragge is 13 points away from moving into fifth place on the school’s all-time scoring list (see below).
Program’s all-time scoring leaders
1. Bailey Morris (2011-15) – 2,054
2. Sarah Harrison (2001-05) – 1,800
3. Kari Saving (2001-05) – 1,773
4. Whitney Stichka (2004-09) – 1,765
5. Stephanie Schilke (1994-98) – 1,736
6. Quinn Wragge (2015-19) – 1,724
7. Lynda Beck (1988-92) – 1,720
Concordia enters the GPAC championship game having won six of the past seven meetings with Dakota Wesleyan. The lone loss during that stretch came in the 2018 NAIA Division II national title game. The previous two get-togethers in conference championship games have been classics. The Bulldogs outlasted the Tigers, 78-77, in overtime in the 2017 title clash. A year ago, Brenleigh Daum’s driving layup in the final seconds lift Concordia to a 90-88 victory over Dakota Wesleyan. The Tigers have never won inside Walz Arena and last emerged from Seward with a victory in 2002 (17 losses in a row since).
No matter the result on Tuesday night, head coach Jason Christensen’s squad should be rewarded with one of the four No. 1 seeds. Dakota Wesleyan has won four in a row since falling in Seward, 79-66, on Feb. 9. The latest victory is the Tigers’ most impressive to date – a 75-66 decision at No. 2 Northwestern, which had been 16-0 at home this season. The ringleaders behind Dakota Wesleyan’s advancement to the title game have been the usual suspects. Sarah Carr went off for 37 points in the quarterfinal win over Morningside. Kynedi Cheeseman then poured in 30 in the semifinals.
Dakota Wesleyan has made its way to the GPAC championship game for the fourth year in a row (also lost at Morningside in 2016). Only four programs have captured GPAC women’s basketball tournament titles (conference began in 2000-01): Concordia (5), Morningside (5), Hastings (4) and Northwestern (4). Dakota Wesleyan managed to win the GPAC regular season title in 2002.
The NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships bracket will be released Wednesday by the NAIA. A selection show is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday. It will be available via the NAIA’s Facebook page.
Projected Starters
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (29-3, 19-3 GPAC)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (10.9)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.9)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.3)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (10.8)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.7)
Dakota Wesleyan (28-4, 18-4 GPAC)
G – Kynedi Cheeseman, Jr., 5-10 (18.8)
G – Madison Mathews, Sr., 5-8 (6.7)
G – Rylie Osthus, Sr., 5-9 (11.7)
F – Sarah Carr, Jr., 6-0 (17.8)
F – Makaela Karst, Jr., 6-2 (10.4)
2019 GPAC Women’s Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 20
No. 1 Concordia 80, No. 8 Briar Cliff 55
No. 5 Hastings 66, No. 4 Dordt 63
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan 88, No. 6 Morningside 75
No. 2 Northwestern 60, No. 7 Midland 36
Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 23
No. 1 Concordia 89, No. 5 Hastings 66
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan 75, No. 2 Northwestern 66
Championship – Tuesday, Feb. 26
No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan (28-4) at No. 1 Concordia (29-3), 7 p.m.
Game preview: Concordia-DWU to meet again with GPAC title at stake
Feb. 25, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The previous two GPAC tournament championship games were tons of fun, but the Concordia University women’s basketball team was just fine seeing one of these things not come down to a last second shot for once. In another high intensity clash with rival Dakota Wesleyan, the Bulldogs turned a two-point game in the fourth quarter into a 75-63 win inside raucous Walz Arena on Tuesday night (Feb. 26). Junior point guard Grace Barry stole the show down the stretch.
Wins like this have become a common theme for 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s program. Concordia (30-3) has now accomplished the remarkable feat of sweeping GPAC regular season and postseason titles for the third year in a row. Oh yeah, it has also again reached the 30-win mark.
“It’s just a really special group,” Olson said. “Every year is a unique, different team. This team is full of phenomenal kids – tough as nails. I love them.”
The previous two GPAC championship battles with the Tigers were decided by a grand total of three points, with one of those contests going to overtime. Barry was not interested in turning the stomachs of Bulldog fans inside out this time. The Lincoln East High School product opened the final quarter with a trey before delivering her patented runner in the lane. Twice in the final three minutes, Barry stole the ball away and either dished for two or took it in herself.
Barry posted 12 of her team high 18 points in the final stanza. Before she went off, it certainly looked like another epic conclusion was possible. A 10-point Concordia halftime lead had melted completely away during a third quarter that saw Dakota Wesleyan (28-5) take a one-point lead on two occasions. Sarah Carr, who had poured in 37 points in the Tigers’ GPAC quarterfinal win, was a tough customer. She had 18 on this night.
But the Bulldogs were determined to overcome it. Senior Quinn Wragge did not want to go down in the final Walz appearance of her career.
“I love Concordia. I’ve said that before,” Wragge said. “Our fans were amazing tonight. The atmosphere here when the fans are going crazy is incredible. I love it. It’s definitely a last home game that I’ll remember.”
Wragge swatted one of the nine blocked shots recorded by the Bulldogs on Tuesday. Concordia’s length and active hands did a number on Dakota Wesleyan star Kynedi Cheeseman, who went 3-for-17 from the field. The Tigers shot 34.3 percent as a team. That was a key number in a game in which Dakota Wesleyan committed only 10 turnovers.
Barry certainly had help. Taylor Cockerill notched 13 points while Philly Lammers added 10 points and seven rebounds. Wragge contributed five points and eight rebounds in her Walz swan song. Off the bench, Colby Duvel played big with six points, eight rebounds and three rejections. With the way the Bulldogs got after it defensively and rebounded (49-35 edge), their 43.1 percent shooting was plenty good enough.
It all added up to the sixth GPAC tournament title in program history (five during Olson’s tenure). Concordia has won seven of the last eight meetings with Dakota Wesleyan, which still has yet to ever earn a victory inside Walz Arena.
“It was a phenomenal game from two really good teams,” Olson said of the latest meeting. “It came down to us in the fourth quarter stepping up and making plays offensively. Grace was really unbelievable on the attack with her ability to finish. Defensively I thought we did a great job contesting shots and finishing with the rebound.”
Rylie Osthus (12) and Madison Mathews (11) joined Carr in double figures for the visitors. All five Tiger starters played 32 or more minutes for a squad that typically goes just seven deep.
The Bulldogs now await their national tournament draw. The NAIA is scheduled to announce the national championships bracket at 6 p.m. CST on Wednesday (Feb. 27). A live selection show can be viewed at that time via the NAIA’s Facebook page. The 2019 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships will take place March 6-12 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
“It’s the pinnacle of our season,” Wragge said. “It’s our goal every year (to be there). It’s a ton of fun. We’re going to take it game by game, but we’re really looking forward to it.”
Barry, Bulldogs pull away for GPAC tourney three-peat
Feb. 26, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The previous two GPAC tournament championship games were tons of fun, but the Concordia University women’s basketball team was just fine seeing one of these things not come down to a last second shot for once. In another high intensity clash with rival Dakota Wesleyan, the Bulldogs turned a two-point game in the fourth quarter into a 75-63 win inside raucous Walz Arena on Tuesday night (Feb. 26). Junior point guard Grace Barry stole the show down the stretch.
Wins like this have become a common theme for 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s program. Concordia (30-3) has now accomplished the remarkable feat of sweeping GPAC regular season and postseason titles for the third year in a row. Oh yeah, it has also again reached the 30-win mark.
“It’s just a really special group,” Olson said. “Every year is a unique, different team. This team is full of phenomenal kids – tough as nails. I love them.”
The previous two GPAC championship battles with the Tigers were decided by a grand total of three points, with one of those contests going to overtime. Barry was not interested in turning the stomachs of Bulldog fans inside out this time. The Lincoln East High School product opened the final quarter with a trey before delivering her patented runner in the lane. Twice in the final three minutes, Barry stole the ball away and either dished for two or took it in herself.
Barry posted 12 of her team high 18 points in the final stanza. Before she went off, it certainly looked like another epic conclusion was possible. A 10-point Concordia halftime lead had melted completely away during a third quarter that saw Dakota Wesleyan (28-5) take a one-point lead on two occasions. Sarah Carr, who had poured in 37 points in the Tigers’ GPAC quarterfinal win, was a tough customer. She had 18 on this night.
But the Bulldogs were determined to overcome it. Senior Quinn Wragge did not want to go down in the final Walz appearance of her career.
“I love Concordia. I’ve said that before,” Wragge said. “Our fans were amazing tonight. The atmosphere here when the fans are going crazy is incredible. I love it. It’s definitely a last home game that I’ll remember.”
Wragge swatted one of the nine blocked shots recorded by the Bulldogs on Tuesday. Concordia’s length and active hands did a number on Dakota Wesleyan star Kynedi Cheeseman, who went 3-for-17 from the field. The Tigers shot 34.3 percent as a team. That was a key number in a game in which Dakota Wesleyan committed only 10 turnovers.
Barry certainly had help. Taylor Cockerill notched 13 points while Philly Lammers added 10 points and seven rebounds. Wragge contributed five points and eight rebounds in her Walz swan song. Off the bench, Colby Duvel played big with six points, eight rebounds and three rejections. With the way the Bulldogs got after it defensively and rebounded (49-35 edge), their 43.1 percent shooting was plenty good enough.
It all added up to the sixth GPAC tournament title in program history (five during Olson’s tenure). Concordia has won seven of the last eight meetings with Dakota Wesleyan, which still has yet to ever earn a victory inside Walz Arena.
“It was a phenomenal game from two really good teams,” Olson said of the latest meeting. “It came down to us in the fourth quarter stepping up and making plays offensively. Grace was really unbelievable on the attack with her ability to finish. Defensively I thought we did a great job contesting shots and finishing with the rebound.”
Rylie Osthus (12) and Madison Mathews (11) joined Carr in double figures for the visitors. All five Tiger starters played 32 or more minutes for a squad that typically goes just seven deep.
The Bulldogs now await their national tournament draw. The NAIA is scheduled to announce the national championships bracket at 6 p.m. CST on Wednesday (Feb. 27). A live selection show can be viewed at that time via the NAIA’s Facebook page. The 2019 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships will take place March 6-12 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
“It’s the pinnacle of our season,” Wragge said. “It’s our goal every year (to be there). It’s a ton of fun. We’re going to take it game by game, but we’re really looking forward to it.”
Lammers named GPAC Player of the Year, six Bulldogs honored
Feb. 27, 2019
2018-19 Women’s Basketball All-GPAC Team
SEWARD, Neb. – The highest of conference honors has been bestowed upon junior Philly Lammers. On Wednesday (Feb. 27), the league office named Lammers the 2018-19 Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Player of the Year. Lammers joins former NAIA Division II National Player of the Year Bailey Morris as the Concordia women’s basketball program’s two players to ever be lauded with the GPAC Player of the Year award. Morris garnered the honor in back-to-back seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15).
Lammers is joined on the 2018-19 All-GPAC first team by sophomore guard Taylor Cockerill. Second team accolades went to junior guard Grace Barry and senior forward Quinn Wragge. Junior Riley Sibbel and freshman Mackenzie Koepke landed on the list of honorable mention award winners.
An Omaha native, Lammers has been a candidate for the GPAC Player of the Year award in each of her three seasons as a Bulldog. A dominant force in the post, Lammers contributes across the board and is averaging 14.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.55 steals and 1.3 blocks per game this season. Lammers is shooting 58.1 percent from the floor and 76.1 percent from the free throw line. Among GPAC players, she ranks first in blocks, second in field goal percentage and third in steals. Lammers continues to climb the ladder on the program’s all-time lists, currently ranking eighth in rebounds (785), eighth in steals (255) and 11th in scoring (1,495). She is now a three-time first team All-GPAC honoree.
Cockerill has made a big jump from freshman to sophomore year. The Waverly, Neb., native was an honorable mention All-GPAC choice last season. She made a big statement in the 2018-19 season opener by piling up 40 points in the win over Indiana Wesleyan University. Cockerill is the team’s leading scorer with an average of 15.8 points per game. She also averages 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.0 assists per game. Cockerill sports shooting percentages of 40.0 from the field, 35.7 from 3-point range and 78.9 from the free throw line.
Barry, a transfer from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, has been the perfect addition at the point guard spot this season. She leads the GPAC in both assists (5.82) and steals (3.70) per game while serving as a catalyst for the GPAC champion Bulldogs. She is averaging 11.1 points while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 79.6 percent from the free throw line. The Lincoln East High School product has amassed at least 10 assists in a game on three separate occasions.
Wragge is now a four-time All-GPAC award winner after having been named to the first team in each of her first three seasons at Concordia. The Crofton, Neb., native will enter the national tournament averaging 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.3 assists per game. She is shooting 50.2 percent from the field, 37.7 percent from 3-point range and 74.2 percent from the free throw line. Wragge has put herself in elite company on the program’s all-time lists with rankings of sixth in scoring (1,729), seventh in rebounds (806) and 10th in steals (244). She was tabbed an NAIA third team All-American last season.
Sibbel, who hails from O’Neill, Neb., has become one of the league’s top defenders and a major reason why the Bulldogs force more than 30 turnovers per game. A first-year starter, Sibbel is averaging 5.2 points, 2.61 steals, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest. She ranks second among GPAC players in steals (15th nationally). Sibbel put home a career high 14 points in a win at then No. 14 Morningside on Feb. 6. This is the first career GPAC award for Sibbel.
Koepke has made the biggest impact among Concordia freshman this season. The Lincoln Lutheran High School product is averaging 6.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Her 28 blocked shots rank second on the team. Koepke sports shooting percentages of 38.3 from the field and 32.4 from beyond the arc. Her 55 3-point field goals are also the second most among Bulldogs. Koepke has notched season highs of 14 points on two occasions.
Concordia (30-3) will learn of its first round draw at the 2019 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships later today (Feb. 27). The tournament will begin on March 6 in Sioux City, Iowa.
Concordia GPAC major award winners
Player of the Year
2018-19 – Philly Lammers
2014-15 – Bailey Morris
2013-14 – Bailey Morris
Defensive Player of the Year
2016-17 – Mary Janovich
2013-14 – Tracy Peitz
2012-13 – Katie Rich
2011-12 – Katie Rich
2004-05 – Kari Saving
Freshman of the Year
2016-17 – Philly Lammers
2014-15 – Mary Janovich
Coach of the Year
2017-18 – Drew Olson
2016-17 – Drew Olson
2011-12 – Drew Olson
2002-03 – Todd Voss
Concordia earns No. 1 overall seed, matchup with Wilberforce
Feb. 27, 2019
BRACKET | National Tournament Press Guide (PDF)
SEWARD, Neb. – The bracket is now set. After sewing up GPAC regular season and postseason titles, the Concordia University women’s basketball team has earned the overall No. 1 seed for the 2019 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships. The reward is a first-round matchup with eighth-seeded Wilberforce University (Ohio) at 12 p.m. CST on Wednesday, March 6. This will mark the 18th all-time national tournament appearance for the Bulldog program.
Concordia has qualified for the national tournament for the 11th time in head coach Drew Olson’s 13-year tenure. The Bulldogs withstood significant losses in the backcourt from the 2018 graduations of Dani Hoppes and Mary Janovich while putting themselves in position for another hopeful deep March postseason run.
“It’s just a really special group,” Olson said following Tuesday’s GPAC tournament championship game victory over Dakota Wesleyan. “Every year is a unique, different team. This team is full of phenomenal kids – tough as nails. I love them.”
A week from today, Concordia will return to the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, which has hosted the NAIA Division II women’s championship since 1998. The Bulldogs have enjoyed plenty of success in the building having reached at least the semifinal round in three of the past four seasons. The only thing they haven’t done is cut down the final net. Concordia finished as a national runner up in 2015 and again in 2018.
It’s fair to say that the Bulldogs have the ability to be the last one standing when the dust settles. Concordia has won 12 games against the national qualifying field and owns at least one win over each of the other three No. 1 seeds in the bracket: Dakota Wesleyan, Northwestern and Southeastern (Fla.). The field includes six GPAC squads, including first time national qualifier Dordt. The Defenders would likely match up with Southeastern in the second round should they get past IU Northwest (Ind.) in the first.
Wilberforce (14-12) will be a completely unfamiliar opponent for Concordia. Also known as the Bulldogs, Wilberforce earned an automatic bid to the national tournament via a third-place finish in the Association of Independent Institutions Conference tournament. Wilberforce is located in Wilberforce, Ohio. On paper, these Bulldogs appear to play a much slower pace. They average 64.6 points while allowing 61.8 points. Head coach Derek Williams’ squad has limited opponents to 38.2 percent shooting.
It’s always a challenge for unfamiliar foes to deal with the Bulldog press. With 1,009 turnovers forced this season, Concordia needs just six more to break the program single-season record of 1,014 by the 2014-15 national runner up squad. A couple of other milestones are worth watching. Quinn Wragge (1,729 career points) needs eight more points to move into fifth place on the school’s all-time scoring list. In addition, GPAC Player of the Year Philly Lammers is five points away from 1,500 for her career.
The winner in next Wednesday’s matinee will move on and play either fourth-seeded Sterling (Kan.) or fifth-seeded Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) at 12 p.m. CST on Friday. Concordia has a history with both programs at the national tournament. In national tournament matchups, the Bulldogs are 3-1 versus Cardinal Stritch and 2-0 versus Sterling.
NOTES:
- In its first 17 appearances at the national championships, Concordia has posted a record of 29-17 with six trips to the national semifinals. The Bulldogs are 11-6 overall in first-round games, including a 10-4 mark in the last 14 first-round contests. All of the program’s 17 national qualifying seasons have come since 1992 – the same year the NAIA split into two divisions for both men’s and women’s basketball.
- Concordia carries a record of 12-3 this season against teams that have qualified for the national tournament. The Bulldogs have beaten each of the other three No. 1 seeds. Their victories over qualifying squads have come against No. 2 Southeastern, No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan (three), No. 4 Northwestern, No. 13 Hastings (three), No. 16 Dordt, No. 19 Morningside, No. 20 Indiana Wesleyan and No. 24 Saint Francis (Ind.).
- Seven of the 15 players on the Bulldogs’ official national tournament roster have prior experience at the national tournament. These seven individuals have combined for 47 career games over appearances from 2016 through 2018. Senior Quinn Wragge has the most experience on the national stage during that time, having played in each of the program’s last 10 national tournament games. Wragge has averaged 13.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in those contests. She was named to the All-Tournament Second Team last season. In her first national tournament game (2016 vs. Goshen College), Wragge notched 24 points and 10 rebounds.
- GPAC Player of the Year Philly Lammers has the next most national tournament experience with nine games played at the Tyson Events Center. The Omaha native has averaged 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game at the national tournament. While helping the Bulldogs to the title game, Lammers was named All-Tournament First Team in 2018. Lammers has an active national tournament string of three games in a row with at least 20 points. She put up a combined 69 points last season in national championships contests versus Jamestown, Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan. Lammers is nearing a milestone, now five points away from 1,500 in her career.
- In the program’s first 46 games at the national tournament, the Bulldogs have averaged 73.5 points per game (3,385 total points) while allowing an average of 65.1 points (2,994 total points). The school record for most team points scored in a single tournament game was broken in 2017 in the 101-66 first-round win over Bryan College (Tenn.) (previous high was achieved in 2015 in the 92-82 win over College of Saint Mary). The Bulldogs’ stingiest defensive effort occurred in 2005 when they held Western Baptist to just 28 points in a 70-28 first-round victory.
- Concordia has now advanced to the national championship game twice in program history (2015 and 2018). In the first instance, national player of the year Bailey Morris led the way, averaging 17.6 points at the tournament in leading the Bulldogs to wins over Bryan College (76-35), College of Saint Mary (92-82), University of Jamestown (76-59) and Briar Cliff (72-62). Concordia was edged in the championship game, 59-57, by top-ranked Morningside. Then a year ago, the Bulldogs cut through Stillman College (75-52), Taylor University (71-50), Jamestown (79-61) and Northwestern (84-77) on the way to the title game. The Bulldogs were beaten in the championship, 82-59, by Dakota Wesleyan.
- Head coach Drew Olson has been at the controls for each of Concordia’s past 11 national tournament appearances (including 2019). Olson also helped the Bulldog men to two national tournaments as a player and was part of three such trips to the grand stage as an assistant men’s coach at Bellevue University.
- Olson became the fifth coach in program history to lead the Bulldogs to the national tournament when he made his first appearance as head coach in 2008. Now with 11 national tournament appearances, Olson has eight more than Todd Voss for the most among head coaches in school history. Here are the all-time records for Bulldog coaches at the national tournament:
- Drew Olson: 18-10 (11 appearances; two national title game appearances; four Fab Fours)
- Todd Voss: 8-3 (three appearances; two Fab Fours; one quarterfinal finish)
- Mark Lemke: 2-2 (two appearances; one quarterfinal finish)
- Micah Parker: 1-1 (one appearance)
- Carl Everts: 0-1 (one appearance)
- Concordia has made a living in the NAIA national rankings. It has appeared in 92-straight top 25 polls dating back to the 2011-12 preseason rating. Throughout this season, the Bulldogs have been rated no lower than third while holding down the No. 1 ranking in six of this season’s eight polls. Concordia is aiming to finish a season with a national ranking for the 10th time under Olson. The program’s highest final ranking was No. 2 in 2015 and 2018. Five-straight senior classes have played for ranked Bulldog teams for their entire collegiate careers.
- Great Plains Athletic Conference members have won 13 of the last 18 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships. Northwestern has five national titles during that stretch while Morningside has four and Hastings three. The GPAC had advanced at least two teams into the Fab Four six-straight years until the streak was snapped in 2014. Two or more GPAC teams have reached the semifinals in 14 of the past 18 years. In 2012, Concordia, Briar Cliff and Northwestern all appeared in the semifinals. Then in 2015, the semifinals were GPAC exclusive as Briar Cliff, Concordia, Hastings and Morningside were the last four left standing.
Game preview: Bulldogs to battle Wilberforce in NAIA first round
Mar. 4, 2019
Bracket | National Tournament Press Guide
SEWARD, Neb. – The program’s 47th game all-time at the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship will tip off at 12 p.m. CST on Wednesday. The top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team enters the national tournament as one of the favorites having garnered the No. 1 overall seed in the bracket. Wilberforce University (Ohio) will serve as the first-round opponent.
Wednesday, March 6 | 12 p.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships (First Round)
Concordia (30-3) vs. Wilberforce (14-12)
Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
Webcast: NAIA Network (fee required)
Radio: 104.9 Max Country (Tyler Cavalli)
Live stats: Dakstats
Seward watch parties: THOM Auditorium (on campus)/Bottle Rocket Brewing Co.
Head coach Drew Olson’s squad has shown remarkable focus while navigating a schedule that Massey Ratings lists as the second most difficult among all NAIA women’s basketball teams. But everything has been about preparing for these moments on the national stage. To some degree, it will always feel like there is unfinished business until the program cuts down that final net. The last time the Bulldogs exited the court at the Tyson Events Center, they were left searching for answers following an 82-59 loss to arch rival Dakota Wesleyan in the national championship game.
Wilberforce is looking to pull off a first-round stunner after qualifying for the tournament via an automatic bid (third place in the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Tournament). Also nicknamed the Bulldogs, Wilberforce has no previous experience at the national tournament. The team is coached by Derek Williams, an alum of Concordia University Irvine. According to Dakstats, Wilberforce has used 23 different players this season. The standout has been Nia McCormick, the team leader with an average of 13.5 points per game. The town of Wilberforce, Ohio, is listed as having a population of 2,271.
On the other hand, seven players on the Concordia roster have played at the national tournament in previous years. These seven individuals have combined for 47 career games over appearances from 2016 through 2018. Senior Quinn Wragge has the most experience on the national stage during that time, having played in each of the program’s last 10 national tournament games. Wragge has averaged 13.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in those contests. She was named to the All-Tournament Second Team last season. In her first national tournament game (2016 vs. Goshen College), Wragge notched 24 points and 10 rebounds.
GPAC Player of the Year Philly Lammers has the next most national tournament experience with nine games played at the Tyson Events Center. The Omaha native has averaged 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game at the national tournament. While helping the Bulldogs to the title game, Lammers was named All-Tournament First Team in 2018. Lammers has an active national tournament string of three games in a row with at least 20 points. She put up a combined 69 points last season in national championships contests versus Jamestown, Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan. Lammers is nearing a milestone, now five points away from 1,500 in her career.
The other five Concordia players with experience at the Tyson Events Center are Colby Duvel (9 games), MacKenzie Helman (8) Taylor Cockerill (5), Taryn Schuette (3) and Riley Sibbel (3). Those in the junior/senior classes, have helped the Bulldogs to a combined seven national tournament wins over the past two seasons.
The winner on Wednesday will advance to play at 12 p.m. on Friday in the second round against either fourth-seeded Sterling College (Kan.) (27-5) or fifth-seeded Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) (23-9).
Projected lineups
*Scoring average in parentheses
Concordia (30-3)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.1)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.8)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.2)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (10.6)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.6)
Wilberforce (14-12)
G – Nia McCormick, So., 5-5 (13.5)
G – Alexandria Shealey, Jr., 5-8 (4.9)
G – Malika Wildon, Fr., 5-6 (5.8)
F – Jacie Dickerson, Sr., 5-11 (4.5)
F – Mustafa Notter, Sr., 6-0 (10.4)
Key stats
*NAIA Division II rank in parentheses
Concordia
Scoring offense: 87.1 (3rd)
Field goal % offense: .427 (21st)
Scoring defense: 65.1 (58th)
Field goal % defense: .398 (T-89th)
Turnover margin: +13.2 (1st)
Rebound margin: +1.1 (69th)
3-point FG makes/game: 8.8 (13th)
Strength of Schedule: 2nd
Massey Rating: 1st
Wilberforce
Scoring offense: 64.6 (84th)
Field goal % offense: .435 (T-13th)
Scoring defense: 61.8 (28th)
Field goal % defense: .382 (T-50th)
Turnover margin: -1.5 (84th)
Rebound margin: +2.5 (50th)
3-point FG makes/game: 4.7 (121st)
Strength of Schedule: 167th
Massey Rating: 147th
Defensive pressure too much for Wilberforce in NAIA first round
Mar. 6, 2019
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Wednesday (March 6) noon tilt at the 2019 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship featured a tournament veteran and a newcomer to the national stage – and it looked like it. Tagged with the No. 1 overall seed, Concordia used its devastating press to power a 22-0 first quarter run that quickly dashed Wilberforce University (Ohio)’s upset hopes. The Bulldogs forced 27 turnovers in the first half while running away with a 100-62 victory.
The win marked the 30th all-time at the national tournament for the Concordia women’s basketball program. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad will cruise into the second round with an overall mark of 31-3.
“I thought our kids played really, really well,” Olson said. “In that first half we were focused and played with good energy defensively. I didn’t think we shot well early on in the game, but we were finishing layups. As the game went on we started hitting our threes.”
By game’s end, Concordia had just missed out on a program national tournament record for points in a game (101) and came up just short of an Olson-era best for national tournament win margin (41). However, that nasty press moved the 2018-19 squad’s season count of forced turnovers to 1,043 for a new school single-season record (previously held by the 2014-15 national runner up team).
Olson pulled back on the press early and played his starters only sparingly in the second half. Wilberforce had no answer for All-American Philly Lammers, who powered home 16 points (7-for-9 from the field) in only 14 minutes of action. She played a big part in her side’s ability to score in transition and build a halftime advantage of 56-23. Lammers also swiped four rebounds and three steals in a game that saw her become the program’s 11th player all-time to reach 1,500 career points.
All 15 Concordia players got playing time with all but one registering in the scoring column. Point guard Grace Barry (14 points; 5-for-6 shooting) provided more highlight reel plays and Colby Duvel enjoyed a big first half on her way to 12 points.
In the second half, freshman Rylee Pauli gave her best impression of Philly. Pauli’s 11 points and nine rebounds were both career highs. Taryn Schuette (nine points) got hot from 3-point range, at one point nailing back-to-back treys from the same spot in the left corner. Meanwhile, Mackenzie Koepke added nine points and two blocked shots and MacKenzie Helman and Quinn Wragge both pilfered four steals.
The 24 steals by the victors were one of the major themes of the game. As it so often does, the Concordia press overwhelmed another unfamiliar opponent. The lead stood at 87-40 heading into the fourth quarter.
“That’s a team that’s really athletic so to be able to contain the ball and pressure them like we did was awesome,” Olson said. “I thought Grace and Riley (Sibbel) did a great job up front and then our second line did a really nice job of adjusting and adapting to their press break.”
Also nicknamed the Bulldogs, Wilberforce (14-13) earned a bid to the national tournament by placing third in the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Tournament. Wilberforce got a team high 11 points from Mustafa Notter and managed to cause 26 Concordia turnovers.
For the seventh time in Olson’s tenure, the Bulldogs have advanced to at least the second round of the national tournament. Concordia now gets set to take on a familiar postseason foe in 17th-ranked Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.), which defeated No. 15 Sterling College (Kan.), 83-73, in the first round on Wednesday. The Bulldogs and Wolves have gotten together four previous times at the national championships with Concordia winning three of those matchups (most recent in the second round in 2017).
Game preview: Bulldogs to meet Cardinal Stritch in second round again
Mar. 6, 2019
Bracket | National Tournament Press Guide
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – There is no team the Concordia University women’s basketball program has faced more often at the national tournament than Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.). Now the two sides look forward to another meeting. As part of the Naismith Bracket, the No. 1 overall seed Bulldogs will clash with the fifth-seeded Wolves at 12 p.m. CST on Friday in the second round of the 2019 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship.
Friday, March 8 | 12 p.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships (First Round)
No. 1 Concordia (31-3) vs. No. 17 Cardinal Stritch
Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
Webcast: NAIA Network (fee required)
Radio: 104.9 Max Country (Tyler Cavalli)
Live stats: Dakstats
Seward watch parties: THOM Auditorium (on campus)/Bottle Rocket Brewing Co.
If Cardinal Stritch is to pull the upset, it will have to avoid the turnovers that plagued eighth-seeded Wilberforce University (Ohio) in Wednesday’s first round. The Bulldogs forced 14 turnovers in the first quarter while building a 30-10 lead after 10 minutes of action. The turnover tally for Wilberforce stood at 34 by game’s end, meaning that the 2018-19 Concordia team has now broken the program record for turnovers forced in a season. Its 1,043 takeaways (30.7/game) eclipsed the previous standard of 1,014 by the 2014-15 squad.
The duo of Grace Barry and Philly Lammers pretty much did what it wanted on Wednesday. Lammers was dominant – 7-for-9 from the floor for a game high 16 points. She did all of that damage while playing just 14 minutes. That effort left Lammers with 1,511 points for her career, making her the 11th player in program history to reach the 1,500 mark. None of the five starters even reached 20 minutes of action. Barry still managed 14 points in her first career outing on the national stage.
This will be the second time in three years that Concordia will face Cardinal Stritch in the second round at the Tyson Events Center. The two programs also met at the national tournament in 2005, 2012 and 2013. In the most recent meeting, the Bulldogs, 75-56, on their way to a national semifinal appearance. In that contest, Lammers put up 20 points and 14 rebounds as a freshman. Current Bulldogs Colby Duvel and Quinn Wragge also saw significant action in that contest. Concordia is 3-1 versus Stritch at the national tournament (see below).
Concordia vs. Cardinal Stritch at the national tournament
2005 – Concordia won, 65-51 (second round)
2012 – Concordia won, 69-48 (second round)
2013 – Cardinal Stritch won, 66-60 (first round)
2017 – Concordia won, 75-56 (second round)
Head coach John Pfaffl’s squad advanced to the second round by way of an 83-73 win over No. 15 Sterling College (Kan.) on Wednesday. Kelli Schrauth put up monster numbers – 21 points and 15 rebounds. Timeah Stotts (18 points, 13 rebounds) also notched a double-double. Cardinal Stritch’s No. 7 ranking in assist-to-turnover ratio will be put to the test by the Bulldogs. Schrauth is the current national leader in field goal percentage (.645). She averages 20.0 points and 11.1 rebounds.
Projected lineups
*Scoring average in parentheses
Concordia (31-3)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.2)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.5)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.2)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (10.4)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.6)
*Note: Quinn Wragge (1,734 career points) needs three more points to move into fifth place all alone on the program’s all-time scoring list.
Cardinal Stritch (24-9)
G – Brittany Kaltenberg, Sr., 5-7 (5.0)
G – Sam Kirk, Jr., 5-7 (7.2)
G – Timeah Stotts, Jr., 5-4 (9.6)
F – Alaina Beimborn, Fr., 5-9 (2.7)
F – Kelli Schrauth, Sr., 5-11 (20.0)
Cockerill plays hero in leading Bulldogs to quarterfinals
Mar. 8, 2019
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Seventeenth-ranked Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) never backed down from the top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team. A flurry of treys and the toughness inside of Wolves star Kelli Schrauth gave legitimate hope to an upset bid. But Bulldog star Taylor Cockerill had a little something up her sleeve. She led the charge with the season on the line and Concordia turned away Stritch, 82-71, in the second round of the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship on Friday (March 8).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad took the Wolves’ best shot. Cockerill and company were determined not to let the ride end so soon. The Bulldogs will enter the national quarterfinals at 32-3 overall.
“I thought we just did a good job of keeping our composure,” Olson said. “Stritch was doing a good job against our zone so we switched it up a little and played man. I thought it was a good switch, but ultimately it was our pressure and our pace that got to them. We do such a good job of playing so hard that it kind of wears teams down.”
Chasing around Cockerill for a 40-minute game is plenty enough to wear on even a worthy competitor. With Philly Lammers in foul trouble and Schrauth playing a physical game in the post, Concordia needed someone on the perimeter to emerge. Allow the Waverly High School product to introduce herself. Cockerill knocked down her side’s biggest shot yet this season after it had trailed by five in the fourth quarter. Her 3-pointer with 8:51 left seemed to flip a switch.
Consider Cockerill forgiven for two missed free throws to open the period. She went on to pour in 19 of her game high 26 points in the fourth quarter. This time of year tends to bring out the best in fierce competitors like Cockerill. She drilled another trey at the 5:59 mark and then another at the 4:26 mark. By that time it was a double-digit lead and the Bulldogs had restored order.
“We all play together and we know that sometimes people get hot and we try to feed them,” Cockerill said. “My teammates did a great job of getting me open when I was hot.”
In the fifth meeting all-time between these two programs at the national tournament, Cardinal Stritch made Concordia fight through some tense moments. The Wolves (24-10) put together a 12-2 run that began with a pair of triples from Kara Shimko late in the third quarter. Stritch pushed the Bulldogs for 40 minutes by sinking 7-of-11 tries from 3-point range and by shooting 54.2 percent from the floor. Schrauth posted 22 points and 15 rebounds.
Concordia just has too many ways to beat you. The gnat-like pressure is relentless and the offensive options are plentiful. In this outing, Quinn Wragge recorded 16 points and three steals while moving into the top five of the program’s all-time scoring list. Lammers added 16 points and five rebounds in a battle with a fellow All-American in the post.
“Philly and Quinn are such dominant players that people do look at them, but TC is someone who can really create her own shot,” Olson said. “When she gets going, she’s had some really big games this season.”
The 26 points were a national tournament high for Cockerill. She helped pull the Bulldogs out of an offensive quagmire of a second quarter. Concordia shot just 32.4 percent in the first half before heating up to 50 percent over the final 20 minutes. Colby Duvel added seven points off the bench while Grace Barry and Riley Sibbel chipped in six apiece.
The biggest shortcoming for Stritch was a 26-10 disadvantage in the turnover count. Alaina Beimborn (13), Brittany Kaltenberg (11) and Shimko (10) all reached double figures for the Wolves.
This one will be remembered for a long time for Cockerill’s role as the hero. Added Olson, “She’s such a tough kid and great competitor. When the team needs something, she’s there to step up.”
The Bulldogs will quickly turn around and take on seventh-ranked Indiana Tech (29-3) at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the national quarterfinals. The Warriors reached this point with national tournament wins over West Virginia University Tech, 73-63, and over Eastern Oregon University, 61-57.
Game preview: Indiana Tech up next in national quarterfinals
Mar. 8, 2019
Bracket | National Tournament Press Guide
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – For the seventh time under head coach Drew Olson’s direction, the Concordia University women’s basketball team has advanced to at least the quarterfinal round of the NAIA Division II National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs are one of only eight teams left standing after defeating Wilberforce University (Ohio), 100-62, and then 17th-ranked Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.), 82-71, at the national tournament.
Now Concordia gets set to take on No. 7 Indiana Tech, a program the Bulldogs have never faced on this stage. The two sides will tip off at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the first of four quarterfinal matchups.
Saturday, March 9 | 1 p.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships (Quarterfinals)
No. 1 Concordia (32-3) vs. No. 7 Indiana Tech (32-3)
Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
Webcast: NAIA Network (fee required)
Radio: 104.9 Max Country (Tyler Cavalli)
Live stats: Dakstats
Seward watch parties: THOM Auditorium (on campus)/Bottle Rocket Brewing Co.
Sophomore Taylor Cockerill helped save Concordia from falling victim to a second round upset. The Wolves led 61-56 with under nine minutes remaining in the game before Cockerill went wild. The Waverly native exploded for 19 of her game high 26 points over the final 10 minutes. She was aided by the work of All-Americans Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge, who totaled 16 points apiece. The effort pushed Wragge into No. 5 on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,750 points (15 behind Whitney Stichka for No. 4). It’s only a matter of time before Cockerill joins the 1,000-point club. She now has 886 in her first 72 collegiate games.
The Bulldogs are now 31-17 all-time at the national tournament. A victory on Saturday would put them into the national semifinals for the third year in a row, for the fourth time in five seasons and for the seventh time in program history. Olson now has 20 wins at the national tournament in his coaching career. Olson has been at the controls for each of the program’s last 11 appearances on the national stage. He’s led Concordia to the national title game in 2015 and 2018.
The Bulldogs and Warriors (32-3) have played each other just once. That meeting occurred in December 2016 at the Hoop N Surf Classic in Hawaii, where Concordia won, 68-57. Indiana Tech is seeking its first ever berth in the national semifinals. It had not reached the national quarterfinals since 1993. Head coach Jessie Biggs’ squad got to this point by claiming national tournament wins over West Virginia University Tech, 73-63, and Eastern Oregon University, 61-57. The Warriors are one of the nation’s top defensive teams, ranking third nationally in both scoring defense (54.1) and field goal percentage defense (.342). Kendall Knapke tops the team in scoring (15.9) and rebounding (7.7).
Unfamiliar foes continue to be puzzled by the Bulldog press. While Cardinal Stritch found some cracks in the Concordia zone, it committed 26 turnovers. The turnover count this season for Bulldog opponents has reached 1,069 (30.5 per game). Concordia remains the national leader in steals per game (20.4) and turnover margin (+13.1). The Bulldogs had a +16 turnover margin in Friday’s win.
The Concordia/Indiana Tech winner will advance to the national semifinals and take on whichever squad emerges from the Cramer Bracket. That semifinal is scheduled for a 6:05 p.m. CT tipoff on Monday (March 11).
Projected lineups
*Scoring average in parentheses
Concordia (32-3)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.0)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.8)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.2)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (10.6)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.7)
Indiana Tech (32-3)
G – Rachel Bell, So., 5-10 (8.1)
G – Alexis Hill, So., 5-9 (12.4)
G – Bella Lozano-Dobbs, Sr., 5-4 (7.1)
F – DeAnn Kauffman, Jr., 5-11 (13.3)
F – Kendall Knapke, Sr., 5-11 (15.9)
Barry, Koepke lead Bulldogs back to national semifinals
Mar. 9, 2019
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Forget about a fourth quarter deficit this time. The top-ranked Concordia University women’s basketball team put together a first half stretch so utterly dominant that it left seventh-ranked Indiana Tech shell-shocked. Amazing Grace Barry controlled the flow of the game in an opening 20 minutes that featured a 43-16 Bulldog flurry heading into the break. The Bulldogs rode that wave to a 73-53 win over seventh-ranked Indiana Tech in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship on Saturday (March 9).
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson has led his program back to the national semifinals for the fifth time during his tenure (seventh trip in school history). This will be the third season in a row Concordia has advanced to at least the semifinal round.
“The game plan going in was playing our usual style of defense, pressing and playing our matchup zone,” Olson said. “They did a really good job early on. As a coaching staff we thought maybe we might have to adjust there. We were planning on possibly switching to man and it was just a little bit earlier than we expected. I was really pleased with our kids and their ability to adapt and they’re confidence to knock down shots. That was a huge part in that first half.”
Taylor Cockerill was the hero in Friday’s second round win over 17th-ranked Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.). On this team, the role of Wonder Woman typically changes hands from game-to-game. Barry and freshman Mackenzie Koepke were a two-person wrecking crew on Saturday, blowing holes in the Warrior man-to-man defense. Barry put up a stat line of 17 points, six assists and five steals while Koepke racked up 15 points and eight rebounds.
Tech has relied on one of the nation’s top defenses all season. But Barry and Koepke carved it up at times during the first half. The stage wasn’t too big for the freshman and product of Lincoln Lutheran. Koepke buried back-to-back triples to cap a 17-0 first quarter surge. Twelve points in a row came via treys by either Barry or Koepke.
“I think that’s what separates us from all the other teams, that on any given night anybody can go off,” Barry said. “It could be Mack. It was TC the other night. It could be Philly (Lammers) or Quinn (Wragge) – we have so many different options for scoring.”
Indiana Tech’s balloon had been popped by halftime. The defensive adjustments made by Concordia worked to perfection. Although the Warriors (32-4) committed a reasonable 15 turnovers, in very few instances were they able to play composed in the face of the energy the Bulldogs brought. Concordia was the clear aggressor while smothering Indiana Tech to the tune of 31.5 percent shooting and only four made 3-point field goals.
For the second game in a row, Lammers fouled out. It just didn’t really matter on this particular day. She still managed to be one of six Bulldogs with eight points or more. After the 17 by Barry and 15 by Koepke, Cockerill (nine), MacKenzie Helman (nine), Lammers (eight) and Riley Sibbel (eight) came next in line. Wragge had only two points, but she hauled down 11 rebounds while gutting out 38 minutes of action.
The balanced bunch was never phased by an 8-0 hole out of the gate. A few minutes after Olson called his first timeout, it was as if the deficit never even happened. It certainly helps to go 7-of-9 from 3-point range in a half.
“We’ve had some really tough games and this group is a tough group,” Olson said. “They’re confident. They really believe in each other so they’re never going to get worried that we’re down 6-0 early in the game. They believe in themselves.”
Indiana Tech defeated West Virginia University Tech and Eastern Oregon University on its way to the quarterfinals. The Warriors were led on Saturday by the likes of Alexis Hill (17 points, two steals), Kendall Knapke (15 points, 11 rebounds) and DeAnn Kauffman (10 points, two steals). Indiana Tech still has yet to reach the national semifinals in its program’s history.
Two more steps remain in Concordia’s quest to close the deal on the ultimate goal. In order to get back to the title game, the Bulldogs will have to defeat either No. 2 Northwestern or No. 5 College of the Ozarks in the semifinals. Tipoff of Concordia’s semifinal is set for 6:05 p.m. CT on Monday (March 11). The game will be televised live via ESPN3.com.
“We’re a great team and we know that,” Koepke said. “We have to come every day and be focused and finish our season strong.”
Game preview: GPAC rivals to collide in national semifinals
Mar. 9, 2019
Bracket | National Tournament Press Guide
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – There’s no debating it. The Concordia University women’s basketball program is truly one of elite status. The Bulldogs are headed back to the semifinals of NAIA Division II for the third year in a row and for the seventh time in school history. Junior Grace Barry and freshman Mackenzie Koepke were the headliners on Saturday (March 9) in the 73-53 rout of No. 7 Indiana Tech in the quarterfinals.
Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson has now led the program to five semifinal advancements (2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019) during his tenure. In order to reach the title game for the third time since 2015, Concordia now must get past rival and second-ranked Northwestern in the semifinals on Monday (March 11).
Monday, March 11 | 6:05 p.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships (Semifinals)
No. 1 Concordia (33-3) vs. No. 2 Northwestern (29-4)
Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
Webcast: NAIA Network / ESPN3.com
Radio: 104.9 Max Country (Tyler Cavalli)
Live stats: Dakstats
Seward watch parties: THOM Auditorium (on campus)/Bottle Rocket Brewing Co.
The national tournament path to the semifinals for the Bulldogs has included wins over Wilberforce University (Ohio), 100-62, No. 17 Cardinal Stritch University, 82-71, and No. 7 Indiana Tech. Of those opponents, Cardinal Stritch gave Concordia the most trouble. The Bulldogs faced a five-point fourth quarter deficit in that clash before Taylor Cockerill emerged with a 19-point final period. In the quarterfinals, the game was never really in doubt in the second half. Barry and Koepke (combined 32 points) spurred a first half frenzy that provided a 43-24 lead at the break.
Staying true to this team’s identity, the Bulldogs have had a different leading scorer in each of their first three games at the national tournament. Koepke’s big-time production (15 points and eight rebounds) wasn’t necessarily expected on Saturday, but it certainly was appreciated. The balance means that a star player can have an off game and Concordia can still get along just fine. Lammers fouled out in both the second and quarterfinal rounds of the tournament. Additionally, Quinn Wragge had just two points versus Indiana Tech. However, the Crofton native pulled down a team high 11 rebounds.
The current run under Olson’s direction is unprecedented for the program. Prior to Olson, the only national semifinal appearances for Concordia came in 2003 and 2005 under the leadership of then head coach Todd Voss. The Bulldogs are the first NAIA Division II women’s basketball program to reach the semis three years in a row since Northwestern did it six-straight years (2008 through 2013). The constants on the past three national tournament runs have been Wragge, Lammers, Colby Duvel and MacKenzie Helman.
A third berth in the title game since 2015 will not come easy for Concordia. The Bulldogs and Red Raiders split their two regular-season meetings with the home team winning in both instances. Northwestern (29-4) now has a day off to come down from the high of defeating fifth-ranked College of the Ozarks (Mo.), 71-70, on a buzzer by Darbi Gustafson in the quarterfinal round. The Red Raiders rallied all the way back from a 16-point deficit in the second half. They also have earned national tournament wins over eighth-seeded Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) and fifth-seeded Indiana Wesleyan.
Head coach Chris Yaw’s squad boasts its own cavalcade of star players, including Gustafson. This is the swan song for Gustafson and fellow standout seniors in Haley Birks and Kassidy De Jong. Winner of five national titles in program history, the Red Raiders lead the nation in rebound margin (+11.2) and field goal percentage (.485). Monday’s clash will give Northwestern a chance at avenging its 84-77 national semifinal loss to Concordia one year ago.
Three of the four national semifinalists are the same as last year in GPAC powerhouses of Concordia, Dakota Wesleyan and Northwestern. In the other semifinal battle, No. 4 Dakota Wesleyan will take on No. 3 Southeastern University (Fla.). All four remaining national title hopefuls are No. 1 seeds. The championship game will be contested at 7:05 p.m. CT on Tuesday (March 12).
Projected lineups
*Scoring average in parentheses
Concordia (33-3)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.2)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.6)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.3)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (10.3)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.5)
Northwestern (29-4)
G – Sammy Blum, Jr., 5-7 (11.1)
G – Kassidy De Jong, Sr., 5-10 (18.0)
G – Breana Schuiteman, So., 5-8 (7.3)
F – Haley Birks, Sr., 6-0 (12.2)
C – Darbi Gustafson, Sr., 6-1 (14.9)
Q&A with Quinn
Mar. 10, 2019
Following practice on Sunday (March 10) at the Tyson Events Center, senior Quinn Wragge sat down to reflect upon her four-year journey as a member of the Concordia University women’s basketball program.
As a senior in this environment, every game could be your last game. How does that impact the way you approach each game?
The main thing is that it’s so much more meaningful. I want to take the time to walk around and enjoy it and remember these moments and really cherish it. In the second round (versus Cardinal Stritch) we were really close and I was thinking, ‘I don’t want this to end right now.’ I want to keep going. It heightens those emotions. It makes me really competitive and want to keep going.
Only a handful of teams have the opportunity to still be playing at this point in the season. How do you try to soak this up and not take it for granted when it’s the third year in a row reaching the national semifinals?
When you get on the court in this atmosphere, it’s crazy. You have to take a deep breath and look around. I’m so appreciative of this team and this program to be in this position for the last three years. I try to take time in the locker room with our devotions and our team and try to enjoy those moments without getting too far ahead of myself.
What’s it like being the only senior on the team in this situation when most teams have multiple seniors going through it together?
It is different. They’re all thinking they’re going to be back here next year. I’m the only one going through that experience as a senior, but it’s been good. I love this team so much and I love the girls I’m surrounded by. Sometimes I feel like they give me a little too much attention because they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re leaving.’ I’m thankful for it. I’m not the only leader on this team. There are so many girls who have been put in positions to step up. That’s been a cool part of it.
It means a lot to be in the top five of this program’s all-time scoring list. How do you put that into words what it means to you to be in that top five?
This season I haven’t really been thinking about that a lot. Then I saw the names of the other four girls that are up there. I’ve heard about those girls and I’ve seen them in the Hall of Fame. I’ve seen how good of players they were. That was a really cool moment for me. I’ve looked up to those people. It’s kind of surreal to see my name up there with them.
What was your impression of Concordia during your high school years and how has your experience here matched or perhaps exceeded what you thought it would be like?
I had super high hopes for college and was really excited about it. When I met the team and Coach Olson, I came away feeling like they all really cared about each other. That was the main thing I picked up on. I came here and that has rang true throughout my whole time at Concordia. Everything is a lot bigger than basketball. It’s been everything that I wanted. Then from a campus perspective, it’s been awesome. I love Concordia and every part of it. I’ve loved meeting the people and making those relationships. I knew that God was telling me I needed to go here. I’m here for a reason.
This is the third year in a row you have been here in the semifinals. Is there anything you can put your finger on that makes this team unique from the past few you have been part of?
I really do feel like this team is different. I don’t know if I have a good word for it. I just really think that this year has been defined by how different it actually has been. This season hasn’t been perfect for us by any means. We’ve ebbed and flowed this season. We’ve had times where we’ve been really good and times where we would go back to practice and say we need to start over and get back our focus. We’ve been able to adapt through everything. We play zone all the time and then we go man the whole game (versus Indiana Tech on Saturday). Just that ability to do whatever it takes to get it done has been unique.
Your shooting technique is also unique. How did that come along for you?
I get a lot of questions about that. I think the main thing that happened was when I was shooting around when I was young. My dad was a basketball coach and of course he was coaching me. I think I was using two hands too much and he was not having that. My way of fixing it and getting out of the gym – because he wouldn’t let me leave – was to just take that hand off. From then on it was just a one-handed shot. He liked that better than the two-handed shot.
Your brother Grant has been at Concordia now for a couple years. What influence did you perhaps have on him coming to Concordia and how cool has that been to have him at the same school?
I’ve loved it. I have bragged on Concordia and love the basketball program. He saw me do that for two years. I think him being around it and coming to the games and everything made him think, ‘Yeah, that’s what I want to do too.’ He had the opportunity to come play. For me it’s awesome. I love having him here and knowing that there is someone who is always in your corner. I feel like we never see each other even though we’re on the same small campus. We have to kind of seek each other out, but it’s been a really special thing for the past two years.
The national semifinal game is coming up Monday night. You’ve been in plenty of these games now in your career. What is it like as you’re getting ready an hour or two hours before tipoff? How do you prepare yourself mentally?
I definitely do get nervous. If I said I didn’t I would be lying. It’s exciting – it’s nervous excitement. I think it’s good to have some nerves. It gets you ready. I’ve always been even-keeled and that calm player. I don’t get too high or too low. That’s what coach will tell us to be like. When you come off an emotional win or whatever, you have to put those aside and get focused for the next game.
For Coach Olson it’s his fifth time taking this program to the semifinals. What have you noticed about him that has made this program continually successful even as the names and the faces change on the roster?
The thing that comes to me right away is that he just expects it. We have expectations that we are a team that should go to the final four. We expect that from ourselves and we hold ourselves to that standard. That’s not the only goal that we have. He encourages us to have fun and we work our butts off to get here. We do have that expectation, but we know we have to earn it. The other thing is he loves these big games and it makes us love them too. He’s never one to shy away from competition. We know we’re going to be playing a good team. He’s ready for it and that trickles down. We want that challenge. That’s been huge.
Lammers powers Bulldogs to national title game for second-straight year
Mar. 11, 2019
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Concordia University women’s basketball team is headed back to the NAIA Division II national championship game. A rocky third quarter made for a white knuckler all the way down to the final horn. Ultimately, a Mackenzie Koepke steal just before the buzzer put the game on ice. The Bulldogs held off fourth-ranked Northwestern, 82-79, in Sioux City, Iowa, on Monday (March 11).
Once again 13th-year head coach Drew Olson’s program is on the doorstep of the ultimate goal. Concordia (34-3) finished as the national runner up in 2015 and again in 2018.
“We just have some really tough competitors on our team,” Olson said. “And they find ways to win. There were some different stretches in there where as a coaching staff you’re just wondering how are we going to get this done. They continue to make plays. I was really proud of their effort, their toughness. It came down to us being able to get some stops when we really needed it.”
The Bulldogs could have been too shell-shocked to persevere in a contest that was turned on its head. Concordia caused 15 turnovers during a first half that it mostly dominated. It led 35-15 in the second quarter. Northwestern (29-5) bounced back with some championship mettle of its own. Spurred by Kassidy De Jong (23 points), the Red Raiders roared back to claim its first lead of the game, 54-53, via a three-point play by Sammy Blum at the outset of the fourth quarter.
Northwestern held a 72-70 advantage as late as the 3:26 mark of the final period. De Jong simply got one-upped by GPAC Player of the Year Philly Lammers, who went wild for 28 points, 13 rebounds and five steals. On three occasions in the closing 10 minutes, Lammers battled for an offensive rebound and quick put back bucket. She also made 3-of-4 free throws during a harrowing last couple of minutes.
Up 81-74 after Grace Barry netted two free throws with 41 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs still hadn’t put the game away. Taylor VanderVelde followed with a trey and Concordia missed three of its last four free throws to leave the door open. The final few seconds were frantic. Taylor Cockerill missed the second of two free throws with the score at 82-79 with less than 10 seconds left. Olson elected to put Northwestern on the line, resulting in two misfires and a scramble for the board. It was finally time to exhale when the ball ended up in Koepke’s hands at the buzzer.
The aim is to focus and finish. So far so good for Barry and company.
“Since we’ve played them so many times it was just that finish part of our motto,” Barry said. “It’s focus and finish. We were up at the end of the game and it was like, ‘We have got to finish.’ That’s really what drove it home.”
There are stickers to go around after the latest pulse pounder. Barry carried the mail by playing all 40 minutes at the point. She poured in 19 points and dished out three assists. Senior Quinn Wragge played almost 39 minutes while totaling 13 points, two blocks and two steals. Cockerill also reached double figures with 10 points. Koepke continues to emerge as a budding star. She dropped in eight points, grabbed three steals and blocked a shot.
But on this day, Lammers was the most dominant force on the court. She avoided foul trouble this time while putting together the best performance of her career on the national stage.
“It was what it was,” Lammers said of the Northwestern surge in the second half. “The fact that we were able to overcome that just speaks to how tight-knit we are, how much we believe in ourselves and how much we believe in each other. I think that’s really what propelled us forward throughout this game.”
Four Red Raiders reached double figures in what was a rematch of a 2018 national semifinal clash. Blum put up 17 points while Haley Birks and VanderVelde added 10 apiece. Northwestern shot a blazing 60.6 percent in the second half and owned a 45-28 rebound edge in the game, but it wasn’t quite enough to overcome a minus-16 turnover disadvantage.
The 2019 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship Game will tip off at 7:05 p.m. CT from the Tyson Events Center on Tuesday. Concordia’s opponent will be No. 2 Southeastern University (Fla.), which outlasted No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan, 78-75, in double overtime late on Monday.
“We’re pretty excited to be back,” Olson said. “It’s something we’ve been on a mission for since last year. We have a group that’s very, very motivated. Our theme this year is to focus and finish and we have the opportunity to do that tomorrow night and we’re really excited about that.”
Game preview: Bulldogs to try to put out Fire in national title game
Mar. 12, 2019
Bracket | National Tournament Press Guide
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Perhaps it’s finally their time. Focus and finish has been the motto all year long for the Concordia University women’s basketball team. The “finish” part of that motto is all about cutting down that final net. That opportunity will present itself tonight (March 12) as the Bulldogs take on second-ranked Southeastern University (Fla.) for the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship. Head coach Drew Olson’s squad squeaked past No. 4 Northwestern, 82-79, in the semifinals.
Monday, March 12 | 7:05 p.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships (Championship)
No. 1 Concordia (34-3) vs. No. 2 Southeastern (31-2)
Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
Webcast: NAIA Network / ESPN3.com
Radio: 104.9 Max Country (Tyler Cavalli)
Live stats: Dakstats
Seward watch parties: Weller Auditorium (on campus)/Bottle Rocket Brewing Co.
During Olson’s tenure, the game changed in 2012 when the likes of Kristen Conahan, Amber Kistler, Bailey Morris and Katie Rich led Concordia to the national semifinals. That team believed it was good enough to win the whole thing. So too did Olson’s teams in 2015, 2017 and 2018. In the minds of those alums, Olson and the current players, it’s time. It’s time to capture the ultimate goal and pose with the big red banner. This is the moment this program has been building up to. It has done everything that can be done, except win that final game.
Of course it’s going to have to be earned against a worthy opponent, but what makes this Concordia edition so difficult to beat is that it essentially has four All-Americans in its starting lineup. A bad game for any one player will not doom it. It’s almost like they take turns while passing around the role of hero. In the win over No. 17 Cardinal Stritch, Taylor Cockerill went off for 19 of her 26 points in the fourth quarter. Point guard Grace Barry has rarely come out of games of late while running the show at the point. Then on Monday, Philly Lammers (28 points, 13 rebounds, five steals vs. Northwestern) came to the rescue in the moments when it looked like the Red Raiders might just hand the Bulldogs a devastating loss. Lammers wasn’t having it.
No matter what, this really is the end of the line for senior Quinn Wragge, who scored 13 points in the semifinal win to push her career total to 1,765 (tied with Whitney Stichka for fourth all-time in program history). She is the lone senior on this roster and a mainstay for each of the program’s past three advancements to the national semifinals. There would be no better way for the Crofton, Neb., native to avenge last season’s loss in the championship game and go out on top. Big games like this are the norm for players like Wragge, Lammers and Colby Duvel, who each have vast experience now on the national stage.
There’s no doubt that Southeastern passes the eye test. The Fire are the tallest and longest team at this level of women’s basketball. With a roster chalk full of NCAA Division I transfers, Southeastern dominated its overmatched competition throughout the regular season. It also got some revenge on Monday by outlasting No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan, 78-75, in double overtime. The Fire had been eliminated a year earlier in the quarterfinals by the Tigers. Three Southeastern starters played more than 40 minutes in the marathon. There could be some tired legs on both sides on Tuesday night. Head coach Tim Hays’ program has reached the championship game for the first time ever.
This will be a rematch of a regular season game played in Phoenix, Ariz., on Dec. 28. Concordia managed to win the game despite shooting 28.4 percent from the field. The Bulldogs led 31-12 at halftime before Southeastern made a push in what ended in a 59-51 final score. The Fire used their length to block seven shots in that contest. Southeastern ranks No. 2 nationally in blocks per game (5.0). Five Fire players average 9.9 points or more, led by 16.6 from 5-foot-11 guard Elsa Paulsson-Glantz, one of nine transfers on the roster. All five starters are 5-11 or taller.
Projected lineups
*Scoring average in parentheses
Concordia (34-3)
G – Grace Barry, Jr., 5-7 (11.4)
G – Taylor Cockerill, So., 5-9 (15.4)
G – Riley Sibbel, Jr., 5-9 (5.2)
F – Quinn Wragge, Sr., 6-0 (10.4)
F – Philly Lammers, Jr., 5-11 (14.8)
Southeastern (31-2)
G – Makenzie Cann, Sr., 6-1 (14.4)
G – Jaycee Coe, Sr., 5-11 (13.8)
G – Elsa Paulsson-Glantz, Sr., 6-0 (16.6)
G – Halee Printz, Sr., 5-11 (5.8)
C – Marlena Schmidt, Jr., 6-6 (11.4)
National finalist Bulldogs top nation in NAIA Scholar-Athletes
Mar. 12, 2019
2018-19 Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athletes
SEWARD, Neb. – The list of 2018-19 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes is nine strong with student-athletes from the Concordia University women’s basketball program. The group includes senior Quinn Wragge, a repeat Scholar-Athlete. The nine honorees equaled Mount Marty for the most among all NAIA Division II women’s basketball programs.
In order to be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended two full years as a non-transfer or one full year as a transfer. A total of 312 women’s basketball student-athletes across the nation were named 2019 Scholar-Athletes by the NAIA.
Concordia University ranks as the NAIA’s all-time leader in number of Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes with 1,428 and counting. The Bulldogs have been a regular national leader for both scholar-athletes and scholar-teams and are coming off a 2017-18 academic year that resulted in 77 more scholar-athletes and 20 scholar-teams (third most in the nation). Also in 2017-18, seven Bulldog student-athletes garnered both CoSIDA Academic All-District and CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades.
2019 Concordia Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athletes
Madi Daly, Jr. | Mullen, Neb. | Recreation and Sport Studies/Art Education
Colby Duvel, Jr. | Max, Neb. | Biology/Chemistry
Maggie Goltz, Jr. | Falls City, Neb. | Biology
Jadyn High, Jr. | Bertrand, Neb. | Elementary Education
Philly Lammers, Jr. | Omaha, Neb. | Biology/Physics
Riley Sibbel, Jr. | O’Neill, Neb. | Exercise Science
Jerrica Tietz, Sr. | Bancroft, Neb. | Pre-Veterinary
Megan Vieselmeyer, Sr. | Holyoke, Colo. | Exercise Science
Quinn Wragge, Sr. | Crofton, Neb. | Secondary Education
Focused and Finished!
Mar. 12, 2019
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – This is the moment the Concordia University women’s basketball program has been waiting for. For the first time in school history, the Bulldogs were the ones celebrating when the confetti streamed down from the Tyson Events Center rafters. Tears of joys flowed for senior Quinn Wragge, who couldn’t have asked for a better ending to her college career. Concordia cut down the nets after a 67-59 win over second-ranked Southeastern University (Fla.) in the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship Game on Tuesday (March 12).
Throughout the tournament, there was a growing sense that this was their time. Thirteenth-year head coach Drew Olson’s program had struck out in national title game appearances in 2015 and 2018. This time around, the Bulldogs focused – and they finished.
“Thinking about all that we went through last year and all the hard work it took to get here, I’m just so proud and so happy for them,” Olson said. “I’m thankful I get to be their coach. It’s more about the players. I’m just so happy they get this feeling. It’s really surreal honestly.”
The NAIA Division II National Coach of the Year, Olson turned the keys over this season to transfer Grace Barry at the point guard position. She delivered in a big time way. She posted a line of 15 points, seven assists and four steals in the title game on her way to being named the Tournament MVP.
Barry and company never flinched after an 11-3 deficit out of the gate. For some it might have brought flashbacks to last year’s championship game when rival Dakota Wesleyan made it a painful night for Concordia. Consider the demons exorcised.
“It was just an incredible feeling to be able to do it with such a great group of girls,” Barry said. “We’ve been talking about it since the summer workouts. We finally got it done.”
Barry spurred a 17-0 run in the first quarter to ensure that this would not be a repeat of a year ago. The Bulldogs just had to find a way to neutralize the size of Southeastern, which rolls out a starting five of players all 5-foot-11 or taller. On this night, the Fire stayed tight with the three-ball (12-for-29 from 3-point range). Like the semifinal win over Northwestern, this one hung in the balance for nearly all of 40 minutes.
Concordia sewed it up on the defensive end holding Southeastern without a single point over the last 2:54 of game time. The lockdown effort on that end turned a 61-59 lead into a 67-59 final score. Barry netted a pair of free throws in the final 30 seconds and a Fire turnover put the finishing touches on the championship. With four seconds remaining, Wragge checked back in to a standing ovation.
“From the day I came here this has been the goal,” Wragge said. “This is what this program has wanted for so long. To be a part of that with these amazing girls is incredible. It’s everything that I’ve wanted from this.”
It may have turned into more of a half court contest than the Bulldogs would have liked (12 turnovers apiece), but that was just fine on a night when Southeastern (31-3) had a grand total of 22 points in the second half (six field goals during that time) and shot only 35.7 percent for the game. Even an 18-point effort from Makenzie Cann couldn’t save her side, which reached the national championship final for the first time in program history.
Barry was joined in double figures by three teammates in Taylor Cockerill (13), Philly Lammers (11) and Wragge (11). Lammers recorded another double-double by grabbing 12 rebounds. MacKenzie Helman canned three big 3-point shots off the bench. Even with the height disadvantage, Concordia outrebounded the Fire, 37-32.
It all added up to the first basketball national title, men’s or women’s, in the history of Bulldog athletics. The business started by the greats of the past was finished. Olson made it clear that was a celebration to be enjoyed not just by the current players, but those of the past who helped build the program up to the point where something this special was possible.
Olson channeled his inner Ric Flair while on the postgame stage, letting out a “Wooooo!” Said Olson, “We say tradition never graduates. We’ve had some amazing teams that haven’t been able to do this, but we’re here because of them. We accomplished something that’s for everybody. It’s for our alums, it’s for our past teams, it’s for our fans and our students. I love Concordia.”
For a program with staying power, the 2019-20 team will have the ability to make a run just like this one. It will move on without Wragge, an all-time great. By the end of the night, Wragge moved up to No. 3 on the school’s all-time scoring list. She wants everyone to know how much she loves Concordia – and her coach.
Said Wragge, “I love Coach Olson. I can’t say enough good things about him. He deserves this. He has gotten this program here so many times and to finish that for him means so much to me.”
Olson named National Coach of Year, Barry Tournament MVP
Mar. 14, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – After the confetti had settled on Tuesday night (March 12) in Sioux City, Iowa, a trio of Bulldogs earned national awards for their work in leading the Concordia University women’s basketball team to a national championship win. Point guard Grace Barry was tabbed the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player while Drew Olson was named the Phyllis Holmes National Coach of the Year.
Also a first team all-tournament choice, Barry was joined with all-tournament honors by teammate Philly Lammers, who landed on the second team (see complete teams at bottom).
This marks the second year in a row that Olson has been rewarded with a major national coaching honor. He was also selected as the United States Marine Corps/WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year after leading the 2017-18 squad to a GPAC championship season and a national runner up claim. This time around, Olson’s Bulldogs closed the deal on what had been an elusive national title. It was the only thing missing during Olson’s remarkable tenure, which began with the 2006-07 season. In his 13 seasons leading Concordia, Olson has put together an overall record of 353-96 with a national title, two national runners up finishes, five national semifinal advancements, 11 national tournament appearances and 10 total GPAC titles (five regular season; five postseason).
Barry is the first Bulldog to ever take home the Most Valuable Player award at the National Championship tournament. The Lincoln East High School product has attained the rare feat of having now won a Nebraska state title and a national championship. Barry elevated her performance over the five national tournament games, during which she averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 assists, 3.4 steals and 2.6 rebounds while going 25-for-48 (.521) from the floor, 6-for-11 (.545) from 3-point range and 15-for-18 (.833) from the foul line. Barry played all 40 minutes in the semifinal win over No. 4 Northwestern and the championship win over No. 2 Southeastern University (Fla.). In the title game, she put up a line of 15 points, seven assists, four steals and four rebounds.
Lammers collected all-tournament accolades for the second year in a row. The Millard West High School product was most dominant in the semifinal win over Northwestern when she piled up 28 points, 13 rebounds and five steals. Over the five games at the Tyson Events Center, Lammers averaged 13.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 steals while going 34-for-60 (.567) from the field and 11-for-18 (.611) from the free throw line. The GPAC Player of the Year also notched a double-double in the national championship game with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
First Team
- Grace Barry | Concordia (Neb.)
- Mackenzie Cann | Southeastern (Fla.)
- Kyendi Cheeseman | Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)
- Kelsie Cleeton | College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
- Kassidy DeJong | Northwestern (Iowa)
Second Team
- Kendall Bradbury | Taylor (Ind.)
- Darbi Gustafson | Northwestern (Iowa)
- Philly Lammers | Concordia (Neb.)
- Rylie Osthus | Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)
- Marlena Schmidt | Southeastern (Fla.)
2019 Hustle Award Winner - Rylie Osthus | Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)
2019 NAIA DII WBB National Championship MVP - Grace Barry
Phyllis Holmes Coach of the Year - Drew Olson
Lammers, Cockerill land on NAIA All-America list
Mar. 14, 2019
2018-19 NAIA Women’s Basketball All-Americans
WBCA NAIA Women’s Basketball All-Americans
SEWARD, Neb. – The honors continue to roll in for junior Philly Lammers, the 2018-19 GPAC Player of the Year. On Wednesday (March 13), the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association revealed Lammers as one of 10 individuals on a combined NAIA Division I and II All-America team. Then on Thursday, the NAIA national office announced its official All-America team, which placed Lammers on the first team and recognized sophomore Taylor Cockerill as an honorable mention choice.
As unveiled after the championship game on Tuesday night, Drew Olson is the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year after guiding the Bulldogs to their first national title in program history. Concordia also captured GPAC regular season and postseason championships while going 35-3 overall. The magical season concluded with a 67-59 victory over Southeastern University (Fla.) in the championship final.
A product of Millard West High School, Lammers is now the first player in program history to ever be named a first or second team All-American three-straight years. She earned second team honors as a freshman before moving up to first team as both a sophomore and junior. This past season, the Omaha native averaged 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.63 steals and 1.21 blocks while shooting 57.9 percent from the floor and 74.0 percent from the foul line. She was also selected second team all-tournament at the national championship and is a three-time first team All-GPAC honoree. Lammers will enter her senior year with program all-time rankings of seventh in rebounds (823), seventh in steals (271) and 10th in scoring (1,574).
Cockerill, who hails from Waverly, Neb., has picked up the first All-America recognition of her career. She was also a first team All-GPAC selection. She paced the national champions in scoring at 15.4 points per game in her first season as a starter. Cockerill scored 40 points in the season’s opening game for the second highest single game total in school history. Her big moment at the national tournament was a 19-point fourth quarter in the second round win over No. 17 Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.). She also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 1.92 steals this season. She shot 40.3 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from 3-point range and 77.4 percent from the foul line.
Grace Barry and Quinn Wragge also appeared to be strong candidates for All-America honors, but were left of the list. Wragge was an honorable mention All-American in 2017 and third team All-American in 2018. Twenty-two players in program history have earned at least one All-America award.
Concordia women’s basketball all-time All-Americans
Lynda Beck (1992-1st)
Taylor Cockerill (2019-HM)
Kristen Conahan (2012-2nd; 2013-1st)
Sarah Harrison (2003-1st; HM-2005)
Mary Janovich (2017-HM)
Trish Kindle (1993-2nd; 1994-HM)
Amber Kistler (2012-1st)
Hayle Kobza (2000-HM; 2001-HM)
Philly Lammers (2017-2nd; 2018-1st; 2019-1st)
Bailey Morris (2014-1st; *2015-1st)
Allison Nyland (1996-HM)
Tracy Peitz (2014-3rd; 2015-2nd)
Shelly Poppe (1987-3rd)
Elizabeth Rhoden (2003-2nd)
Katie Rich (2011-HM; 2013-HM)
Kari Saving (2005-2nd)
Stacy Scheer (2010-HM)
Stephanie Schilke (1998-2nd)
Whitney Stichka (2007-HM; 2008-2nd; 2009-1st)
Melissa Tinkham (2008-HM; 2009-HM)
Rachel Witzel (1997-3rd)
Quinn Wragge (2017-HM; 2018-3rd)
*National player of the year
Order national championship memorabilia
Mar. 18, 2019
The Bulldog Fan Shop now includes an online store for purchasing gear and other items commemorating the 2019 national championship won by the Concordia women's basketball team led by head coach Drew Olson. The store includes long and short sleeve t-shirts, hats, glassware and mugs. In addition, game DVD's from the national tournament can be purchased by reaching out to the contact listed below.
Bulldog Fan Shop - online national championship items for purchase
Contact to order Game DVD's
Paula Rager
prager@sioux-city.org
(712) 279-4844
Reflections on a national title years in the making
Mar. 20, 2019
Shock and dejection a year earlier gave way to euphoria and tears filled with joy on the night of March 12, 2019. This felt like a moment a long time in the making. No one involved could stand for a repeat of the 2018 national championship game when members of the Concordia University women’s basketball team failed to fight back tears, for much different reasons. Four seniors with long, heartbroken expressions carried off the court a national runner up trophy.
To be fair, the 2017-18 squad was a special one. So too were the 2011-12, 2014-15 and 2016-17 groups guided by head coach Drew Olson. The one shared agony between these fine teams was knowing they each came up just short of realizing the ultimate goal.
“I think it fueled their fire throughout the year,” Olson said of the 2018 title game loss to rival Dakota Wesleyan. “It got them to realize just what it takes to win it all and the focus it takes throughout the entire season. We weren’t perfect. We had a couple losses and I think that helped us refocus and continue to improve and get better each day. When we got into the national tournament their mindset was just different because of what they experienced the year before. We had a couple little reminders about what happened last year with a picture from that championship game of Dakota Wesleyan celebrating.”
Following the mantra, “focus and finish,” these Bulldogs sealed the deal. This time when the confetti fell from the rafters of the Tyson Events Center, Concordia celebrated the first national title in program history. Senior Quinn Wragge could not have avoided her teammates even if she wanted to. She was swarmed up in a group hug. No, nobody was cutting onions. It was an “I’m not crying, you’re crying” moment. Chants of “Thank you, Quinn!” rang out from her teammates.
With a 67-59 victory over second-ranked Southeastern University (Fla.) in the title clash, the program lifted a weight off its shoulder. Not to be overshadowed by the “Woooooo!” Olson let out during the postgame presentation was the message he drove home. This one was for the current team – and for all those throughout the years who put everything they had into this program.
What Olson really wanted is for Bulldogs past and present to be able to share in the championship glory. All are considered members of the family. Fittingly, “family” was the word uttered collectively after the team had gathered, arm-in-arm, to listen to Olson as he addressed the team more than a half hour after the championship game had ended. Olson told his team, “I love you guys and I will never forget you.”
Wrote Wragge in a reflection on the title, “I am going to try and remember everything about that night for as long as I can. One thing that really sticks out to me would be Coach Olson finding me after the game and we were both like, ‘Wow, we finally did it.’ Then the other thing that I know I will remember was how many people were there – supporting us, cheering us on – and just shared in the joy that we felt that night. I think that feeling will be a hard one to forget.”
From a tangible standpoint, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what differentiated this team from those of the past which walked away from national tournaments that ended in disappointment. It’s almost as if there was a collective, ‘no way, not this time,’ feel to this tournament run. It certainly helps to possess four All-America caliber players in Grace Barry, Taylor Cockerill, Philly Lammers and Wragge – plus a bunch of players who know their roles and perform them well.
Coming into this season, everyone knew of Lammers and Wragge, two established stars. The trick was for Olson to find the right mix while sprinkling in three new starters in Barry, Cockerill and Riley Sibbel. Cockerill took a leap forward and became the team’s leading scorer. Meanwhile, Barry proved to be the piece that put this team over the top. Barry earned Tournament MVP honors while taking on a major role. She played all 40 minutes in both the semifinal and championship games. She quickly developed a rapport with her new teammates.
“What I will remember most about winning a national championship is the hours and hours of hard work and sacrifice our team went through, day in and day out, throughout the summer, preseason and the season,” Barry said. “After the confetti had fallen and everyone had settled down a bit, Taylor Cockerill ran over and gave me a giant hug and said, ‘This is what we have been working for, all summer, all season. This is it. We did it.’”
This team had to reinvent itself when chief backcourt pests Dani Hoppes and Mary Janovich graduated after the 2017-18 season. That could have opened up some questions as to whether Concordia might take a step back in terms of its defensive tenacity. At least statistically, that was not the case. With Barry as a catalyst, the 2018-19 edition broke a program record for turnovers forced and made believers of everyone.
In the midst of the championship glow, Lammers tweeted, “Wouldn’t trade @G_Eazy55_ (Grace Barry) for ANY point guard at ANY level.” At some point, a corner was turned from a mental standpoint for everyone on the team. They knew they were good, but good enough to win it all? Olson would confidently tell his players behind the scenes, “We are the best team in the country.”
Perhaps that belief really was the final hurdle in breaking through and securing that giant red championship banner. That belief wasn’t there immediately. It was developed over time – over years. As the pieces came together, they believed. It’s our time now.
“We had some growing pains,” Olson admitted. “We didn’t start the same five at the beginning of the year. We were still trying to figure out what pieces fit together. Ultimately I think it ended up being the right fits. Everybody figured out their roles as the season went along, but we did have a couple bumps with the Morningside game early on. I think it was about figuring out how to play with Grace and Grace figuring out what she needed to do at the end of games. We knew Taylor Cockerill was going to be a stud. We saw it last year. She just had to wait for those four seniors to graduate and it was going to be her time to step up and she did that a lot. They all found their moments to help the team be as good as we could possibly be.”
For this team to be the best it could be, the players had to ignore who got the credit. Fittingly, the Bulldogs took turns grabbing the spotlight at the national tournament. Cockerill went wild with a 19-point fourth quarter in the second round win over No. 17 Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.), Lammers rescued Concordia in the semifinal victory over No. 4 Northwestern with a 28-point, 13-rebound effort and MacKenzie Helman provided a big lift off the bench in the title game. Barry was consistent all the way through. There was plenty of other credit to go around.
The realization of being a national champion is beginning to set in. Olson understands that the title could be a tad “bittersweet” for the greats of the past who wanted this same shining moment. Says Olson, “I want them to know how much they mean to our team.”
So many have been responsible for a remarkable run in the program’s history (five national semifinal appearances since 2012), which is now complete with the only thing that had been missing. In the future, the Bulldogs will have to take motivation from something else. How about a repeat?
“I don’t think it changes a whole lot,” Olson said of winning a title. “I think there’s a little bit of pressure off. Now it’s not something we haven’t done before. Now it’s, can we do it again? Can we repeat it? Each year is different and unique. With the kids we have returning we have another good shot next year. With that group it will be finding something different to motivate them. It’s not based on last year’s loss. It’s different. Hopefully they’ll still have that edge and toughness when we really need it.”
Coach/player reflections on winning the national title
*NOTE: The following passages were contributed by each of the coaches and players present during the team’s five-game championship run at the national tournament.
Drew Olson, Head Coach
My first thought was it’s back to reality. On the way home, (athletic trainer) Randy (Baack) reminded me that I had bowling class the next day to teach … It has been really cool to hear from so many different people and tons of former players, former teammates, alums and other people who have followed our program. There have even been a lot of random people reaching out. They felt just as excited to share in that moment. It’s just been really cool.
I wanted to make sure all of our former players understood that (they were part of this too). That is why I said what I did at the end of the game. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for them and what they did. We learned so much from past teams to be able to win this year’s championship. It was this group that did it, but I feel like a lot of it had to do with the 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018 teams that got so close. Those were things we had to learn from. I do think it was a little bittersweet for a lot of them (former players). They were happy for us and very excited. At the same time, there was that part of them that wishes it could have been them. I get that. That’s why I wanted them to know how much they mean to our team and why were able to do what we did this year.
I don’t think we came together right away. We had some growing pains. We didn’t start the same five at the beginning of the year. We were still trying to figure out what pieces fit together. Ultimately I think it ended up being the right fits. Everybody figured out their roles as the season went along, but we did have a couple bumps with the Morningside game early on. I think it was about figuring out how to play with Grace and Grace figuring out what she needed to do at the end of games. We knew Taylor Cockerill was going to be a stud. We saw it last year. She just had to wait for those four seniors to graduate and it was going to be her time to step up and she did that a lot. Riley Sibbel was just phenomenal defensively. All that work ethic and all the time into the gym showed in her shooting. Those five really, really fit well. Then I thought Mack Helman, Mack Koepke and obviously Colby Duvel really figured out how to come off the bench and play well. Even with Elsie, Taryn, Delani and Paul – they all found their moments to help the team be as good as we could possibly be.
I was just so happy for Quinn. We’ve had a lot of awesome kids in our program. Quinn’s right there with them at the top. What she’s done in her career is incredible to be third in scoring all-time, especially not always being the main go-to player. To be able to end her career on this is really cool. To see her that emotional – she was just in tears of joy – was really cool. For Quinn, that’s it. She gets to end on that high note. For our other kids it’s like, ‘huh, now we have to go back to work.’ Hopefully each group now will want to end like Quinn did.
Grace was huge this year for our group. She gave us another creator. We missed so many great on-the-ball defenders with Dani (Hoppes), Mary (Janovich), Sydney (Feller) and Brenleigh (Daum) graduating so she gave us another player like that. Her competitiveness, her toughness pulled us through a lot of those times at the national tournament. I don’t think she got the credit she deserved. She got the Tournament MVP award that she deserved but I also think there are other accomplishments that she should have also received. She’s such a great person that it’s more about the team victory and winning the national championship. I think she was the best point guard in the country and probably the best on-the-ball defender. What I was most impressed by, at the start of the summer when we started working with her, she was struggling as a shooter and so inconsistent from three. Then you go to the national tournament and what she turned herself into as a shooter was so impressive.
I think a lot of people look at those four (Barry, Cockerill, Lammers and Wragge) as the star players and rightfully so, but it wasn’t just those four to step up. If we don’t have Mack Helman have that courage and toughness to come in when we’re down 11-3 and take a step back three and make it, it’s probably a different game. I think Mack Helman deserves a ton of credit for us settling into that championship game and finding a way to win. She had three 3’s in that game. She came up big when we really needed it. Mack Koepke was phenomenal. Our team is built to where they all trust each other and have confidence in each other. They all took their turns. TC had a great game against Cardinal Stritch. Not that she took a back seat, but she wasn’t as highlighted in the Northwestern game as Philly or as Grace in the championship game. At the same time, it was TC who came up with huge layups in both the semis and championship game to give us that margin to win. I thought all of them did a great job.
Tae’lor Purdy-Korell, Assistant Coach
Words can’t express how proud I am of this team. The amount of dedication, hard work, sweat and tears that each individual has put into this program since falling short last season is incredible. I love these girls so much and they deserve everything that they have achieved. Winning the National Championship is so special, but winning it with this team means so much more. I am especially happy for Coach Olson as he has been building this program for several years to turn it into the national powerhouse that it is today. My favorite memory from Tuesday night (March 12) is obviously the confetti falling and our girls running into it, but I also really appreciated the amount of love and support we received from Bulldog Nation, family and friends. To celebrate a National Championship with the people you love is so special.
Taylor Jacobsen, Graduate Assistant Coach
To be a part of a National Championship team is unreal. As a player I was never in a position to be a part of a team who played at this level that we do at CUNE. These girls and coaches deserve it. They come in everyday with a championship mindset and when you join this team you are molded into a champion. I am beyond blessed to share this award and title with such an amazing group of people and an amazing school. I love the Concordia community and this title gives such an awesome name to all Concordias. The team is very outgoing, kind of weird and extremely hard working. It doesn’t matter how many minutes you play, they all work their butts off every day to make each other better. On any given day anyone on the team takes over the game. No one pouts or complains that they didn’t score enough and that just shows how selfless this team is. Everyone has a role, and they play it extremely well. We are the team that everyone wants to beat, and our girls know that, which pushes them even harder to not be beat. I love that about our team and that is why we are in the position we are in. It is well deserved. Tuesday night (March 12) was extremely magical. I was not here last year when the team was devastated at the same place in the tournament, but I could feel the relief and joy of achieving the goal we set out to do. Even though I didn’t experience last year’s sad ending, it made me also want to cry in joy with them because I got to see the literal sweat and tears that went into the season leading up until that point. That victory was a victory that defined our whole entire season. That night we represented Christ first, our families, our teammates, our school and our community. That was an amazing thing to be a part of.
Maggie Goltz, Student Assistant Coach
Although transitioning to the sidelines was different, being a part of a National Championship was definitely one of the coolest experiences in my life. Because of their unfailing focus, my teammates were so deserving of this achievement. Coach Olson and Coach Tae’lor are truly the best coaching staff in the country because of their commitment, selflessness and determination for this team. I would say the uniqueness of this team came from the team chemistry that was built from the moment we were all here for camp this summer. I’ll definitely remember everyone enjoying the confetti and cheering for Quinn. She was an amazing leader for this team!
Jadyn High, Student Assistant Coach
Being a part of this team is something super special, and something I will cherish forever. I will always remember the joy shown on everyone’s faces as the clock ran down following the game. Seeing people I love and care so much about fulfill a dream together is pretty special. I can’t think of any better way to end my career as a Bulldog than with this team as National Champions.
Sara Sauceda, Student Manager
Getting to be a part of a National Champion team I think was even more special because of how many people were a part of it. We had so much support from family, the community and alumni and getting to share it with them was second to none. I think Philippians 2:2-4 (2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.) does a really good job of describing the heart of this team, which would be the big thing I think that made our group so special. Just a group that loved each other and wanted to sacrifice for each other and serve each other every day so the group could be successful. God really pieced together a one-of-a-kind group this year. There are a few things I will remember most from Tuesday (March 12). Definitely the amount of joy in the room was overwhelming in all the best ways. And of course, getting to see Coach and Quinn get what they had worked so hard for so long for was incredible. I really think getting to celebrate with my team as the confetti fell will be one of the most cherished moments I will take away from my time here at Concordia.
#4 Riley Sibbel, Junior
Honestly I do not know how to put my feelings into words because it still feels like I am dreaming. It has been almost a week since the championship game, and I still get goosebumps when I look at pictures or watch videos from the tournament. To be part of a National Championship team is one of the biggest accomplishments a college athlete can do, but to be part of THIS championship team is a dream come true. Every single person on this team is selfless. They don’t care about the stats, they just want to be the best that we could be together. That is what makes Bulldog Basketball so fun. I also love this team because we would never back down. We were gritty and we were tough. There is not another group I would rather go into battle with. This includes our coaches. I love this team and I have loved every moment of this season.
#5 Taylor Cockerill, Sophomore
Being part of this national championship team has meant so much to me. This year’s team has been one of the most exciting basketball teams I have ever been a part of. Yes, winning is great, but the friendships formed this year have been extremely special. Years down the road, I will always remember the moment the final buzzer went off and I was surrounded by the joy of my teammates and the crowd. The best part of that moment was the knowing that all the work we put in all year around had finally paid off.
#10 Delani Fahey, Freshman
What an amazing season it was! What makes this program and team so special is the relationships we’ve made with each other. It is so much fun to be on a team with girls and coaches who care so deeply about each other. One thing I will always remember about Tuesday night (March 12) is how happy everyone was. It was an amazing feeling to have all of our hard work pay off in the best way.
#11 Claire Cornell, Freshman
Words can't describe what it’s like being a part of this team. As a first year freshman I was welcomed so much by these girls and coaching staff and to be able to accomplish and be a part of a goal I know they have wanted for a while now, just feels so amazing. Everything they do they do for each other. We make each other stronger mentally and physically everyday while having fun and I don't think it can get much better than that. The emotions, the firsts, the lasts – those are what will stick with me forever and what I will be able to tell others later down the road.
#12 MacKenzie Helman, Junior
Being part of a national championship team is special, rare and something to not take for granted. Many people never get the opportunity to win one or even make the national tournament and we’ve been lucky enough to continuously make it deep into the tourney. With all that being said from the first part, not many people will remember we won in several years. Of course that’s a game I will remember forever, but my teammates and the memories along the way are what make it even more special. They’re some of my best friends that I get to spend every day with. Everyone is continuously doing things for each other and looking after each other. We all strived for a goal while encouraging, pushing each other and remembering to have fun and appreciate the memories along the way. After last year’s runner up finish, we all – no matter if you were a returner or not – strived to get back and it’s so special to be able to have everyone on a team buy into what we want to accomplish, everyone wanting each other to do well, everyone wanting to get back, everyone wanting to have fun with each other playing the game we all love. I think the thing I’ll remember most is just all the emotions at the end and just looking around with everyone having tears of joy in their eyes that we had done it. We did it with and for each other and we all got to celebrate that and the emotions of everything we had put in that season. Especially seeing Quinn get emotional and knowing she could go out on that note was something very special. She is someone so deserving of it.
#14 Elle Luehr, Freshman
To be a part of this wonderful team means the world to me. Each and every one of those girls have given me so much throughout the season and have always been there for me. What makes this team so special is the Christ-centered attitude of the girls both on and off the court. The girls on this team glorify God with everything that they do both in basketball and in life, and I will never forget the wonderful journey that we conquered together.
#21 Mackenzie Koepke, Freshman
It is an indescribable feeling to know that I was able to be a part of this team with this amazing group of girls and win something that these girls deserve more than any team in the country. It really hasn’t sunk in that we won, and it honestly doesn’t feel real. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to play with this team. Each one of these girls means so much to me and I don’t think I could put into words the impact that they have all had on my life. To me they aren’t just teammates, they are family. These are the girls that I am going to tell my kids stories about when I get older.
Quinn was such a great leader and role model and I can’t stress enough how much she will be missed next year. In some of the situations that didn’t look too bright for us throughout the season, like when were behind in a game, Quinn always had positive things to say. She would always motivate us in the locker to just go out and play hard and play as a team. She was so encouraging, composed and positive. She also reflected Christ in anything she did. She is so talented, and I am going to miss her so much next year. I am so thankful to be able to play for Coach Olson and I am so happy that I chose Concordia. I am thankful for all the opportunities that I have been given and all the things I have been able to experience because of this program and this school. I am thankful for all the support from the community, students, professors, my family and anyone else. It is an amazing feeling to have people from all over campus and off campus come up to you and say good job or congrats. I love my team so much and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
We are all so close on AND off the court. I don’t think there has been a day where I don’t see or hangout with at least one of my teammates. Coming in as a freshman to a very successful program I was very intimidated and nervous. Every single one of the girls and the coaches were so welcoming and encouraging. I felt like these girls truly cared about me. I remember my first summer open gym, I was so scared and nervous because I didn’t know how I was going to fit in, but they all were so nice, and I am so thankful for every single one of them.
I also think this team is so special because of how much the community of Seward supports us and shows us so much love. We have the best fans in the GPAC and without a question the best fans in the nation. Families in Seward invite us over for lunch or dinner and we are so thankful, and we feel so loved when we get these opportunities. I can’t explain how much the community means to us and how much their support actually helps us.
What I’ll remember most from that night is the confetti falling and running onto the court and hugging my teammates. I care about these girls so much and when we finally won my heart was so happy for them. Every single one of those girls deserves that National Championship. Seeing all the smiles on their faces and knowing that they finally got what they wanted, especially Quinn. I went into that game playing for all those girls who were in that position last year but came up just short. I wanted them to have that win more than anything.
#24 Jayda Lyon, Freshman
To be a part of a national team is unbelievable. It just goes to show all of our hours in the weight room, at practice, and just together have made us an amazing team and something really special to be a part of on and off the court. This team is something unique, and it comes from everyone collectively wanting to reach our common goal. The team is so, so driven and determined, and second place wasn’t going to be enough. I think I’ll forever remember just running out to the court after the buzzer went off and seeing the confetti fall and cheering with the team. It was really an amazing experience.
#25 Rylee Pauli, Freshman
For me, obviously, it is a huge accomplishment and one that I will never forget. I do not even know where to begin when trying to express my love for this team. The girls that I have had the chance to become so close with, I can call my family. Concordia is truly a home away from home. The thing I believe I will forever remember is the excitement and joy throughout the whole building. I could feel the amount of love we had there supporting us, whether it was the student section or all of our families and fans. They were all there watching us fulfill the dreams and goal we had set for this season. Couldn't imagine my first year here as a bulldog to go any better and I am excited for the years to follow.
#30 Quinn Wragge, Senior
When I think about being a part of this team and winning the National Championship I think about how grateful I am that I was able to be a part of it, and it was part of my story here at Concordia. There are so many talented girls that have been through this program that helped get us to this point, and I can't help but think how lucky I am to be the on the team that finally got the job done. This team will always be so special to me. I enjoyed every second of my final year at Concordia and I think the one word that comes to mind when I think about this team is steady. We never got too high, and we never got too low. Throughout the entire season we really had to overcome some things, from so many new players, to some really tough losses, and figuring out how to really light a fire under a team who was so even-keeled. I think in the end we were able to succeed over all of these things because of the calm and determined demeanor that we went through the whole season with. Honestly, I am going to try and remember everything about that night for as long as I can :) But a couple things that really stick out to me would be Coach Olson finding me after the game and we were both like "Wow, we finally did it." Then the other thing that I know I will remember was how many people were there. Supporting us, cheering us on, and just shared in the joy that we felt that night. I think that feeling will be a hard one to forget!
#31 Colby Duvel, Junior
To me being on a National Championship team is more than the celebration I get to spend with my teammates. As a junior I look back on my two previous years and think about how this was a goal for those years and I’m sure for the teams before that. Obtaining this title shows the dedication and perseverance this program has. A few too many times has a Concordia Women’s Basketball Team been “close” or “almost good enough.” This year was the magic year to make it happen. Not because this group of girls did all the work, but because the path had been paved, and we upheld the traditions and values being presented and encouraged to us from former players, coaches and teammates.
The uniqueness of this team stems from our demeanors to stay composed. Over this season we found ourselves in an array of situations which may not have been the most ideal. The common denominator in those situations was for us to not be shaken by those. More so than previous years, this team found a way to stay together, to play for one another and to rejoice in one another’s successes. Again and again people will say, but it is true that this group had multiple people who could be the top scorer or a large contributor in any given game. The best part about that is that no one’s toes are stepped on, no one is boastful and we still love everyone, whether it was a good game for you or a bad one.
Tuesday night (March 12) brought a storm of emotions and I felt like it all happened so fast. One moment I couldn’t wait any longer to run out on the court and celebrate and the next moment I was at dinner thinking about “what in the heck just happened?” Those two moments will be what I cherish the most. It was the congregation of my teammates, family, friends, fans from all over, former players and other random folks on the Tyson Events Center floor. All the excitement the trophy brought to my teammates and to Bulldog Nation was endearing to me and just a pleasure to be a part of.
#34 Taryn Schuette, Junior
Being part of a national championship team is a dream come true and what most dream of when they start athletics as a child. For most, it doesn’t become a reality so I am extremely grateful to say that I’m part of this team! I love that God chose us each uniquely to be part of this team. Our personalities match each other so well and get along great. That makes a great team in itself. My favorite memory will be the looks on everyone’s faces in the final seconds – the look of a champion. I also will remember how awesome the fans and student section were and the support they gave us to make it all the way!
#35 Elsie Aslesen, Freshman
I would say that to me, being a part of a National Championship team is the highest achievement anyone could reach in any sport at any level. Winning a National Championship is the ultimate reward for all of the hard work, effort and stress that goes into both the season and the time you put in during the offseason. I am so thankful for my teammates and coaches. Having such an awesome support system really makes our team special, and I think that it’s one of the reasons why our team has been successful over the last few years. Also, I think it’s incredibly special that every single one of us had the same goal in mind – a national title. We put our selfishness aside and sacrificed of ourselves for our teammates so that we could make that goal happen. I will forever remember that feeling of relief and elation as the final buzzer went off. I remember thinking to myself, “I can’t believe we actually did it!” I will never forget that feeling of joy and love as I hugged my teammates under the falling confetti and seeing all of our awesome supporters in the stands. Tuesday night (March 12) was truly unforgettable.
#42 Philly Lammers, Junior
I think what I'll remember most about this team is just how much we loved each other. I felt like it was a true family where we were all friends and really liked hanging out and spending time with each other off the court. But at the same time we were very competitive with each other, making practices simultaneously intense and fun. I will always remember hearing the pop of the confetti and streamers being released and watching them float down around us as we jumped and screamed on the court that Tuesday night. The joy and emotions that both Coach Olson and especially Quinn couldn't contain that night will be a memory that I have forever.
#55 Grace Barry, Junior
It is a pretty incredible feeling to be part of a National Championship team. I am so thankful and blessed to be able to play with such a hardworking and enthusiastic group of women, who are servant minded. This team is unique in a number of different aspects, but in particularly this team's ability to come together and develop lifelong relationships is what truly separates this team. There are so many different personalities and differences among each player, both athletically and personally, and their ability to come together to achieve one come goal is awesome. The love and fellowship between the individuals of this team is what I believe influenced our success at the national tournament. I will never forget the national tournament, whether it be the games, ice baths or card games in the hotel. I most definitely will remember the moment the confetti burst and fluttered down on us, signifying our achievement of winning a national championship. What I will remember most about winning a national championship though, is the hours and hours of hard work and sacrifice our team went through, day in and day out, throughout the summer, preseason and the season. After the confetti had fallen and everyone had settled down a bit, Taylor Cockerill ran over and gave me a giant hug and said, "This is what we have been working for, all summer, all season. This is it. We did it.”
Lammers tabbed All-Nebraska captain for second year in a row
Apr. 17, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – One more 2018-19 honor rolled in this April for the accomplished Philly Lammers. The Concordia University women’s basketball All-American was named captain of the Omaha World-Herald NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Nebraska Women’s Basketball Team for the second year in a row. She was joined on the news outlet’s All-Nebraska first team by teammates Grace Barry and Taylor Cockerill. Additionally, Quinn Wragge landed on the second team and Mackenzie Koepke and Riley Sibbel garnered honorable mention selection.
Each of the aforementioned All-Nebraska honorees were key figures in helping the program celebrate its first-ever national title this past March. NAIA Division II National Coach of the Year Drew Olson guided the 2018-19 team to GPAC regular season and postseason titles in addition to the national title. The Bulldogs went 35-3 overall.
In her junior season, Lammers continued down a path that will place her among Concordia’s all-time greats. She was named the GPAC Player of the Year and now joins former NAIA National Player of the Year Bailey Morris as a fellow two-time All-Nebraska captain. A product of Millard West High School, Lammers is the first player in program history to ever be named a first or second team All-American in three-straight years. This past season, the Omaha native averaged 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.63 steals and 1.21 blocks while shooting 57.9 percent from the floor and 74.0 percent from the foul line. She was also selected second team all-tournament at the national championship and is a three-time first team All-GPAC honoree. Lammers will enter her senior year with program all-time rankings of seventh in rebounds (823), seventh in steals (271) and 10th in scoring (1,574).
“I think her biggest growth this year has been her maturity and confidence,” Olson told the Omaha World-Herald. “She had very few games where she wavered up and down. She was so consistent.”
Cockerill, who hails from Waverly, Neb., was an honorable mention All-American and a first team All-GPAC selection as a sophomore. She paced the national champions in scoring at 15.4 points per game in her first season as a starter. Cockerill scored 40 points in the season’s opening game for the second highest single game total in school history. Her big moment at the national tournament was a 19-point fourth quarter in the second round win over No. 17 Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.). She also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 1.92 steals this season. She shot 40.3 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from 3-point range and 77.4 percent from the foul line.
Barry was the perfect addition to the 2018-19 team. She transferred in from the University of Nebraska-Kearney and immediately starred in the point guard role. The Lincoln East High School product became the first player in program history to take home the Most Valuable Player award at the national championship tournament. During the five-game run at nationals, Barry averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 assists, 3.4 steals and 2.6 rebounds while going 25-for-48 (.521) from the floor, 6-for-11 (.545) from 3-point range and 15-for-18 (.833) from the foul line. For the season, she averaged 11.5 points, 5.68 assists and 3.66 steals per game.
Senior Quinn Wragge went out on top after a remarkable career as a four-year starter. Over 144 games at Concordia, Wragge piled up 1,776 points, 833 rebounds, 251 steals and 223 assists. On the program’s all-time lists, the Crofton, Neb., native currently ranks third in scoring, seventh in rebounding and ninth in steals. Wragge was named either first or second team All-GPAC in each of her four seasons and was tabbed a third team All-American as a junior in 2018. As a senior, Wragge averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals while shooting 49.1 percent from the field.
Koepke, a Lincoln Lutheran High School graduate, put together a solid freshman season and was named honorable mention All-GPAC. She played in all 38 games and averaged 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while knocking down 64 3-point field goals. The highlight of her national tournament was a 15-point performance versus Indiana Tech. A junior from O’Neill, Neb., Sibbel was a major reason why the Bulldogs broke a program record in 2018-19 for number of turnovers forced in a season. She became a fixture in the starting lineup and averaged 5.1 points, 2.6 steals and 2.0 rebounds per game.
NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Nebraska Women’s Basketball Team
First team
G: Grace Barry, Concordia, 5-7, jr., 11.5 ppg, 5.7 apg, 3.7 spg
G: Taylor Cockerill, Concordia, 5-9, so., 15.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 80 3s
G: Shandra Farmer, Hastings, 5-3, jr., 14.5 ppg, 2.3 spg, 87.3 FT pct.
F: Philly Lammers, Concordia, 5-11, jr., 14.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 57.9 FG pct.
F: Elexis Martinez, Bellevue, 5-11, so., 13.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg
Captain: Philly Lammers, Concordia
Second team
G: Caitlin Navratil, Nebraska Wesleyan, 5-3, jr., 20.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.5 apg
F: Haylee Heits, Doane, 6-0, so., 14.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg
F: Mackenzie Willicott, Hastings, 5-9, jr., 10.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 49.0 FG pct.
F: Quinn Wragge, Concordia, 6-0, sr., 10.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg
C: Maddie Egr, Midland, 6-0, sr., 14.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.3 bpg
Honorable mention: Bellevue: Faith Ross, Morgan Cuffe. Concordia: Mackenzie Koepke, Riley Sibbel. Doane: Emma Areman. Hastings: Taylor Beacom, Gabby Grasso. Midland: Amanda Hansen. Nebraska Wesleyan: Klaire Phillips. Peru State: Claire Cudney, Alyssa Marsh-Contreras, Giovanna Silva. St. Mary: Corryne Millett, Ashley Nelson. York: Ciara Williams.
Defending national champs unveil 2019-20 schedule
Jun. 5, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – In late October, the Concordia University women’s basketball program will make its first public appearance in an official game since celebrating its first-ever national title back on March 12. As part of a four-team tournament, the Bulldogs are certain to play an opponent that reached at least 2019 national quarterfinal round in the opening weekend. The complete 30-game 2019-20 schedule is now available to the public. It will include 13 home games.
Next season will mark Drew Olson’s 14th as head coach for Concordia women’s basketball. He was named the 2019 NAIA Division II National Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to the national title victory along with GPAC regular-season and postseason championships. Concordia has said goodbye to Quinn Wragge, but returns eight players who averaged more than 10 minutes of playing time per game last season. That group includes GPAC Player of the Year Philly Lammers.
The season will officially open Oct. 25 against 2019 national qualifier Sterling College at the College of the Ozarks tournament. Pending the results of the first day, a rematch of the national title game between the Bulldogs and Southeastern University (Fla.) could take place on day two. If not Southeastern, Concordia would play another powerhouse program in host College of the Ozarks. The Bulldogs will for sure tangle with the Fire on Dec. 21 in a pre-Christmas classic in Lakeland, Fla.
Olson will first showcase his 2019-20 team in front of the home fans when the 20th annual Cattle Classic plays out Nov. 1-2. Simpson University (Calif.) and University of St. Francis (Ill.) will serve as the opponents on those dates. Utterly dominant the past six CITs, the Bulldogs will play Concordia University, Ann Arbor on the first day of the 2020 Concordia Invitational Tournament (Jan. 24-25) at Concordia University, Chicago. Olson will test his squad against Creighton University in an exhibition game on Oct. 22.
Plenty of challenges will also come in the always rugged GPAC, which had three of the four national semifinalists in 2019. The conference season will open up Nov. 12 when Midland visits Walz Arena. Just like last season, the GPAC slate includes 22 games. Concordia will get an early look at fierce rival Dakota Wesleyan in a matchup in Seward on Dec. 7.
Dates for the GPAC tournament are Feb. 26 for the quarterfinals, Feb. 29 for the semifinals and March 3 for the championship. The 2019-20 season will be the final one of two divisions in the NAIA. The 2020 NAIA Division II National Championship tournament will run March 11-17 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
2019-20 Nonconference Opponents – 2018-19 record
Ave Maria University (Fla.) (Dec. 20) – 21-9
Concordia University, Ann Arbor (Jan. 24) – 8-23
Concordia University, Chicago – 8-17 / Concordia University, Wisconsin – 19-9
College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (*Oct. 26) – 31-4
Simpson University (Calif.) – 18-12
University of St. Francis (Ill.) – 24-9
Southeastern University (Fla.) (*Oct. 26/Dec. 21) – 31-3
Sterling College (Kan.) (Oct. 25) – 27-6
*Potential matchup at College of the Ozarks tournament
Olson tabbed State College Coach of the Year by Lincoln Journal Star
Jul. 4, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – As head coach of a national championship team, Drew Olson has been chosen as the State College Coach of the Year by the Lincoln Journal Star, as announced by the news outlet on Wednesday (July 3). Olson garnered the same honor in 2015 after his Concordia women’s basketball team finished as the national runner up that season. For this particular honor, the Lincoln Journal Star chooses the top candidate, men’s or women’s sports, from Nebraska NAIA and NCAA Division II and III colleges.
Just after leading the Bulldogs to a national championship game victory over Southeastern University (Fla.) on March 12, Olson also received the Phyllis Holmes National Coach of the Year award from the NAIA. It marked the second season in a row in which the Concordia alum had collected a national coaching honor. Following the 2017-18 campaign, Olson took home the United States Marine Corps/WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year award. The Omaha native is also a three-time GPAC Coach of the Year.
Now 13 years deep into his tenure, Olson has put together an impressive résumé while leading a program that emphasizes Christian character and academic excellence, in addition to on-court success. Since being named head coach prior to the 2006-07 season, Olson has compiled an overall record of 353-96 with a national title, five national semifinal advancements (two national runners up claims), 10 combined GPAC titles, 11 national tournament appearances and 23 national tournament victories.
In an interview with the Lincoln Journal Star, Olson described a desire for his program to strive to be like the UConn of NAIA hoops. Wrote the Lincoln Journal Star, “In 13 years, Olson has created and maintained his own juggernaut here in Nebraska, turning Concordia into an NAIA women’s basketball power.”
Said Olson, “That’s the program that we’re trying to emulate (in reference to UConn). I know we’re not even close to where UConn is at with all of their championships, but that’s what we strive to be.”
All-time Concordia State College Coaches of the Year
2019 – Drew Olson, women’s basketball
2016 – Kregg Einspahr, track & field
2015 – Kregg Einspahr, track & field / Drew Olson, women’s basketball
2005 – Todd Voss, women’s basketball
1992 – Grant Schmidt, men’s basketball
1982 – Wayne Rasmussen, men’s basketball
1971 – John Seevers, football
*Award first given out in 1955
Philly pulls in Omaha World-Herald's highest honor
Jul. 4, 2019
OWH News Release (subscriber plus)
SEWARD, Neb. – It’s impressive to think of what Concordia University women’s basketball standout Philly Lammers has accomplished – and she has a whole year remaining. On Wednesday (July 3), the Omaha World-Herald announced Lammers as its choice for 2019 Midlands College Women’s Athlete of the Year honors. The Omaha World-Herald makes the selection for this award each year out of the pool of all female athletes from Nebraska NAIA and NCAA Division II and III institutions.
Lammers has cleaned up awards during and following a storybook 2018-19 season that concluded with the Bulldogs celebrating the first national title in program history. Along the way, Lammers has been tabbed GPAC Player of the Year, an NAIA First Team All-American, Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska Team Captain and member of the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team, among other accolades. Lammers is the lone player in Bulldog women’s basketball history to be named either a first or second team All-American in three-consecutive years.
As a junior, Lammers averaged 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.63 steals and 1.21 blocks while shooting 57.9 percent from the floor and 74.0 percent from the foul line. The Omaha native and Millard West High School product will enter her senior season with school all-time rankings of seventh in rebounds (823), seventh in steals (271) and 10th in scoring (1,574). During Lammers’ first three seasons, Concordia has swept GPAC regular season and postseason titles each year and has advanced to at least the national semifinals in each instance. The overall record for the program during that time is 105-8.
Said head coach Drew Olson of Lammers, “What Philly accomplished this year, and really the last two, three years, is just phenomenal. She’s such a dynamic player that can do so many things on both ends of the floor.”
All-time Concordia Midlands College Women’s Athletes of the Year
2019 – Philly Lammers, basketball
2015 – Bailey Morris, basketball
1998 – Stacey Miller, basketball
National champs to be honored at Cornhusker State Games
Jul. 18, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – The title tour will continue for the national champion Concordia University women’s basketball team. Head coach Drew Olson’s 2018-19 squad will be honored as part of the Cornhusker State Games Opening Ceremonies at Lincoln East High School on Friday night (July 19). The Nebraska Sports Council annually recognizes Nebraska individual and team champions at the event.
The Bulldogs will be present for the “SportFest” in the East High main gym from 4:30 – 7 p.m. before later appearing in the Opening Ceremonies. The ceremonies are set to begin at 7 p.m. in the stadium. Members of the Concordia team will be walking a “victory lap” around the track while passing around the torch just before it gets lit. At the same time, a script will be read detailing the accomplishments of the 2018-19 Bulldogs. The victory lap is scheduled to start at 9:25 p.m.
Olson and his squad have received recognition from plenty of prominent people throughout the state since claiming the national title banner. Governor Pete Ricketts sent out a congratulatory tweet, Seward mayor Josh Eickmeier invited the team to a city hall meeting and Nebraska football coach Scott Frost obliged a camera by saying “Go Concordia, Go Bulldogs” for a video that ended up on the Concordia women’s basketball Twitter account during the national tournament back in March.
The Cornhusker State Games is Nebraska’s amateur sports festival. The sports offered provide a broad appeal to athletes of all ages and abilities, ranging from highly competitive Olympic sports to those that are more recreational and geared to participation. The Cornhusker State Games, organized in 1985, has become a midsummer tradition attracting thousands of Nebraskans to Lincoln from throughout the state.
The 2019-20 Concordia women’s basketball team will open up the season Oct. 25 as part of a weekend tournament hosted by College of the Ozarks (Mo.). The full schedule can be viewed HERE.
Women's basketball lands at No. 20 on WBCA Academic Top 25
Jul. 23, 2019
2018-19 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls
SEWARD, Neb. – One more honor came in for the 2018-19 Concordia University women’s basketball team that celebrated the program’s first-ever national title. On Tuesday (July 23), the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association unveiled its lists that included the Bulldogs on the 2018-19 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls. Head coach Drew Olson’s squad checked in at No. 20 among all NAIA women’s basketball programs with a grade-point average of 3.551.
This marks another in a long line of season accomplishments for the banner winning Concordia squad that last week appeared at the Cornhusker State Games Opening Ceremonies. The Bulldogs were also recently named an NAIA Scholar-Team and topped all NAIA Division II women’s basketball programs with nine NAIA Scholar-Athletes for 2018-19. Concordia has been a regular on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Honor Roll and will enter 2019-20 having swept GPAC regular and postseason championships three years running.
2018-19 Team Accomplishments
- NAIA Division II National Champions
- GPAC Regular and Postseason Champions
- 35-3 Overall Record
- Tied for National Lead with Nine NAIA Scholar-Athletes
- 20th on WBCA NAIA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll
- NAIA Scholar-Team
Lammers chosen as GPAC nominee for NAIA's Liston Award
Jul. 25, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Philly Lammer’s combination of excellence in athletics and academics made her an ideal nomination for the NAIA Emil S. Liston Award. On Thursday (July 25), the GPAC announced the Concordia University women’s basketball star as the conference’s female nominee for the Liston Award. The national winners will be named during the NAIA National Awards day on Sept. 15.
The Liston Award is named in honor of the NAIA’s first executive secretary and the prime mover behind the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Tournament. The award has been presented annually since 1950 to one junior men’s and one junior women’s basketball student-athlete who has shown high athletic and scholastic achievement. Former Concordia men’s basketball standout Chandler Folkerts accepted the Liston Award in 2017.
“Philly’s dedication to academics and athletics is amazing,” said President Brian Friedrich. “Perhaps greater still is her commitment to service and leadership on our campus. She is an exceptional role model and exemplifies a student-athlete who is a Champion of Character.”
“She will be considered to be the greatest player in Concordia women’s basketball history when she has completed her four years,” said head women’s basketball coach Drew Olson. “What I am most impressed with is her humbleness and her desire to impact others. She brings joy to everyone she meets.”
Lammers cleaned up awards during and following a storybook 2018-19 season that concluded with the Bulldogs celebrating the first national title in program history. Along the way, Lammers was tabbed GPAC Player of the Year, an NAIA First Team All-American, Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska Team Captain and member of the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team, among other accolades. The biology and physics major is the lone player in Bulldog women’s basketball history to be named either a first or second team All-American in three-consecutive years.
As a junior, Lammers averaged 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.63 steals and 1.21 blocks while shooting 57.9 percent from the floor and 74.0 percent from the foul line. The Omaha native and Millard West High School product will enter her senior season with school all-time rankings of seventh in rebounds (823), seventh in steals (271) and 10th in scoring (1,574). During Lammers’ first three seasons, Concordia has swept GPAC regular season and postseason titles each year and has advanced to at least the national semifinals in each instance. The overall record for the program during that time is 105-8.
Bigger than basketball
Aug. 23, 2019
NOTE: A version of this story first appeared in the summer 2019 edition of Concordia University's Broadcaster magazine.
As a competitor, it ate at Drew Olson. His program had earned a sparkling national reputation. There was just one thing missing. The Concordia women’s basketball program had never accomplished the ultimate goal. It had never cut down that final net.
By now you’ve heard the news. Olson’s Bulldogs were crowned NAIA Division II women’s basketball national champions on March 12, 2019. After years of coming up just short of a title, the celebration was on.
So what exactly has changed a few short months later in the aftermath of those hugs and tears of joy? Said Olson, “I don’t think it changes a whole lot.” Even had the outcome been different in that 67-59 national title game triumph over Southeastern (Fla.), Olson and his program would not have flinched. Bulldog women’s basketball serves a greater purpose than what you see for 40 minutes of fast-paced action on hardwood flooring.
“We have a banner that we’re going to be able to hang up that will last forever,” Olson told the crowd that gathered inside Walz Arena a day after the national championship game. “It will be something special that our players will get to look at during practice next year and when they come back here many years from now. They get to say, ‘We accomplished that.’ There’s a song that kept ringing in my head throughout the day. It says, ‘I don’t want to leave a legacy. I don’t care if they remember me. Only Jesus.’ It’s through Him that we were able to accomplish this. It’s through Him that we have all of these gifts.”
It's one thing to say such words. It’s another thing to live them out on a daily basis. That is exactly what Olson and his program are built upon. The foundation is rock solid – and the evidence goes beyond a national championship banner or trophy. The 2019 national championship team is one of Christ followers who excel on the court (obviously) and academically. The Bulldogs led all NAIA women’s basketball programs for number of Scholar-Athletes this past academic year.
For the team’s only senior, Quinn Wragge, that final game was going to be an emotional one – win or lose. When the final buzzer sounded and the confetti engulfed the scene at the Tyson Events Center, Wragge was swept up in one big group hug of teary-eyed teammates. It was a moment Wragge probably never wanted to see come to an end. Concordia and this program will be with her forever.
“When I met the team and Coach Olson, I came away feeling like they all really cared about each other,” Wragge said in an interview just before the national semifinals this past March. “That was the main thing I picked up on. I came here and that has rang true throughout my whole time at Concordia. Everything is a lot bigger than basketball. It’s been everything that I wanted. Then from a campus perspective, it’s been awesome. I love Concordia and every part of it. I’ve loved meeting the people and making those relationships. I knew that God was telling me I needed to go here. I’m here for a reason.”
Wragge will go down as a beloved Bulldog who represented what the program is about. Others have taken notice of the manner in which Wragge and company conduct themselves. The word often uttered by opposing coaches to describe Concordia women’s basketball is “class” or “classy.”
Said Southeastern head coach Tim Hays, “We know how good of a team they are … It’s a great program, a classy program.” In a congratulatory tweet, Midland head coach Shawn Gilbert wrote, “Truly a great season by a class act program. So happy for you all!”
That reputation precedes members of the team throughout the Seward community and beyond. In a moment that exemplified their character, the players took the time to clean up the locker room immediately after celebrating a national title. Furthermore, they are active in the community and are viewed as rock stars by aspiring young girls in Seward. On more than one occasion in recent months, several players attended birthday parties for Seward area youth girls.
One woman in the community felt compelled to tweet the following message: “This team walked the walk and talked the talk. The true definition of role models. These players are heroes in the eyes of the 10-year-old girls that cheer them on. Can’t wait for the future of @CUNEwbb.”
The ways in which the community gravitated toward the team became obvious. The local library invited the team to speak, Mayor Josh Eickmeier presented it a proclamation at a city council meeting and the game day crowds grew as the season wore on. In her final home game (a GPAC tournament title win), Wragge cut down the net of the west hoop while chants of “Quinn! Quinn! Quinn!” rang out.
Stars like Wragge found the spotlight without ever seeking it. That type of approach fostered an environment that would allow a team of stars to thrive. A program that already had All-Americans in Philly Lammers and Wragge acquired the final piece to the puzzle when point guard Grace Barry transferred in via the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Barry found the atmosphere to be everything she hoped for. Concordia would not have won a national championship without her. When Barry was announced as the MVP of the national championship tournament, her teammates went wild with glee.
In reflection upon winning the national title, Barry wrote, “I am so thankful and blessed to be able to play with such a hardworking and enthusiastic group of women, who are servant minded. This team is unique in a number of different aspects, but in particularly this team's ability to come together and develop lifelong relationships is what truly separates this team. The love and fellowship between the individuals of this team is what I believe influenced our success at the national tournament.”
The team made a point of spreading such love and fellowship to fans, students and alumni of the Bulldogs. This was a title to be shared with everyone. Olson had several teams in the past he knew were capable of hoisting the glitzy NAIA trophy. In some ways, it hurt that the greats of yesteryear never felt the same euphoria. Olson made sure they were not forgotten.
As Olson told the Lincoln Journal Star, “I feel like a huge reason why we were able to win this season was because of some of the things that we learned along the way. Past teams and past players have raised the bar of our program to now expecting to be in the final four, expecting to do really well. We wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for them.
“Maybe they didn’t feel the same accomplishment at the time that this team did, but this championship is as much theirs as it is ours.”
It’s these types of words and actions that made it easy for alums to latch onto this team. Several alums made social media posts including photos of themselves sporting Concordia gear as they prepared to watch the national championship game on ESPN3 – or showed off their Bulldog pride the following day at work.
There are little girls who want to be the next Quinn, the next Grace, the next Philly or the next Taylor Cockerill. Maybe they never expected to be looked at as heroes or role models, but that’s the type of impact they have had.
A freshman on the 2018-19 squad with big potential, Mackenzie Koepke wrote, “I think this team is so special because of how much the community of Seward supports us and shows us so much love. We have the best fans in the GPAC and without a question the best fans in the nation. Families in Seward invite us over for lunch or dinner and we are so thankful, and we feel so loved when we get these opportunities. I can’t explain how much the community means to us and how much their support actually helps us.”
Yes, winning a national championship was a ton of fun. It would have been heartbreaking had the Bulldogs come up short again. But some things are bigger than basketball, as Wragge put it. According to Koepke, Wragge “reflected Christ in anything she did.” Is so many ways, this was a true championship team – and not just because the scoreboard said so.
The banner that now hangs from the Walz walls will not change the model for this program, and Olson remains grounded. On the drive back from Sioux City, athletic trainer Randy Baack reminded Olson that he had bowling class to teach the next day. Not only that, some still misspell his name as “Olsen.” The 13-year head coach simply smiles and shrugs it off. He’s not one to make it about himself anyway.
Says Olson, “Just seeing the fun and the joy that they had accomplishing that together is another thing that I’ll never forget.”
Did Wragge mention she loves Concordia? Said Wragge in a postgame interview this past season, “I love this team. I love all of the players I got to play with over the past four years. I just really love Concordia basketball.”
Lammers named winner of NAIA's Liston Award
Sep. 16, 2019
SEWARD, Neb. – Announced as the GPAC nomination for the prestigious honor back in July, standout Concordia University women’s basketball student-athlete Philly Lammers has been named winner of the NAIA’s Emil S. Liston Award. Monday (Sept. 16)’s news means that Lammers joins Chandler Folkerts (2017) as the second Bulldog to ever earn such distinction.
Presented by Daktronics, the Emil S. Liston Award recognizes both academic and athletic excellence by junior student-athletes in men’s and women’s basketball. The scholarship is named in honor of the NAIA’s first executive secretary who was also a prime mover behind the men’s basketball tournament. This award has been presented annually since 1950 to one junior men’s and one junior women’s basketball student-athlete. Each student is awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
“Philly’s dedication to academics and athletics is amazing,” said President Brian Friedrich. “Perhaps greater still is her commitment to service and leadership on our campus. She is an exceptional role model and exemplifies a student-athlete who is a Champion of Character.”
“She will be considered to be the greatest player in Concordia women’s basketball history when she has completed her four years,” said head women’s basketball coach Drew Olson. “What I am most impressed with is her humbleness and her desire to impact others. She brings joy to everyone she meets.”
Lammers cleaned up awards during and following a storybook 2018-19 season that concluded with the Bulldogs celebrating the first national title in program history. Along the way, Lammers was tabbed GPAC Player of the Year, an NAIA First Team All-American, Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska Team Captain and member of the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team, among other accolades. The biology and physics major is the lone player in Bulldog women’s basketball history to be named either a first or second team All-American in three-consecutive years.
As a junior, Lammers averaged 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.63 steals and 1.21 blocks while shooting 57.9 percent from the floor and 74.0 percent from the foul line. The Omaha native and Millard West High School product will enter her senior season with school all-time rankings of seventh in rebounds (823), seventh in steals (271) and 10th in scoring (1,574). During Lammers’ first three seasons, Concordia has swept GPAC regular season and postseason titles each year and has advanced to at least the national semifinals in each instance. The overall record for the program during that time is 105-8.
From the NAIA release:
Philomena “Philly” Lammers, a women’s basketball student-athlete at Concordia University, has been a standout on the court as well as in the classroom. The Omaha, Nebraska, native has maintained a 3.86 GPA majoring in biology and physics with a minor in chemistry. Her outstanding accomplishments on the court are notable, including NAIA First Team All-American and First Team All-Conference, in each of her first three seasons on campus. Most notably, Lammers was named the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Player of the Year after leading her team to the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship in 2019. She is on pace to become the Bulldogs’ all-time leading scorer, already having scored over 1,500 points while leading her team to a 105-8 overall record, three GPAC regular-season championships, three GPAC tournament championships and three semifinal appearances, with one resulting in a national title. Lammers is selfless with her time, takes initiative when she sees an opportunity to contribute and listens to others on their level, which directly impacts their ability to succeed. She is resilient in her convictions, has a strong faith and an admirable work ethic. Lammers truly exemplifies what it means to be a leader and has garnered the respect and admiration of many.