2020-21 Women's Basketball Schedule/Results
22-9 overall | 17-5 GPAC (2nd) | Season Stats | Roster
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time/Result | Record |
| 21st annual Cattle Classic: Nov. 5-7 | ||||
| Nov. 5 | Dakota State University (S.D.) | Seward, Neb. | L, 82-94 | 0-1 |
| Nov. 7 | (20) Carroll College (Mont.) | Seward, Neb. | L, 66-73 | 0-2 |
| Nov. 10 | *Midland University | Seward, Neb. | L, 79-91 | 0-3, 0-1 |
| Nov. 14 | *Northwestern College | Seward, Neb. | W, 83-72 | 1-3, 1-1 |
| Nov. 16 | Peru State College | Peru, Neb. | W, 80-58 | 2-3 |
| Nov. 18 | *Doane University | Crete, Neb. | W, 111-52 | 3-3, 2-1 |
| Nov. 21 | *(8) Dordt University | Seward, Neb. | W, 73-62 | 4-3, 3-1 |
| Nov. 24 | *College of Saint Mary | Omaha, Neb. | W, 99-47 | 5-3, 4-1 |
| Dec. 2 | *Hastings College | Hastings, Neb. | W, 73-66 | 6-3, 5-1 |
| Dec. 5 | *Briar Cliff University | Sioux City, Iowa | L, 59-69 | 6-4, 5-2 |
| Dec. 12 | *(24) Morningside College | Sioux City, Iowa | L, 67-86 | 6-5, 5-3 |
| Dec. 15 | *Midland University | Fremont, Neb. | W, 67-59 | 7-5, 6-3 |
| Dec. 18 | *University of Jamestown | Jamestown, N.D. | W, 55-50 | 8-5, 7-3 |
| Dec. 30 | *Mount Marty University (originally 12/9) | Seward, Neb. | W, 98-53 | 9-5, 8-3 |
| Jan. 2 | *Northwestern College | Orange City, Iowa | W, 81-76 | 10-5, 9-3 |
| Jan. 6 | *Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell, S.D. | L, 80-85 | 10-6, 9-4 |
| Jan. 9 | *University of Jamestown | Seward, Neb. | W, 67-61 | 11-6, 10-4 |
| Jan. 13 | *Mount Marty University | Yankton, S.D. | W, 94-62 | 12-6, 11-4 |
| Jan. 16 | *(11) Morningside College | Seward, Neb. | L, 64-66 | 12-7, 11-5 |
| Jan. 23 | *Briar Cliff University | Seward, Neb. | W, 65-59 | 13-7, 12-5 |
| Jan. 28 | *College of Saint Mary | Seward, Neb. | W, 111-52 | 14-7, 13-5 |
| CIT: scheduled for Jan. 29-20 (Canceled) | ||||
| Feb. 3 | *Dordt University | Sioux Center, Iowa | W, 77-71 | 15-7, 14-5 |
| Feb. 6 | *Dakota Wesleyan University | Seward, Neb. | W, 76-69 | 16-7, 15-5 |
| Feb. 10 | *Hastings College | Seward, Neb. | W, 79-64 | 17-7, 16-5 |
| Feb. 20 | *Doane University | Seward, Neb. | W, 98-57 | 18-7, 17-5 |
| GPAC Tournament: Feb. 24, 27, March 2 | ||||
| Feb. 24 | Dakota Wesleyan (GPAC Quarterfinals) | Seward, Neb. | W, 70-58 | 19-7 |
| Feb. 27 | Northwestern (GPAC Semifinals) | Seward, Neb. | W, 83-70 | 20-7 |
| March 2 | (7) Morningside (GPAC Championship Game) | Sioux City, Iowa | L, 65-67 | 20-8 |
| NAIA National Tournament | ||||
| March 13 | (19) Loyola University New Orleans (Opening Rd) | Park City, Kan. | W, 71-54 | 21-8 |
| March 19 | (4) Marian University (Ind.) | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 73-67 | 22-8 |
| March 20 | (5) Morningside College | Sioux City, Iowa | L, 67-83 | 22-9 |
2020-21 Roster
| No. | Varsity Roster | Pos. | Ht. | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| 2 | Bailey Conrad | G | 5-6 | Fr. | Tea, S.D. | Tea Area HS |
| 3 | Averie Lambrecht | G | 5-8 | So. | Eagle, Neb. | Waverly HS |
| 4 | Taysha Rushton | G | 5-4 | Fr. | Lubbock, Texas | Monterey HS |
| 5 | Taylor Cockerill | G | 5-9 | Jr. | Waverly, Neb. | Waverly HS |
| 11 | Kayla Luebbe | F | 6-1 | So. | Bee, Neb. | Seward HS |
| 12 | Mackenzie Toomey | G | 5-8 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southeast HS |
| 13 | Rebecca Higgins | F | 5-11 | RS-Jr. | Thedford, Neb. | Thedford HS |
| 14 | Chloe Schumacher | F | 6-2 | Jr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Malcolm HS |
| 15 | Taylor Farrell | G | 5-7 | So. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard West HS |
| 21 | Mackenzie Koepke | G | 6-1 | Jr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS |
| 25 | Rylee Pauli | F | 5-10 | Jr. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard South HS |
| 34 | Faith Troshynski | F | 5-10 | Sr. | Manson, Iowa | NW Webster HS / Briar Cliff |
| 35 | Sadie Powell | F | 6-0 | Fr. | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | John F. Kennedy HS |
| 55 | Abby Aplaca | G | 5-8 | Sr. | Waipahu, Hawaii | Punahou / Concordia-Portland |
| No. | Junior Varsity Roster | Pos. | Ht. | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| 5 | Taryn Tracy | G | 5-5 | Fr. | Hickman, Neb. | Norris HS |
| 10 | Brynna Bruxellas | G | 5-8 | Fr. | Falls City, Neb. | Falls City HS |
| 11 | Jayla Policky | G | 5-6 | Fr. | Milford, Neb. | Milford HS |
| 12 | Hanna Spearman | G | 5-8 | Fr. | Gretna, Neb. | Gretna HS |
| 20 | Skylar Kreifels | F | 5-9 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln East HS |
| 24 | Carolyn Esh | G | 5-6 | Fr. | Loveland, Colo. | Home Schooled |
| 30 | Matti Bannister | G | 5-9 | Fr. | Fort Collins, Colo. | Poudre HS / Adams State Univ. |
| 32 | Kendal Brigham | G | 5-4 | Fr. | Wahoo, Neb. | Wahoo HS |
| 32 | Lydia Dose | G | 5-7 | Fr. | Hampton, Neb. | Hampton HS |
| 34 | Rachel Smith | F | 5-10 | Fr. | Earlham, Iowa | Earlham HS |
| 42 | Kayla Luebbe | F | 6-1 | So. | Bee, Neb. | Seward HS |
| 55 | Elayne Poppe | G | 5-7 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS |
| Managers | Ht. | Year | Hometown | Previous School | ||
| Emily Jones | 5-6 | Sr. | Benkelman, Neb. | Dundy County-Stratton HS | ||
| Courtney Merryweather | 5-11 | Jr. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard West HS |
STAFF
Drew Olson, Head Coach (15th Year)
Tae'lor Purdy-Korell, Assistant Coach
Kaitlyn Hodgins, Graduate Assistant Coach
Following lost 2019-20 season, Cockerill returns in starring role
Sep. 25, 2020
The 2019-20 Concordia University Women’s Basketball team rolled to a 32-2 overall record, a sweep of GPAC championships and a ranking of No. 1 in the final NAIA Division II poll. Now imagine how incredible that same squad might have been had Waverly High School product Taylor Cockerill not suffered a season-ending injury in the double overtime exhibition loss at Creighton last October. Cockerill spent the rest of the winter on the sidelines and watched as All-Americans Grace Barry and Philly Lammers did their thing.
Gone are Barry, Lammers and the rest of a historic senior class that played a major role in the 2019 national championship run. The return of Cockerill comes at a good time. A signature 40-point outing to open her sophomore season and a 19-point fourth quarter in the 2019 national tournament round of 16 provide all the necessary evidence. Cockerill has serious game.
The only question entering 2020-21 pertains to how Cockerill responds to major knee surgery and an offseason of rebuilding confidence in that knee. Said Cockerill, “It was definitely tough having to sit out and going through the whole (rehab) process physically and mentally. It was a lot easier though because of the teammates I had. They were always there and so supportive. They kept me involved and they did amazing last year.”
Cockerill led the 2018-19 national championship team in scoring at 15.4 points per game and will enter this season as the top option on the offensive end. The up-tempo, high-pressure style employed by Head Coach Drew Olson tends to lead to a balanced attack, but there’s no questioning the importance of Cockerill to this team. She’s the type of player that will draw the most attention from opposing coaches who scout the Bulldogs.
The All-American guard shrugs off that notion in saying, “I don’t know about that.” But Olson has already witnessed the ways in which Cockerill has raised the level of the entire team during preseason workouts. “I see her being just as effective (as she was before the injury),” Olson said. “You can see it with her leadership on the team. That’s a big part of her role this year. Now that she’s back you can see how the team rallies around her. It takes time to get back completely, but she’s still got that explosiveness and first-step quickness. She’s as strong as ever. She’s very close (to regaining her form).”
By Olson’s estimation, Cockerill is operating at about 90 percent of the optimum level she showed when she burned Indiana Wesleyan for 40 points in the 2018-19 opener. She’s a pure scorer who can light it up from all over the floor. She is also a pest within that Concordia gnats-at-a-picnic defense. Watching Cockerill play the game is a hoot.
Some fans might recall her layup in the national championship game in which she managed to blindly whirl the ball over a 6-foot-6 defender and into the basket. At the close of the third quarter, Cockerill drained a trey from well beyond the arc to push the advantage to nine heading into the final quarter. On the grandest of stages, Cockerill had no fear. Over 75 career collegiate games, she has poured in 918 points and has swiped 123 steals while shooting 36.6 percent from beyond the arc. Can the do-it-all guard do it all this winter?
“It’s definitely been a process each and every day,” Cockerill said. “There are some good days and some bad days. When you’re surrounded by your teammates, they push you every day. You want to be better for them and for the school. I have to keep looking forward and know that I’m going to be fine.”
Cockerill is a big reason for the feeling of excitement and optimism within the program. Of course outsiders are going to expect the Bulldogs to take a step back considering all the talent that graduated this past May. That’s what makes this an anticipated challenge and something fresh and new. Cockerill and junior Mackenzie Koepke are the lone returners with extensive starting experience.
In the past, Cockerill could look up to Barry, Lammers, Quinn Wragge and those in the classes above her. Now a younger roster looks up to her. It’s a new responsibility for Cockerill, a coach’s daughter, a former all-state award winner and a consistently high academic achiever (biology major).
“It’s definitely exciting,” Cockerill said of her evolving role. “Each year comes with new challenges. I think we’ll keep pushing like we’ve done in the past. Tradition never graduates. I don’t feel a burden. It will be different, but I’m not nervous. I’m just excited to play.”
When asked about repeating as conference champions for a fifth-straight year, Cockerill laughs. She’s not ready to go there or make any predictions. However, the goals and the expectations no longer have to be spoken. When you come to play basketball at Concordia, you expect to win and you expect the accomplishments to come from a team effort stemming from a belief in each other. Their discipline within the system that Olson runs takes things to a whole other level.
TC (as she’s known inside the program) just wants to be a contributor to Concordia’s success. Without seeking it, Cockerill figures to grab the spotlight this coming season. When the game is on the line, the ball will likely be hers.
Says Olson, “TC is the one voice that is going to really get after people and hold people accountable. I also think she’s going to do a really good job of empowering our younger players to also be that voice. That’s just going to take time.”
It may also require just a bit of time for Cockerill to return to the type of player everyone saw in the national championship game a year-and-a-half ago. Roughly 11 months ago, Cockerill went down in pain on the floor at Sokol Arena in Omaha. At the time, Concordia led Creighton by 11 points in the third quarter.
Now a healthy Cockerill is ready to write a new chapter. Consider this the second act in her Bulldog Basketball career. Official practice begins Tuesday (Sept. 28) in preparation for Olson’s 15th season leading the program.
Says Cockerill, “We’re still getting to know each other on and off the court. It’s been hard with everything going on, but I’m just excited to see what happens. We really don’t know. It’s about building those relationships. I just really love being around this team.”
Women's basketball schedule reconfigured with 25 regular-season games
Oct. 9, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Athletic Department and the women’s basketball program have recently made adjustments to the 2020-21 Concordia University Women’s Basketball schedule. The varsity regular season has been capped at 25 games. While the Concordia Invitational Tournament was cut from the slate, the annual Cattle Classic has been preserved.
To view the updated Women’s Basketball schedule, click HERE. Below is a summary of the updates that have been made in recent weeks.
· 25 varsity regular season games (22 GPAC, 3 nonconference)
· CIT 2021 has been canceled; CUNE will host the event in 2022.
· Two adjustments were announced on Friday (Oct. 9) for road contests (at Midland and at Jamestown) within the GPAC. Those changes are reflected on the website schedule.
· A junior varsity schedule has been released. That schedule is also available on the women’s basketball schedule page.
Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online via our HomeTown Ticketing web page: https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets. Online purchases guarantee admission into that specific game. Tickets will also be sold on site, provided capacity limits have not been reached via online sales.
Prior to departing for a game, fans should check the website for the latest schedule updates. It is also strongly encouraged for traveling fans to take note of protocols at each away venue. As a GPAC institution, Concordia requires face coverings for all fans in attendance.
Reigning champs begin 2020-21 ranked second in GPAC, 11th nationally
Oct. 14, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – Winners of each of the past four GPAC regular-season and postseason championships, and the 2019 NAIA Division II national championship, the Concordia University Women’s Basketball program will not begin 2020-21 as the preseason conference favorite. In polls released on Wednesday (Oct. 14), the Bulldogs were placed at No. 2 in the GPAC and at No. 11 in the NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. NAIA basketball has moved to one division for 2020-21.
In the 2020-21 GPAC Preseason Poll, Concordia garnered five first-place votes and 110 total points. That put it just behind Dordt, which received six first-place votes and 113 points. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad just missed the national top 10 while generating 413 points. The Bulldogs had been the GPAC preseason favorite in each of the previous three seasons (2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20). Olson’s program completed the past two seasons as the No. 1-ranked team in NAIA Division II. The NAIA used a two-division format for basketball from the 1991-92 through 2019-20 seasons.
Now entering his 15th season as head coach, Olson is tasked with replacing a decorated senior class that featured All-Americans Grace Barry and Philly Lammers as well as fellow starters in Colby Duvel and Riley Sibbel. Fortunately, Taylor Cockerill (leading scorer from the national championship season) has returned from injury and the Bulldogs also welcome back second team All-GPAC performer Mackenzie Koepke.
Among former NAIA Division II members, Concordia is ranked fourth nationally behind No. 3 Marian (Ind.), No. 7 Southeastern (Fla.) and No. 8 Dordt. Former NAIA Division I squads Westmont (Calif.) and Wayland Baptist (Texas) hold down the Nos. 1 and 2 spots in the national rankings. Morningside (ranked 24th) joined Dordt and Concordia as GPAC schools appearing in the top 25.
The Bulldogs are slated to open their season at the annual Cattle Classic set to run Nov. 6-7 inside Walz Arena. The two opponents will be Carroll College (Mont.) and Bellevue University.
Season Preview: 2020-21 Concordia Women's Basketball
Oct. 16, 2020
2019-20 Record: 32-2 overall, 21-1 GPAC (1st); GPAC regular season and tournament champs.
Head Coach: Drew Olson (385-98, 14 years; 12 national tournament appearances; 12 GPAC regular season/tournament titles; 5 national semifinal advancements, including two runners up; 2019 national champions).
Returning Starters: G Taylor Cockerill (Jr.); G Mackenzie Koepke (Jr.).
Other Key Returners: G Taylor Farrell (So.); Rebecca Higgins (Jr.); G Averie Lambrecht (So.); F Rylee Pauli (Jr.); F Chloe Schumacher (Jr.).
Key Losses: G Grace Barry; F Claire Cornell; F Colby Duvel; G MacKenzie Helman; F Philly Lammers; G Riley Sibbel; F Taryn Schuette.
2019-20 GPAC All-Conference: Grace Barry (First Team); Philly Lammers (First Team; Defensive Player of the Year); Mackenzie Koepke (Second Team); Colby Duvel (Honorable Mention); MacKenzie Helman (Honorable Mention); Riley Sibbel (Honorable Mention).
2019-20 NAIA All-Americans: Philly Lammers (First Team); Grace Barry (Second Team).
Outlook
Fans of the Bulldogs may need their roster sheets handy when the 2020-21 Concordia University Women’s Basketball season tips off. A revamped varsity roster includes five freshmen and a now-eligible transfer (via Briar Cliff). Yes, All-Americans Grace Barry and Philly Lammers and four additional impact seniors from the 2019-20 team have graduated. No, that does not mean this program is starting from scratch.
Every program in the country, at any level, would be hard-pressed to achieve what Lammers and company did over the past four years, which included eight total GPAC titles and a national championship (three national semifinal appearances). The run with that particular class may be over, but there’s just as much excitement about what’s next. This year brings a new challenge for Head Coach Drew Olson, who enters his 15th season at the helm.
“I’m very motivated to prove that we can keep being as successful as we’ve been,” Olson said. “It’s a really talented group and it’s fun to have so many younger players to teach and mold. I think that’s a fun challenge for us.”
The team chose “One Heart” (theme verse of Romans 15:5-6) as its motto for this season. It’s a theme that emphasizes team over individual (“with one mind and one voice”), something Bulldog Basketball has always been about. It’s that type of healthy mindset that helped spur Concordia to No. 1 NAIA Division II national rankings at the close of both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. In the familiar system that Olson has used to near perfection, the Bulldogs hit their opponents hard with wave after wave of athleticism while pushing the tempo.
At the top of Concordia’s list of athletes is Taylor Cockerill, who is back after a knee injury sidelined her for the entirety of the 2019-20 campaign. Lest we forget, Cockerill led the national championship team in scoring (15.4 ppg) and has the ability to be one of the most dynamic guards in the nation. Among other top returners, 6-foot-1 junior Mackenzie Koepke (8.2 ppg in 2019-20) moved into a starting role last season and should only get better.
Veterans like Cockerill and Koepke have experienced a lot of winning and they don’t plan on that changing. “We miss them and they were a huge part of this program,” Koepke says of the 2019-20 senior class. “What they accomplished in their four years was incredible. Even though they’re gone, there’s that standard. We have the phrase, ‘tradition never graduates,’ and we talk about that. The legacy they left isn’t gone. The expectation of being as excellent as they are is still there.”
Everywhere the Bulldogs go, their reputation precedes them. On the surface, it might sound odd that Concordia is ‘only’ ranked second in the GPAC preseason poll and ‘only’ ranked 11th in the NAIA national poll. The runner-up placement inside the conference likely has something to do with the firepower Dordt returns and the aforementioned departures from the Bulldog roster. For a change, Concordia can kind of, sort of play the underdog card.
It would be unwise to take a team lightly that features someone of Cockerill’s ilk. As a sophomore, Cockerill turned in a 40-point game and a 19-point fourth quarter in a national tournament game. She’s big time. “She’s a huge part of our team this year,” Olson said. “I think the team is going to be a reflection of her. When she’s confident and playing well, everybody’s going to rally around that. She knows that she’s got to be the vocal leader on the team and I think she’s very capable of that. She’s ready to have that challenge.”
Cockerill (a junior in terms of eligibility) is technically part of a very small senior class. Meanwhile, there are four members in the junior class, which is headlined by Koepke. The Lincoln Lutheran alum has drained 130 3-point field goals over two seasons. Her length is a major strength on both ends of the floor. The class also includes Rebecca Higgins, Rylee Pauli and Chloe Schumacher. All three averaged right around 4.0 points per game last season. Pauli could very well wind up leading the team in rebounding.
Faith Troshynski has never suited up for the Bulldogs, but she actually has played in more college games than anyone on the current roster. Her arrival gives Concordia another perimeter scoring threat. In three seasons (93 games) at Briar Cliff, Troshynski averaged 6.3 points and shot 34.4 percent from 3-point range. Says Olson, “What she brings is that maturity and leadership. She gives us a calming presence just because of the experience she has.”
Still relatively inexperienced, sophomores Taylor “Willy” Farrell and Averie Lambrecht should factor into the rotation once again. Farrell missed time last season due to an injury that occurred at CIT, but she had already proven herself as a sharp shooter. Farrell sank 31-of-61 tries from 3-point range as a freshman. In sum, that adds up to eight players who understand what it’s like to go up against GPAC competition.
Then there are the freshmen. The point guard role held down by Amazing Grace over the past two seasons may be handed to a rookie – or even multiple rookies. The freshman class is deep in speed, quickness and 3-point shooting. The name Taysha Rushton (Lubbock, Texas) will become a familiar one to followers of the program. Tantalizing would be an appropriate word to describe her potential within a system that suits her skills extremely well. Also watch out for the likes of guards Kendal Brigham (Wahoo, Neb.) and Bailey Conrad (Tea, S.D.).
“It’s a really talented group,” Olson said. “They have a lot of toughness and fight in them, but they have to get that experience. I think that’s why they rely so heavily on TC to be that presence and give them that confidence to be out there. There are several of them that are going to make some huge impacts on our team this year.”
Considering the new faces and evolving roles for returners, there certainly are plenty of unknowns. The dynamic of the NAIA shifting to one division for basketball also means the road to a national championship has more obstacles. In this new NAIA basketball world, are the Bulldogs a top 25, top 10 or top five team?
That’s going to be settled on the court. No matter the opponent, Olson’s program has never been one to back down. (Some might recall the double overtime game last season at Creighton). Says Koepke, “I feel like our team is maybe underestimated a little bit just because that great class has graduated. I just know that our team works well together and all the girls work hard. We’re here to prove that we are just as good as years past.”
In the national poll released this week, Concordia landed behind three former NAIA Division II members in No. 3 Marian (Ind.), No. 7 Southeastern (Fla.) and No. 8 Dordt. There is always a certain level of guesswork that goes into formulating a preseason poll.
“The preseason rankings – I don’t take a whole lot of stock in those,” Olson said. “Just because all of the unknowns. It’s even more (unknown) because of the one division and because some teams won’t even play early on (due to COVID-19 restrictions at conference/school levels). I think we are viewed a little bit differently and it gives us a lot of motivation. We’re excited to prove that we’re still Concordia. We’re still going to be a tough out.”
The Bulldogs are slated to open up the 2020-21 season at the annual Cattle Classic set for Nov. 6-7. The opponents will be Carroll College (Mont.) and Bellevue University.
Bulldog women’s basketball opens season ranked No. 5 nationally
Oct. 29, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – For the 27th-straight national poll, Concordia women’s basketball finds itself ranked among the top 25 teams in NAIA Division II. The Bulldogs checked in at No. 5 in the 2013-14 coaches’ preseason poll, released on Tuesday afternoon by the NAIA.
Head coach Drew Olson’s program is no stranger to lofty national rankings having appeared in the top 10 of each of the last 26 polls. Concordia held the No. 1 ranking in the first four coaches’ polls of the 2012-13 season before ultimately finishing at No. 9. Last season’s run at the top of the rankings marked the Bulldogs’ first appearance at No. 1 since the 2002-03 season when Concordia reigned first for the final nine polls entering the national tournament.
The program’s highest final ranking under Olson came following the 2011-12 GPAC championship campaign when Concordia was placed at No. 3. The Bulldogs reached the national semifinals in Sioux City, Iowa, that March.
Led by senior Kristen Conahan, Concordia will face significant challenges early this season with games against No. 17 Grand View University (Nov. 2), No. 23 College of Saint Mary (Nov. 5), No. 10 University of Jamestown (Nov. 8), No. 3 Morningside (Nov. 16) and No. 12 Briar Cliff (Nov. 23) all on the docket for November.
Concordia is scheduled to play a total of 10 games against teams ranked in the preseason poll. Bethel University (Tenn.), Concordia’s opponent on Dec. 30 in San Antonio, Texas, garnered a No. 16 ranking the NAIA Division I preseason rankings.
Morris leads Concordia back from 15-point deficit at No. 17 Grand View
Nov. 2, 2020
DES MOINES, Iowa – There are few situations that will faze seasoned veterans like Concordia star guards Bailey Morris and Kristen Conahan. Facing a 15-point hole on the road against a nationally-ranked opponent, the Bulldogs stormed back for an 87-82 victory over No. 17 Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday evening. That give the Bulldogs a perfect 2-0 season-opening weekend at the Grand View Classic.
“I called timeout when we were down 15 and got after them pretty good,” head coach Drew Olson said. “I said we needed to cut it to eight by halftime and we did that. Then we came out of the gates and exploded.
“Grand View is a really good basketball team. Our kids are tough. They’ve been in situations like that before. They showed a lot of character again tonight.”
Morris, named the Grand View Classic MVP, got four of her game high 23 points in a 22-second stretch in the final three minutes to tie the game at 76. With the 5-foot-4 native of Roseland, Neb., leading the charge and directing the offense, the Bulldogs were not going to be denied on this night.
“In the first two games she’s been the definition of a bulldog,” Olson said. “She’s relentless. She’s fearless. She really led our team.”
Concordia did not take the lead for good until freshman Becky Mueller stepped up and drilled a 3-pointer to break the 76-all tie. Appropriately, Morris assisted on the Mueller trey that highlighted the Bulldogs’ 15-6 run to close the game.
Morris also got a hand from her running mate, Conahan, who returned to the lineup after sitting out Friday’s win over Mount Mercy due to injury. Despite being somewhat limited in her movements, the Omaha native poured in 21 points and made 5 of 11 attempts from downtown while playing a team high 33 minutes.
Conahan was also part of a defensive effort that fueled the comeback. The Bulldogs got on a roll when they tightened the screws on their halfcourt defense and took advantage of the Vikings’ 26 turnovers.
“Our defense always dictates what we do,” Olson said. “We kind of figured out what we needed to do in the halfcourt to take away what they do well. We played much smarter in the second half.”
Grand View (1-1) led by 15 at the 5:51 mark of the first half when Pee Wee Porter’s layup made it 34-19. Concordia chipped away at the deficit and tied the game at 49 on a Mueller layup with 16:33 left in the game. The Vikings would go on one more run before the Bulldogs made their game-winning push.
Junior Jericca Pearson joined Morris on the Grand View Classic all-tournament team. Pearson backed up her 15-point, 13-rebound effort on Friday night with 14 points and four boards on Saturday. Mueller and Tracy Peitz also reached double figures in scoring with 14 and 11 points, respectively. In addition, Peitz contributed seven steals, five rebounds and four assists.
Morris finished with totals of 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists on the weekend.
The Bulldogs face another big early season test on Tuesday when they take their act on the road against No. 23 College of Saint Mary. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. from Omaha, Neb. Last season Concordia defeated the then No. 23 Flames 81-51 inside Walz Arena.
Previewing the 21st annual women’s Cattle Classic
Nov. 3, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – The 21st 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 three 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. Tickets will not be sold online for this particular event.
Fans must also be mindful of current COVID-19 protocols. Face coverings are required for admission into the event. For additional fan information, please visit: https://www.cune.edu/athletics/information-fans.
Live webcasts/stats: Concordia Sports Network
2020 CATTLE CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Thursday, Nov. 5
- Women: Concordia vs. Dakota State University (S.D.), 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 6
- Men: Hastings College vs. Manhattan Christian College (Kan.), 4 p.m.
- Women: Carroll College (Mont.) vs. Dakota State University (S.D.), 6 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. Emmaus Bible College (Iowa), 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 7
- Men: Hastings College vs. Emmaus Bible College (Iowa), 12 p.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. Carroll College (Mont.), 2 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. Manhattan Christian College (Kan.), 4 p.m.
The Women’s Field
Concordia University
Head Coach: Drew Olson, 15th season
2020-21 Record: 0-0
2019-20 Record: 32-2
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Top Player: 5-foot-9 guard Taylor Cockerill returns to the lineup after missing the entire 2019-20 season due to injury. Cockerill paced the 2018-19 national championship team in scoring with an average of 15.4 points per game. The Waverly High School product was named an honorable mention All-American and a first team All-GPAC award winner. Cockerill will grab a lot of the spotlight after Concordia graduated a loaded senior class that included All-Americans Grace Barry and Philly Lammers.
Overview: The Bulldogs are ranked 11th in the NAIA preseason poll as NAIA basketball transitions to one division. Concordia has a lot to learn about itself in the early going as it redefines itself with a new-look varsity roster including five freshmen. Olson and his players are determined to keep the program at an incredibly high level despite the turnover. Cockerill and second team All-GPAC wing Mackenzie Koepke are the most notable returners. They will get a boost from a class of newcomers featuring the likes of freshman guard Taysha Rushton, a native of Lubbock, Texas.
Carroll College
Head Coach: Rachelle Sayers, 10th season
2020-21 Record: 0-0
2019-20 Record: 21-10
Conference: Frontier Conference
Location: Helena, Montana
Top Player: Christine Denny averaged 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season while being named a second team All-American. The senior point guard shot 43.0 percent from the field and 76.7 percent from the foul line in 2019-20. Denny has scored 862 points in her collegiate career.
Overview: The favorite to repeat as Frontier Conference champions, the Saints begin this season ranked 20th in the NAIA. It will be the season opener for both teams when Carroll meets Concordia in Friday’s Cattle Classic battle. Denny teams up with senior guard Danielle Wagner (team high 13.4 ppg last season) as a dynamic duo. Head Coach Rachelle Sayers’ squad plays a style that will contrast with the Bulldogs. Last season, Carroll scored an average of 66.7 points per game while allowing 57.2 per outing (ninth in NAIA Division II in scoring defense).
Dakota State University
Head Coach: David Moe, 4th season
2020-21 Record: 0-1
2019-20 Record: 17-14
Conference: North Star Athletic Association
Location: Madison, South Dakota
Top Player: Junior guard Jessi Giles garnered honorable mention All-America accolades last season while averaging 13.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. She shot 38.7 percent from 3-point range. The 5-foot-10 native of Madison, S.D., has accumulated 833 points in her collegiate career.
Overview: The Trojans appeared at No. 2 in the North Star Athletic Association preseason poll after a 17-14 campaign in 2019-20. It was a massive improvement from the previous season when Dakota State went 4-25. The Cattle Classic will be part of a challenging early-season slate for Head Coach David Moe’s squad, which will also play Dordt and Northwestern in the first couple weeks of November. The Trojans will bring a familiar face to Seward in former Bulldog Elsie Aslesen, who started the team’s season opener and tallied 15 points.
Cockerill pours in 33; 11th-ranked Bulldogs fall in opener
Nov. 5, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – More than anything, the past few days have seemed to prove that Dakota State University is quite good. Just two days after a victory over eighth-ranked Dordt, the Trojans spoiled the season opener for the 11th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team. The North Star Athletic Association member emerged from the first game of the 21st annual Cattle Classic with a 94-82 victory on Thursday (Nov. 5).
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson debuted a team that looks a whole lot different than the one that ended the 2019-20 season ranked No. 1 in NAIA Division II. Three freshmen got the nod in a starting lineup that was 100 percent different from the group that took the court in the final game of last season.
Said Olson, “Our team is so young and we have to learn and grow. We want to be challenged so we can figure out what we need to be better at. I think tonight was a good thing for that.”
Let’s start with the good. If Taylor Cockerill isn’t all the way back from the knee injury that sidelined her for 2019-20, then she’s pretty close. Cockerill had been waiting more than a year to get return to the court – and she played like it. The Waverly High School product finished with 33 points (16-for-22 from the foul line), a career high 14 rebounds and four steals. Cockerill’s tenacity on the floor will set the tone for this young squad.
It was certainly a tough assignment in game No. 1. Dakota State (2-1) boasts a star of its own in Jessi Giles, who went wild for 30 points on 10-for-18 shooting from the floor. Giles and company turned a tight game early in the fourth quarter (68-63 Trojan lead with under 8:30 left) into a runaway. Dakota State held the Bulldogs without a field goal for nearly five minutes and took advantage with a 19-6 run.
As Olson pointed out, it’s always going to be a challenge to win when your side commits 28 turnovers and shoots 9-for-40 from 3-point range, as Concordia did. On the other end, the Trojans (2-1) shot 48.3 percent (29-for-60) from the floor and 45.5 percent (10-for-22) from 3-point range. Dakota State is turning some heads in the early going.
“I thought Dakota State played really well,” Olson said. “Defensively they were tough and caused us to get a little bit out of rhythm. Bottom line is we have to make shots and you can’t turn the ball over. Defensively we were okay at times – the foul trouble really hurt us … We have to be more disciplined.”
Cockerill was joined in the starting lineup by junior Rylee Pauli and freshmen Kendal Brigham, Bailey Conrad and Taysha Rushton. Rushton (11) and Conrad (10) both reached double figures in scoring. So too did Taylor Farrell (10) off the bench. Three Bulldogs wound up fouling out, cutting into the team’s frontcourt depth.
Former Bulldog Elsie Aslesen made her presence felt as a new member of the Trojans. She put up 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots. Dakota State also got 14 points off the bench from Savannah Walsdorf and Lexi Robson dished out eight assists. The visitors did fall victim to Concordia’s pressure at times (25 turnovers), but made up for it with hot shooting.
Beating the Bulldogs on their home floor is a big deal. The senior class that just departed after the 2019-20 season went a combined 63-1 inside Walz over four seasons.
As part of the revised Cattle Classic schedule, Concordia will have Friday off before hosting 20th-ranked Carroll College (Mont.) at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday. The Saints will be opening up their season in Seward.
No. 20 Carroll sinks 11th-ranked Concordia at Cattle Classic
Nov. 7, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – A young Concordia University Women’s Basketball team did not have the opportunity to simply ease into the 2020-21 season. Two days after being beaten by Dakota State University, the 11th-ranked Bulldogs fell at the hands of 20th-ranked Carroll College (Mont.), 73-66. The Fighting Saints ended the game on a 10-3 run to break a tie in the latter stages of the contest.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad went 0-2 at the 21st annual Cattle Classic. There should be plenty of lessons to be learned by opening up the season against two quality nonconference foes.
“We played two really good teams this weekend, both of them with a lot of experience on their rosters,” Olson said. “They’re well-disciplined and defensively very solid. I was really proud of our team as far as the fight we had today. We’re just not there yet with doing the little things. We aren’t capitalizing on our opponents’ mistakes as well as we need to. We have to execute better and shoot a lot better.”
There were times in both Cattle Classic games in which it looked like star guard Taylor Cockerill might just will Concordia to victory. She put home 12 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter on Saturday afternoon. Cockerill capped a 15-2 run with a three-point play at the 2:58 mark. In less than two-and-a-half minutes, the Bulldogs turned a 13-point deficit into a tie ballgame.
Perhaps as the season goes on, Concordia will make the plays down the stretch to win a nail-biter like this one. Carroll’s Jaidyn Lyman delivered the biggest shot of the game when she nailed a trey after an offensive rebound. The Saints led 68-64 with just over a minute to go. On the other end, the Bulldogs couldn’t buy a bucket down the stretch.
Three players did most of the offensive damage for Carroll (2-0), which also beat Dakota State on Friday. The Saints were paced by the scoring of Jamie Pickens (23), Danielle Wagner (17) and Christine Denny (12). A transfer from the University of Montana, Pickens also grabbed nine rebounds. While up against the Concordia pressure, the Saints limited their turnovers to a count of 20.
Cockerill (974 career points) totaled 56 points and 19 rebounds over the weekend’s two games and was named All-Cattle Classic. Taysha Rushton (13) and Taylor Farrell (10) also reached double figures in scoring on Saturday. After sitting out the season opener, junior Mackenzie Koepke returned to the lineup and added six points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. Rylee Pauli led the team with eight rebounds.
“TC is back,” Olson said. “It showed what an incredible competitor and what an incredible player she is. That was awesome to see … As a team, I thought we played a little bit smarter (compared to Thursday). We’re doing some things really well. I thought Averie (Lambrecht) played really well defensively.”
GPAC play will open up on Tuesday when Midland (3-0) visits Friedrich Arena for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff. The Warriors last played on Oct. 31 when they rallied back from a double-digit deficit to defeat Bellevue University, 77-69. Midland landed at No. 9 in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll.
All-Cattle Classic Women’s Basketball Team
Taylor Cockerill, Concordia
Christine Denny, Carroll
Jessie Giles, Dakota State
Jamie Pickens, Carroll
Taysha Rushton, Concordia
Frantic late rally comes up short in top 10 showdown
Nov. 8, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – After busting out of the gates with a 15-4 lead, No. 5 Concordia relinquished the advantage before halftime and struggled defensively for the early part of the second half on the way to a 77-74 loss to No. 10 Jamestown (N.D.) on Friday night. Led by hot-shooting point guard Hannah Steele, the Jimmies spoiled day one of the 14th annual Cattle Classic for Drew Olson’s Bulldogs. The loss dropped Concordia to 3-1 on the season.
“It’s a tough loss,” Olson said. “I’m really proud of our kids to battle back. I’m told them the last seven minutes is how we need to play. We had a great focus defensively. We just kept grinding, one possession at a time.
“Jamestown’s a great team and it was a great basketball game.”
After trailing by as many as 16 points, the Bulldogs had a final possession with a chance to tie if they could knock down a trey. Junior guard Tracy Peitz opted for a drive to the bucket but couldn’t get the heavily guarded layup to drop with under five seconds remaining. Jamestown’s Jordan Bridges came down with the rebound and the Jimmies secured the road victory.
“It’s good to play teams like that early on and see what you’re made of,” Olson said. “Hopefully we can learn from it.”
Jamestown hung on for the win despite going scoreless over the final 4:58 of game time. Concordia ended the game on an 11-0 run with six of those points coming from junior Kelsey Hizer. Fellow junior Bailey Morris’ layup with 1:01 left proved to be the final points of the contest.
Concordia enjoyed early success with juniors Jericca Pearson and Peitz getting easy buckets down low. Peitz capped Concordia’s 15-4 game-opening spurt by blowing past her defender for a layup. Following a familiar script, Concordia smothered its opponent the length of the court defensively and translated turnovers into points to build the lead.
That’s when Steele went to work. She finished with a game high-tying 19 points fueled by 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range. She nailed three triples in the first 10 minutes of play. Steele eventually fouled out with 2:25 remaining in the game.
Jamestown took its first lead at 34-32 late in the first half with a Chelsey Frydenlund baseline jumper. Concordia responded soon after, regaining the lead when Hizer hauled in an offensive rebound and laid the ball in the bucket. The Jimmies would go on a run to take a 42-39 lead to the half.
Pearson had a big night on the glass with 15 rebounds to go along with her 13 points. The native of Gibbon, Neb., already has two double-doubles this season and is averaging 15.0 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Peitz led the team with 18 points. Morris added 17 and senior Kristen Conahan chipped in 10. Conahan made 2 of 4 attempts from 3-point range. One of her misses came with :37 left with Concordia down three.
Olson felt like a different outcome was possible had his team played a full 40 minutes of solid defense.
“Our focus just wasn’t there defensively (for the entire game),” Olson said. “It took us a little time to figure out what they were doing. Once we did buckle down and play really good in the half court as you saw, we took command of the game. It was just too late.”
The Bulldogs continue play at the Cattle Classic on Saturday when they host Valley City State University (N.D.) at 5 p.m. The Vikings, who received votes in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll, topped Doane, 68-65, on Friday inside Walz Arena.
GPAC play to open with two clashes inside Friedrich Arena
Nov. 9, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – There has been no easing into the 2020-21 season in terms of the quality of opponents faced by the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team. The Bulldogs suffered two rare home losses over the weekend while hosting Dakota State University (S.D.) and No. 20 Carroll College (Mont.) at the annual Cattle Classic. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad will be back inside Friedrich Arena twice this week as Midland and Northwestern visit Seward for the start of GPAC play.
This Week
Tuesday, Nov. 10 vs. Midland (3-0), 6 p.m.
–Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Northwestern (0-2), 2 p.m.
–Live Webcast/Stats
The results at the Cattle Classic were not what Concordia has come to expect, but some growing pains are not unusual for such a youthful team. In game No. 1, Olson started three freshmen: Kendal Brigham, Bailey Conrad and Taysha Rushton. Olson is excited about the potential of all three of those rookies. Rushton showed off some of that potential while scoring a combined 24 points over last week’s two games. It wasn’t just inexperience that surfaced last week. The Bulldogs are confident they will shoot more efficiently from the perimeter (15-for-70 from 3-point range at the Cattle Classic) moving forward.
Concordia may be in the process of redefining itself, but there is no question about who will be the go-to player. Taylor Cockerill made a successful return to the court last week. Her two-game totals included 56 points, 19 rebounds, seven steals and five assists. Cockerill’s 33 points versus Dakota State represented the second-highest single-game total of her career. Cockerill enters this week with 974 career points, putting her 26 away from becoming the program’s 30th member of the 1,000-point club. Cockerill led the 2018-19 national championship team in scoring with an average of 15.4 points per game. Returning starter Mackenzie Koepke averaged 8.2 points last season. She returned to the lineup this past Saturday after missing the season opener.
The back-to-back home losses came after the Bulldogs went 63-1 at home over the 2016-17 through 2019-20 seasons. Olson believes the tough competition in the early going with strengthen his team as the season moves on. In some ways, this 2020-21 season feels a little like 2015-16 after Concordia graduated a loaded senior class that helped the program to a national title game appearance. That ’15-16 squad managed to reach the national tournament with the emergence of then freshman Quinn Wragge. Ranked 11th in the NAIA this preseason, the Bulldogs likely need to get out to a good start in the GPAC in order to remain in the top 25.
Midland is 3-0 with wins over two 2020 NAIA national tournament qualifiers – Bellevue University and Kansas Wesleyan University. Eighth-year Head Coach Shawn Gilbert’s program has hopes of making a leap forward after a 12-19 record in 2019-20. In the most recent outing, the Warriors rallied from a double-digit deficit to win at Bellevue, 77-69, behind 27 points from junior guard Lexis Haase. Midland was picked ninth in the GPAC preseason poll. The program graduated Amanda Hansen (1,364 career points) after last season, but has played well to being the season.
Northwestern has started the season in similar fashion as Concordia. The Red Raiders lost to both Sterling College (Kan.), 78-71, and Grand View University (Iowa), 75-66, while hosting their own classic this past weekend. Tenth-year Head Coach Chris Yaw’s program missed out on the national tournament last season when it went 17-11 overall. Northwestern has been picked to finish fourth in the GPAC. The go-to scorer for the Red Raiders is senior guard Sammy Blum (954 points), who is also nearing 1,000 career points. She has shot 40.7 percent from 3-point range in her career.
In next week’s action, Concordia is slated to play three times – at Peru State College on Nov. 16, at Doane on Nov. 18 and versus No. 8 Dordt on Nov. 21. The contest at Peru State will be the final nonconference matchup of the 2020-21 regular season.
Projected Starters
Concordia (0-2)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (12.0)
G – Kendal Brigham, Fr. (5.5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (28.0)
G – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (6.0)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (4.0)
Midland (3-0)
G – Lexi Kraft, So. (7.7)
G – Lexis Haase, Jr. (14.0)
G – Sam Shepard, Jr. (8.3)
F – Katy Gathje, Sr. (11.3)
F – Makenna Sullivan, Sr. (9.0)
Northwestern (0-2)
G – Sammy Blum, Sr. (15.0)
G – Devyn Kemble, Jr. (6.0)
F – Molly Schany, Fr. (9.0)
F – Alexis Toering, Jr. (9.0)
F – Taylor Vandervelde, Jr. (7.0)
Hot shooting Warriors take out Bulldogs in GPAC opener
Nov. 10, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – Lexis Haase and her Midland teammates took it to the 11th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team on Tuesday (Nov. 10) evening. The Warriors seemingly knocked down every open 3-point shot they found while building a lead as large as 22 points inside Friedrich Arena. Quick-start Midland remained unbeaten in the early going while leaving town with a 91-79 victory.
It’s an odd feeling right now for 15th-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s program, which has dropped three-straight home games to open up the 2020-21 season. On this night, stops were hard to come by. The Warriors went 14-for-26 from long range.
“Midland played well. When they shoot like that, they can beat anybody in the league,” Olson said. “I think we are starting to figure things out about our team. I thought (Mackenzie) Toomey and Faith (Troshynski) gave us a good spark. Becca (Higgins) played well too.”
Seemingly every time the Bulldogs made a push, Haase (game high 24 points) or Kennedy Darner (18 points) buried a perimeter jumper. Those two snipers combined to go 12-for-20 from beyond the arc. Midland (4-0, 1-0 GPAC) also enjoyed success in the post on an evening when it clicked offensively. Its 48.5 percent shooting from the floor (and 13-for-16 effort from the foul line) was more than enough to overcome 19 turnovers.
A positive for Concordia was its higher level of energy and execution after halftime. Senior Faith Troshynski provided a nice lift off the bench with her 11 points. In a third-quarter sequence, Troshynski scored in transition, then stole the ball and dished to Taylor Cockerill for two. The Bulldogs got within 64-50 at the time. However, they were never able to cut the deficit to single digits at any point in the second half.
Freshman Taysha Rushton is only going to get better in the navy and white. She led the way with 23 points to go along with five steals in her 31 minutes of action. For Cockerill (7-for-21 from the floor) it was a bit of a grind, but she posted 17 points and nine rebounds. Toomey (three steals) gave Midland some problems with her length and hustle in the backcourt. Taylor Farrell also added 10 points.
The Warriors look like they could be on track to outperform the outside expectations. Coach Shawn Gilbert rotated only seven players, five of which reached double figures in scoring. Both Haase (24 points, 10 rebounds) and Makenna Sullivan (17 points, 11 rebounds) notched double-doubles. A second quarter splurge (31-16 scoring advantage) staked the visitors to a 53-32 lead at the half. Midland has already defeated three 2020 national tournament qualifiers.
Cockerill’s 17 points moved her career total to 991. The Waverly High School product is averaging 24.3 points and 9.3 rebounds through this season’s first three games.
Concordia will continue home action on Saturday when Northwestern (0-2, 0-0 GPAC) will be in town for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff. It will be the GPAC opener for the Red Raiders, who are slated to host Dakota State University on Wednesday night. Northwestern went 17-11 (12-10 GPAC) last season and missed out on the national tournament.
Cockerill eclipses milestone; Bulldogs earn first W
Nov. 14, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – Two perennially powerful GPAC programs met inside Friedrich Arena on Saturday (Nov. 14) afternoon, both seeking their first wins of the 2020-21 season. The 11th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team rose to the occasion with its best outing yet. The Bulldogs built a lead as large as 22 points, withstood a late push from Northwestern and earned an 83-72 victory.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson saw considerable growth in his team since Tuesday’s loss to Midland. This was the type of confidence builder the young Bulldogs (1-3, 1-1 GPAC) needed.
“I saw a ton (of growth),” Olson said. “We weren’t perfect today, but we were good enough. I love how we started the game with a lot of confidence. Defensively we were really good at times and I like our tempo we played at. Northwestern battled. They really kind of scared us at the end, but I loved that it made our team fight even harder and find ways to win at the end.”
As a pure scorer, slashing guard Taylor Cockerill may go down as one of the best ever at Concordia. The Waverly High School product led the team on Saturday with 25 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor while moving past 1,000 career points (30th player in program history to reach that total). Cockerill is someone the Bulldogs know they can count on as her more youthful teammates continue to develop.
A key area of improvement for Concordia on Saturday was in the turnover department, where it got back to dominating. The Bulldogs forced 23 turnovers while committing only 11. They also shot the ball more efficiently – 41.7 percent (10-for-24) from beyond the arc and 85.0 percent (17-for-20) from the foul line.
After trailing by 19 at the half, Northwestern (0-4, 0-1 GPAC) got back into it with the help of Emilee Danner’s hot shooting stroke (7-for-11 from 3-point range). The Red Raiders got as close as five points (72-67) in the fourth quarter. That’s when Concordia stepped up its game in the clutch. Mackenzie Toomey emerged with two of her five steals in the closing stretch and Rylee Pauli, Cockerill and Taysha Rushton each came through with crucial buckets.
A back-breaking trey by the freshman Rushton with 2:28 remaining pushed the margin back to 10. This was real progress. Said Cockerill, “I think it was super important for us to get this win. We came in focused, ready to play and ready to work together. I think we were just excited to play again … We are pretty young, but we have girls stepping up and hitting big shots. They’re a lot of fun to play with.”
Now a junior, Pauli has taken on a much larger role in the frontcourt. She contributed 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Though Rushton struggled with her shot, she made the big one at the end and notched her first career double-double (11 points and 10 assists). While earning the start, Faith Troshynski knocked in nine points on 3-for-3 3-point shooting. Mackenzie Koepke chipped in with eight points and five rebounds.
Danner went off for 32 points for the visitors. Sammy Blum (10) and Molly Schany (10) also reached double figures for a Northwestern squad that has a different look to it. Red Raiders (38.0 percent shooting as a team) other than Danner were held in check offensively.
Said Olson of Cockerill, “I’m really proud of her. She’s an incredible player and a big-time scorer. Especially this year, we’re going to really rely on her to carry her at times.”
A busy stretch is ahead next week. It will begin on Monday with a nonconference tilt at Peru State College (2-1) with tipoff set for 7 p.m. CT. Visiting fans are not permitted by Peru State.
Defensive pressure wilts Bobcats
Nov. 16, 2020
PERU, Neb. – While making the program’s first trip to Peru, Neb., since 2007, the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team put to use its athleticism and pressure in the process of running away from Peru State College. The Bulldogs forced 24 turnovers and held the Bobcats to just 25.4 percent shooting in an 80-58 victory on Monday (Nov. 16) evening. The Heart of America Athletic Conference member went ice cold after a quick early start.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has earned a shot of confidence with back-to-back victories. Concordia (2-3, 1-1 GPAC) also defeated Northwestern two days earlier.
“I thought our team did a great job of handling adversity,” Olson said. “I felt like any time Peru made a run, we did a really good job of responding with composure and with focus and finding ways to get easy baskets. I was really happy with how we played.”
They may be young, but the Bulldogs can still give opponents fits with the relentlessness and tenacity of their full-court pressure. In one sequence in the second quarter, Concordia pilfered back-to-back steals in the backcourt, leading to back-to-back layups. A dominant second period (21-10 scoring advantage) and the 7-0 run to begin the third quarter put Peru State in a 19-point hole.
The hustle and active defensive play of the Bulldogs helped overshadow their own shooting struggles (5-for-30 from 3-point range). Concordia got sufficient scoring production thanks to four double-digit scorers: Taylor Cockerill (15), Mackenzie Koepke (14), Taylor Farrell (12) and Chloe Schumacher (11). Cockerill (13 rebounds) and Koepke (10 rebounds) both notched double-doubles and Schumacher (eight rebounds) was not far off. Taysha Rushton (nine points, five rebounds, three steals) and Rylee Pauli (seven points, seven rebounds) also contributed significantly.
Schumacher emerged with a timely three-point play to help stamp out Peru State’s hopes of an upset. Koepke (four treys) and Schumacher provided sparks off the bench and a mixture of zone defenses did the trick.
“That was probably our best defensive effort in terms of talking and making sure we don’t lose their best shooters,” Olson said. “We did a really good job rebounding (52-38 advantage) … it’s a little bit different (defensive alignment) than last year. We’re trying to cater to our personnel so we’re doing things a little different. It’s a work-in-progress and it’s going to be a little bit situational.”
The Bobcats (2-2) are an improved squad compared to the one that the Bulldogs saw at home in November 2018. The result in that meeting was a 100-55 Concordia win. After trailing by 19 early in the third quarter on Monday, Peru State managed to whittle its deficit down to 10. The Bulldogs then responded with a game-finishing punch. Bobcat leading scorer Alyssa Marsh-Contreras put up 23 points with most of her production coming from the foul line.
Concordia can be even more dangerous once it combines this type of defensive outing with more efficient shooting. However, the intensity on the defensive end earned Olson’s approval. Elsewhere on the stat sheet, the Bulldogs got the better of the Bobcats in bench points, 43-18, and points in the paint, 40-18.
The Bulldogs will resume GPAC play on Wednesday with a visit to Doane (3-1, 1-0 GPAC) for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff in Crete. Concordia has won eight-straight series matchups, including each of the last four by margins of 40 points or more.
Doane, Dordt up next after back-to-back victories
Nov. 17, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – The growth of a young Concordia University Women’s Basketball team has been evident during a three-day stretch that included wins over both Northwestern and Peru State College. It will be conference play from here on out this 2020-21 regular season. The Bulldogs are readying for a short road trip to Doane on Wednesday before returning home to host eighth-ranked Dordt on Saturday. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad owns an overall record of 2-3.
This Week
(11) Concordia (2-3, 1-1) at Doane (3-1, 1-0)
Wednesday, Nov. 18 | 6 p.m.
Haddix Center | Crete, Neb.
Webcast: Doane YouTube
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
(8) Dordt (2-2, 1-0) at (11) Concordia (2-3, 1-1)
Saturday, Nov. 21 | 2 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Commentator: Brandon Timoney
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 149 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 78.0 (T-40th)
Scoring Defense: 77.6 (118th)
FG% Offense: .365 (T-116th)
FG% Defense: .410 (100th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .247 (118th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .402 (142nd)
Rebound Margin: -2.4 (129th)
Turnover Margin: +4.6 (46th)
Doane
Scoring Offense: 83.0 (T-25th)
Scoring Defense: 69.5 (82nd)
FG% Offense: .436 (T-42nd)
FG% Defense: .370 (T-60th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .338 (T-46th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .289 (T-66th)
Rebound Margin: +5.5 (T-49th)
Turnover Margin: +3.8 (51st)
Dordt
Scoring Offense: 69.0 (T-90th)
Scoring Defense: 70.3 (T-87th)
FG% Offense: .365 (T-116th)
FG% Defense: .408 (99th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .280 (90th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .289 (T-66th)
Rebound Margin: +9.0 (T-31st)
Turnover Margin: -2.0 (T-130th)
Protocols for fans
At Doane: Visiting fans will not be allowed to attend the game at Doane. The athletic department at Doane will re-evaluate this policy prior to the start of the second semester.
Concordia: Concordia University, Nebraska recently updated its fan attendance policies and will allow 25 percent capacity in Friedrich Arena. Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase advance tickets online via HomeTown Ticketing: https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets. Tickets will be sold on site, provided capacity limits have not been reached from online sales. Fans in attendance are required to wear face coverings. For more information on Concordia’s fan protocols, visit: https://www.cune.edu/athletics/information-fans.
Season to date
The Bulldogs began the season with three-straight losses during a challenging stretch that included games against Dakota State University (S.D.), No. 20 Carroll College (Mont.) and Midland. Concordia then rebounded with an 83-72 win over Northwestern. Three Bulldogs reached double figures: Taylor Cockerill (25), Rylee Pauli (15) and Taysha Rushton (11). Over the past two wins, Concordia has had turnover margins of +12 and +7. The Bulldogs have lost three games at home after going 63-1 at home the previous four seasons combined.
Cockerill joins 1,000-point club
Taylor Cockerill became the 30th member of the program’s 1,000-point club when she reached that mark in the second quarter of last week’s win over Northwestern. Cockerill is also the 14th different player during Drew Olson’s tenure to score 1,000 or more points. The Waverly High School native may be one of the top pure scorers in all of the NAIA. She currently ranks 18th nationally with an average of 22.6 points per game. Cockerill’s respective game-by-game scoring totals have been 33, 25, 17, 25 and 15. She’s also averaging 9.2 rebounds per game.
Rotation takes shape
Since halftime of the loss to Midland, Concordia has played at a higher level. The early season has been used to find the most productive lineup combinations. Over the past two games, the starting lineup has featured guards Taylor Cockerill, Averie Lambrecht and Taysha Rushton and forwards Rylee Pauli and Faith Troshynski. Not surprisingly, Cockerill has played the most minutes (32.8 per game). Rushton (28.4) and Pauli (25.0) have also been leaned upon heavily. Rushton is the team’s second leading scorer at 13.4 points per game. The freshman from Lubbock, Texas, has made 17-straight free throws to begin her career.
Scouting Doane
Off to a 3-1 start, Doane has already surpassed its win total from the entire 2019-20 season when it went 2-25 overall (1-21 GPAC). Head Coach Ryan Baumgartner has helped stabilize the program after taking over the position during last season. Since a season opening loss to York College, the Tigers have defeated Peru State, Barclay College (Kan.) and Mount Marty. Doane is in the midst of a six-game home stretch to open up the campaign. Senior forward Haylee Heits (1,094 career points) leads the team with an average of 14.8 points per game.
Scouting Dordt
Dordt brings back one of the most talented and experienced rosters in the GPAC – thus why the Defenders were picked to win the conference. Head Coach Bill Harmsen has led the program to back-to-back national tournament appearances (Dordt had not previously reached the national stage in its history). Senior Erika Feenstra (1,583 career points) has been one of the top players in the GPAC her entire career. She’s currently the team’s third leading scorer behind Bailey Beckman (12.0) and Karly Gustafson (11.8). The Defenders also received a boost from University of Nebraska transfer Ashtyn Veerbeek.
Next Week
Before breaking for Thanksgiving, the Bulldogs will play at College of Saint Mary (1-2, 0-0 GPAC) at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 24. That contest will begin a string of three-straight road games.
Projected Starters
Concordia (2-3, 1-1)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.4)
G – Averie Lambrecht, So. (1.6)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (22.6)
F – Faith Troshynski, Sr. (6.0)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.6)
Doane (3-1, 1-0)
G – Kyla Miller, Fr. (4.8)
G – Olivia Nall, Fr. (10.3)
G – Sydney Roth, So. (12.0)
G - Ashley Teten, So. (13.3)
F – Haylee Heits, Sr. (14.8)
Dordt (2-2, 1-0)
G – Bailey Beckman, So. (12.0)
G – Jordyn Winterfeld, Jr. (2.5)
F – Erika Feenstra, Sr. (10.3)
F – Baylee Tetzlaff, Sr. (5.3)
F – Ashtyn Veerbeek, Jr. (9.5)
Pauli nets career high; Dawgs fleece Tigers
Nov. 18, 2020
CRETE, Neb. – This looked more like vintage Concordia University Women’s Basketball. Host Doane had no answer for the pressure and athleticism of the 11th-ranked Bulldogs, who also capitalized on a height disparity in the paint. While forcing 31 more turnovers, Concordia took another step forward in a 111-52 fleecing of the Tigers on Wednesday (Nov. 18).
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson has engineered victories in 18 of the last 19 meetings with Doane. The Bulldogs have won three in a row overall to move to 3-3 (2-1 GPAC).
“We played with good focus on every possession, we valued the basketball and got good shoots,” Olson said. “Defensively I thought we did a really nice job and keyed in on certain things. We accomplished the goals we had going into the game. We got good shots in the first half, they just weren’t falling. We had great hustle plays and our defense allowed us to keep building the lead.”
The rout began very early in the type of mismatch that has been a familiar sight within the recent series. Concordia led 18-5 right out of the gate and put together a 16-0 run just after halftime. In the paint, Millard South High School product Rylee Pauli put forth her best Philly Lammers impression. Pauli beasted her way to a career high 20 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the floor. She filled up the stat sheet with seven rebounds and three steals.
The Bulldogs did all of this damage without star guard Taylor Cockerill contributing much in the scoring column – and that’s a good sign for the team. The Bulldogs know they can count on Cockerill, and they’re learning they have some nice pieces around her. The sharp-shooting Taylor Farrell had her back on her way to 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Once the long range shots started falling, things really got out of hand.
Freshman Taysha Rushton buried two quick treys to open the third quarter. That outside shooting became contagious. In separate instances, Mackenzie Toomey and Kendal Brigham both drilled 3-point field goals on back-to-back possessions as the bench went wild. After halftime, Concordia went 11-for-17 from beyond the arc (17-for-39 for the game).
Pauli and Farrell were joined in double figures in the scoring column by teammates Brigham (13), Toomey (13) and Rushton (11). Not only did the Bulldogs own a plus-20 turnover margin, they also held significant advantages in points in the paint, 56-12, and bench scoring, 68-22. Almost everyone who saw action managed to contribute in some fashion. Fourteen Concordia players scored at least one point.
“This was a game that we needed to see the shots go in and have that confidence,” Olson said. “It would have been nice to have one of these games early on because we have a young team, but I still like our schedule and like that we played some tough teams. I think it sharpened us and made us a little bit better. We have a big one to come.”
Prior to Wednesday’s blowout loss, Doane (3-2, 1-1 GPAC) had looked like a much-improved squad. Its three wins have already eclipsed the season total from 2019-20. Haylee Heits (10) and Olivia Nall (12) did most of the offensive damage for the Tigers, who opened up GPAC play by defeating Mount Marty a week earlier.
The win streak will be put to the test on Saturday when eighth-ranked Dordt (2-2, 1-0 GPAC) visits Friedrich Arena for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff. The Bulldogs have won each of the last four series matchups. The Defenders had their scheduled Wednesday game versus Dakota Wesleyan postponed.
Growth continues in win over GPAC preseason favorite
Nov. 21, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – Those who counted out the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team after its 0-3 start are looking awfully foolish now. The 11th-ranked Bulldogs are growing with each outing, as evidenced again on Saturday (Nov. 21) in a clash between teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the GPAC preseason poll. Concordia held No. 8 Dordt to 36.2 percent shooting in a 73-62 victory inside Friedrich Arena.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has rattled off four-straight wins in a row – all by double-digit margins. Yes, the Bulldogs (4-3, 3-1 GPAC) believe they will be a player once again when it comes to the conference title picture.
“The growth they’ve shown over this past week is incredible,” Olson said. “They’re really playing well together and finding their identity and toughness. It’s been really fun to watch.”
Concordia has won back-to-back GPAC games in which star guard Taylor Cockerill has fell short of double figures in the scoring column. With Cockerill commanding plenty of the attention, she made a pretty dish into the corner in the final minute-and-a-half for the game’s back-breaking shot. Sophomore Taylor Farrell drilled the open trey to boost the advantage to 10 (69-59).
The outside shooting has come to life. The Bulldogs went 11-for-24 (.458) from beyond the arc on Saturday. Meanwhile, Concordia held Dordt to just seven points in the first quarter and forced 21 total turnovers (compared to 13 turnovers committed). Defender leading scorer Bailey Beckman needed 16 shots from the floor to reach 16 points.
After trailing by as many as 13 points, Dordt eventually came back to take the lead (53-52) on a Beckman trey at the 7:07 mark of the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs responded immediately with Mackenzie Koepke’s layup off the dime from Rebecca Higgins. Not long after, Farrell went splash-splash-splash in knocking down three fourth-quarter triples to sink the Defenders.
The confidence is now soaring within the Bulldog locker room. Said freshman Taysha Rushton, “I feel like we all knew we just needed to stay together as a team and just keep growing together and getting better every day … Taylor (Cockerill) has been a big mentor for me. We come to the gym a lot and play one-on-one together.”
A star in the making, Rushton paced Concordia with 15 points to go along with three steals and no turnovers in 29 minutes. Three other Bulldogs reached double figures: Higgins (12), Farrell (11) and Rylee Pauli (10 points, six rebounds). Farrell scored all of her points in the fourth period. Off the bench, Bailey Conrad chipped in six points, three rebounds and two assists.
Dordt (2-3, 1-1 GPAC) used its length to earn a 40-34 edge on the boards. Erika Feenstra produced 14 points and eight rebounds. University of Nebraska transfer Ashtyn Verbeek posted five points and six rebounds.
Concordia’s array of pressure and zone looks presents a challenge for opponents. Said Olson, “I thought our players had really good focus with the game plan. We had to be adaptable today based on our opponent. I thought our players did a great job and we found a way to win at the end.”
Olson has led the Bulldogs to five-straight series wins over Dordt, which won at Midland on Wednesday. The win streak for Concordia has come against Northwestern, Peru State College, Doane and Dordt.
The Bulldogs will be in action once more before Thanksgiving. They will head to Omaha on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff at College of Saint Mary (1-3, 0-1 GPAC). Concordia eclipsed 100 points in both of last season’s victories over the Flames. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, College of Saint Mary will not allow visiting fans to attend the game.
Bulldogs hope to continue feasting in final pre-Thanksgiving outing
Nov. 23, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Women’s Basketball team has found a groove that it hopes to carry into this week. The Bulldogs will take a four-game win streak into Tuesday’s matchup at College of Saint Mary. Tipoff from Omaha is set for 6 p.m. CT. In GPAC play last week, Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad defeated Doane and eighth-ranked Dordt. Meanwhile, College of Saint Mary fell at Briar Cliff, 68-47, over the weekend.
This Week
(11) Concordia (4-3, 3-1) at College of Saint Mary (1-3, 0-1)
Tuesday, Nov. 24 | 6 p.m.
Lied Fitness Center | Omaha, Neb.
Webcast: CSM Stretch
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 154 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 82.0 (29th)
Scoring Defense: 71.7 (103rd)
FG% Offense: .389 (T-94th)
FG% Defense: .392 (82nd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .302 (83rd)
3-pt FG% Defense: .373 (139th)
Rebound Margin: -0.71
Turnover Margin: +7.29
College of Saint Mary
Scoring Offense: 60.8 (130th)
Scoring Defense: 65.0 (T-62nd)
FG% Offense: .394 (T-87th)
FG% Defense: .367 (53rd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .176 (150th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .242 (25th)
Rebound Margin: -1.00
Turnover Margin: -3.25
Protocols for fans
Visiting fans will not be allowed to attend the game at College of Saint Mary. Fans of the Bulldogs are strongly encouraged to read protocols for all opposing institutions prior to making travel plans.
Last Week
Concordia has looked like a different team over the last four games. In last week’s action, Concordia defeated Peru State College, 80-58, Doane, 111-52, and No. 8 Dordt, 73-62. During the active four-game win streak, the Bulldogs have won each game by double-digit margins while looking much more like the vintage Concordia program that has been on display in recent seasons. Over the past four games, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents, on average, 86.8 – 61.0, are shooting 36.8 percent (43-for-117) from 3-point range and own a cumulative turnover margin of +47. The win at Doane did wonders for the team’s confidence. Concordia made 11-of-17 second-half attempts from beyond the arc in the white-washing. In the victory over Dordt, the Bulldogs held the Defenders to 36.2 percent shooting while taking down the team ranked No. 1 in the GPAC preseason poll.
GPAC title contenders again?
There’s plenty of time to sort out the race for the GPAC regular-season title. It may be wide open this year considering the early results. Concordia now has reason to believe it can be in the running after effectively bouncing back from an 0-3 start that included a 91-79 home loss to Midland. Only Briar Cliff (3-0) and Morningside (2-0) have avoided suffering a GPAC loss in the early going. On the other end of the spectrum, a perennially strong Northwestern program has begun the season at 0-6 (0-3 GPAC). No. 11 Concordia was joined by No. 8 Dordt and No. 24 Morningside in the top 25 of the NAIA preseason poll. The Mustangs won the most recent GPAC title (2015-16 season) that wasn’t claimed by the Bulldogs, who have swept conference regular season and tournament championships four years running.
Turnovers key to success
Large advantages in the turnover department have been a hallmark of Drew Olson’s program over the years. During the 0-3 start, Concordia had just a slight edge in the turnover category having committed 60 while taking the ball away 64 times. Things have just lately. As mentioned above, the Bulldogs have been dominant in the turnover category during the win streak with 99 turnovers forced and 52 turnovers committed. It’s another sign of growth for the Bulldogs. Freshman point guard Taysha Rushton has gone back-to-back games without a turnover while coming away with three steals in both outings. Concordia is averaging 13.6 steals per game.
Scoring balance
It’s been more of a team effort during the win streak. The Bulldogs relied perhaps too heavily upon Taylor Cockerill for scoring in the opening three games of the season. Over the past four games, Rylee Pauli (13.0 ppg) has actually been the team’s leading scorer. Other double-figure scorers during that stretch have been Cockerill (12.3), Taylor Farrell (11.5) and Taysha Rushton (11.5). Farrell came up big with three fourth-quarter treys in the victory over Dordt. In her career, Farrell is shooting 46.9 percent (45-for-96) from 3-point range.
Scouting College of Saint Mary
Kirk Walker is in his third season as head coach of the Flames. Walker hopes to build the program back up into the type of team it was in 2014-15 when it went 27-7 and reached the round of 16 at the national tournament. Millard West High School product Honnah Leo (averaging 20.3 ppg) may serve as a building block for years to come. So far this season, College of Saint Mary has dropped games against York College, Bellevue University and Briar Cliff while its lone win came over Presentation College. The Flames (who average 60.8 points per game) will again have to adjust to Concordia’s fast-paced style of play. In last season’s two meetings, Concordia routed College of Saint Mary, 127-51, and, 108-64.
Next Week
Two more GPAC road games are on the horizon for next week. The Bulldogs are slated to be at Hastings (0-2, 0-1 GPAC) for a 6 p.m. tipoff on Wednesday, Dec. 2 before heading to Briar Cliff (5-0, 3-0 GPAC) for a 2 p.m. clash on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Projected Starting Lineups
Concordia (4-3, 3-1)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (17.4)
G – Averie Lambrecht, So. (2.0)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.3)
F – Faith Troshynski, Sr. (5.5)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (9.0)
College of Saint Mary (1-3, 0-1)
G – Kenzi Hoit, So. (6.3)
G/F – Honnah Leo, Fr. (20.3)
G/F – Madelyn Turner, So. (7.5)
F – Clare Lewandowski, So. (6.5)
F – Lexus Redthunder, Fr. (7.3)
Confident Dawgs pummel College of Saint Mary
Nov. 24, 2020
OMAHA, Neb. – A Confident and decisive Concordia University Women’s Basketball team keeps on rolling. Fifteen Bulldogs contributed to Tuesday (Nov. 24)’s rout that featured 40 turnovers forced and another 14 3-point field goals that torched the nets in Omaha. Concordia led 14-3 out of the gate and cruised to a 99-47 victory at College of Saint Mary.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad will carry a five-game win streak into its Thanksgiving layoff. The Bulldogs (5-3, 4-1 GPAC) have won all five contests by double-digit margins.
“I thought we had some really good offensive stretches where we had good movement, unselfishness and got open shots,” Olson said. “We had good focus for the game considering finals (just concluded). It’s a good win to take into a break. I’m excited for our team to get some rest and ready to go with some big games ahead.”
This production was like a re-run of Concordia blowouts that have been common during the program’s era of dominance. In last season’s two meetings, the Bulldogs defeated the Flames by scores of 127-51 and 108-64. In the latest matchup, Concordia got comfortable on both ends of the floor. It burned white hot in the opening 20 minutes when it went 10-for-19 from 3-point range. Freshman Taysha Rushton put up 10 of her game high 17 points in the first half.
On the defensive end, the Bulldog pressure devastated College of Saint Mary, which shot only 30.2 percent (16-for-53) from the floor. Concordia was content to let the Flames (2-for-26 from beyond the arc) fire away from the outside. On the interior, Lexas Redthunder (13 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks) starred for College of Saint Mary (1-4, 0-2 GPAC), whose other GPAC loss came at the hands of Briar Cliff.
Rushton added five assists and three steals (just one turnover) to her stat line. Off the bench, Taylor Farrell continued to snipe from long range while totaling 13 points on 3-for-4 3-point shooting. Meanwhile, four Bulldogs posted either eight or nine points: Mackenzie Koepke (nine), Kendal Brigham (eight), Sadie Powell (eight) and Chloe Schumacher (eight). Bailey Conrad led the team with six assists while Rylee Pauli paced the squad with seven rebounds. Conrad was one of 13 Concordia players to swipe at least one steal.
Both sides’ leading scorers entering the evening were held in check on the offensive end. Concordia star guard Taylor Cockerill did not score, but grabbed four rebounds in her 15 minutes of action. CSM standout freshman Honnah Leo went 0-for-8 from the floor and scored one point.
During the win streak, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by an average of 89.2 to 58.2, have shot 39.0 percent from 3-point range and own a cumulative turnover margin of plus-73. Over the last three games, Rushton has turned the ball over just once in 62 minutes of play.
Up next on the schedule is next Wednesday (Dec. 2)’s contest at Hastings (1-2, 1-1 GPAC). Tipoff from Lynn Farrell Arena is set for 6 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs and Broncos met in the 2020 GPAC tournament title game with Concordia coming out on top, 60-49.
Bulldogs look to increase win streak this week
Nov. 30, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Women’s Basketball team has made tremendous strides during November while reeling off a five-game win streak. The Bulldogs will look to extend their winning streak with a trip to Hastings on Wednesday before traveling to first place Briar Cliff on Saturday. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad owns an overall record of 5-3 overall and are 4-1 in GPAC play.
(11) Concordia (5-3, 4-1) at Hastings (2-2, 2-1)
Wednesday, Dec. 2 | 6 p.m.
Lynn Farrell Arena | Hastings, Neb.
Webcast: Hastings Sports Network
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
(11) Concordia (5-3, 4-1) at Briar Cliff (6-0, 4-0)
Saturday, Dec. 5 | 2 p.m.
Flanagan Center | Sioux City, Iowa
Webcast/Stats: Briar Cliff All-Access
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 158 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 84.13 (21st)
Scoring Defense: 68.63 (83rd)
FG% Offense: .394 (T-90th)
FG% Defense: .382 (69th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .323 (59th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .335 (121st)
Rebound Margin: -0.25 (114th)
Turnover Margin: +9.63 (10th)
Hastings
Scoring Offense: 71.0 (82nd)
Scoring Defense: 75.25 (T-86th)
FG% Offense: .416 (58th)
FG% Defense: .449 (T-142nd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .354 (T-29th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .256 (35th)
Rebound Margin: -13.0 (175th)
Turnover Margin: +3.5 (T-49th)
Briar Cliff
Scoring Offense: 75.83 (31st)
Scoring Defense: 57.67 (104th)
FG% Offense: .448 (T-28th)
FG% Defense: .408 (99th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .366 (27th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .288 (T-63rd)
Rebound Margin: +2.0 (72nd)
Turnover Margin: +10.50 (9th)
Protocols for fans
Hastings: Visiting teams are allotted 120 slots for fan attendance. Fans must be on the pre-approved list in order to be admitted into the game.
Briar Cliff: Tickets must be purchased online at the following URL in order to ensure entry: https://bcuchargers.com/sports/2020/10/29/Tickets.aspx?id=92.
Last time out
Concordia began its thanksgiving feast early with a 99-47 beatdown of the College of Saint Mary in Omaha back on Nov. 24. The Bulldogs stormed out of the gates knocking down 10 of their first 19 three-point attempts. Freshman Taysha Rushton led all scorers with 17 points. Taylor Farrell added 13 points to join Rushton in double figures. All Dawgs contributed as the whole Concordia roster saw action and 14 out of 15 Bulldogs contributed to the scoring efforts. Defensively Concordia stymied the flames, holding College of Saint Mary’s to 30.2 percent (16-for-53) from the floor and 7.6 percent (2-for-26) from behind the arc.
Dawgs on fire
The Bulldogs began the season with three-straight losses during a challenging stretch that included games against Dakota State University (S.D.), No. 20 Carroll College (Mont.) and Midland. Since then, however, Concordia has shown tremendous growth while reeling off five consecutive wins. During the five-game win streak, the Bulldogs have outscored opponents by an average of 89.2 to 58.2, while having a turnover margin of plus-73. Concordia has also warmed up from behind the arch as the Bulldogs are shooting 39.0 percent from deep. Taysha Rushton has executed her role as floor general almost flawlessly as she has one turnover in her last 62 minutes of action.
Cockerill joins 1,000-point club
Taylor Cockerill became the 30th member of the program’s 1,000-point club when she reached that mark in the second quarter of the Bulldogs win over Northwestern on Nov.14. Cockerill is also the 14th different player during Drew Olson’s tenure to score 1,000 or more points. The Waverly High School native may be one of the top pure scorers in all of the NAIA. She currently ranks 18th nationally with an average of 22.6 points per game. Cockerill’s respective game-by-game scoring totals have been 33, 25, 17, 25 and 15. She’s also averaging 9.2 rebounds per game.
A familiar look
Since halftime of the loss to Midland, Concordia has played at a higher level. After shuffling the starting lineups early in the season, head coach Drew Olson has seemed to find his starting five. Over the past five games, the starting lineup has featured guards Taylor Cockerill, Averie Lambrecht and Taysha Rushton and forwards Rylee Pauli and Faith Troshynski. Not surprisingly, Cockerill has played the most minutes (28.0 per game). Rushton (25.6) and Pauli (22.6) have also been leaned upon heavily. Cockerill is the team’s second-leading scorer at 15.3 points per game, while Rushton follows right behind with 13.8 points per contest.
Backcourt ballers
The backcourt duo of Cockerill and Rushton currently rank in the Top-20 in numerous national statistical categories. Rushton currently ranks 10th nationally in steals per game (2.38) and eighth in assists per game (4.00). The Lubbock, Texas, product’s ten assists in Concordia’s win over Northwestern back on Nov. 14 is the seventh-highest single-game mark nationally this season. Cockerill ranks 18th nationally in scoring averaging 15.3 points per contest. While her 33-point outburst in the Bulldogs home-opening loss to Dakota State on Nov. 5 is the eighth-highest scoring mark in a single game nationally.
Scouting Hastings
The Broncos are off to a 2-2 start during limited action this season. Hastings is coming off consecutive wins over Jamestown (70-68) and College of Saint Mary (71-62). Concordia will look to slow down the Broncos outside shooting as Hastings currently ranks 29th nationally in three-point field goal percentage (35.4 percent). Guard Kaitlyn Schmidt is the focal point of the Hastings offense, averaging 18.5 points per game while also shooting 33.3 percent from behind the arch. Head Coach Jina Douglas’ squad was picked fifth in the 2020 GPAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Scouting Briar Cliff
Briar Cliff has raced out to a 6-0 start this season in dominant fashion. The Chargers have won every game by double figures and are outscoring opponents by 18 points per contest. Briar Cliff is coming off its most impressive win of the season back on Nov. 24 as they defeated eighth-ranked Dordt 79-69. Briar Cliff applies lots of pressure defensively and is very good at creating turnovers, ranking ninth nationally in turnover margin (+10.50). Briar Cliff has a very talented backcourt as guards Kennedy Benne (15.5 ppg) and Konnor Sudmann (14.5 ppg.). The backcourt matchup will be a key factor in the outcome of Saturday’s game.
Next Week
The Bulldogs will host Mount Marty (2-5, 0-4 GPAC) at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Dec. 9., before traveling to Morningside (4-1, 2-0 GPAC) on Saturday, Dec. 12.
Win streak survives rivalry white-knuckler
Dec. 2, 2020
HASTINGS, Neb. – Two programs that battled closely for last season’s GPAC regular season and postseason titles renewed their rivalry on Wednesday (Dec. 2) inside Lynn Farrell Arena. The result was a tense affair between two very different squads than the ones that met back in March. The 11th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team closed the game on a 9-0 run and pulled a 73-66 victory out of the fire in Hastings.
This was easily the most nerve-racking of the six-straight wins for 15th-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad. The Bulldogs (6-3, 5-1 GPAC) had been off since their 99-47 triumph at College of Saint Mary on Nov. 24.
“We knew it was going to be a great battle,” Olson said. “Hastings is so good defensively. They’re a gritty team, but I really liked how we fought back. We just found ways to win. It was awesome to see our team grow in that way.”
The win streak appeared to be in jeopardy in the final minute of Wednesday’s white-knuckler. That’s when freshman Taysha Rushton emerged with a driving three-point play that edged Concordia in front, 67-66. Averie Lambrecht followed with one of the game’s key efforts when she stole the ball and took it in for two. A series of empty Bronco possessions and four-straight free throws put the game on ice. Hastings went without a field goal in the final 2:27 of game time.
After taking a backseat from a scoring perspective in recent outings, star Bulldog Taylor Cockerill ramped things up with a game high 18 points (to go with seven rebounds and two steals) against a solid, mostly man-to-man Hastings defense. Cockerill again showed an ability to get into the lane on a consistent basis. Other double-figure scorers for the victors included Rushton (13), Rebecca Higgins (12) and Mackenzie Koepke (10).
“I thought she had a really good attack early on,” Olson said of Cockerill. “They did a nice job defensively against her in the second half. Part of that was our rhythm offensively just wasn’t very good, but she had a great game and we needed it from her … We had a lot of players step up and make big plays for us to win that game.”
Concordia led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but trailed for a good portion of the fourth quarter. The Broncos are showing a lot of growth of their own behind veteran guards Taylor Beacom and Kaitlyn Schmit (14 points apiece). Hastings (2-3, 2-2 GPAC) was flustered into 25 turnovers, but it also forced 22 by the Bulldogs. The two teams were almost dead even in field goal percentage (41.1 to 41.0 in Hastings’ favor).
Off the bench, sophomore Taylor Farrell (six points) equaled Cockerill for a team high with seven rebounds. Koepke swiped five boards and three steals. Cockerill, Lambrecht and Rylee Pauli added two thefts each and Mackenzie Toomey chipped in with five points.
In winning at Hastings, this year’s squad did something the 2019-20 team (32-2 overall) was unable to do. However, the Bulldogs have had their way with the Broncos in recent years, taking 11 of the last 12 series matchups.
A longer conference road trip awaits on Saturday when the Bulldogs will head to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Briar Cliff (6-1, 4-1 GPAC). Tipoff from the Newman Flanagan Center is set for 2 p.m. CT. The Chargers suffered their first loss of the season in a 59-50 defeat at the hands of Northwestern on Wednesday.
Home women's basketball vs. Mount Marty postponed, set for Dec. 30
Dec. 4, 2020
The women's basketball game between Concordia and Mount Marty scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 9 has been postponed. A makeup date has been set for Wednesday, Dec. 30 with tipoff at 7 p.m. CT. The game at Briar Cliff on Saturday (Dec. 5) remains on schedule (2 p.m. tipoff).
Head Coach Drew Olson's squad has won six-straight games to move to 6-3 overall, 5-1 GPAC. In action at Hastings on Wednesday, Taylor Cockerill scored 18 points and the Bulldogs finished the contest on a 9-0 run while earning a 73-66 win.
Hot stretch ends with cold shooting at Briar Cliff
Dec. 5, 2020
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The six-game win streak fell by the wayside on Saturday (Dec. 5) afternoon at Briar Cliff. The Concordia University Women’s Basketball team was limited to 23.1 percent shooting in a 69-59 loss at the hands of the Chargers. The 11th-ranked Bulldogs leaned heavily upon the scoring exploits of Taylor Cockerill (game high 22 points) in a contest played at the Newman Flanagan Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad had not suffered a defeat since Nov. 10 versus Midland. Concordia (6-4, 5-2 GPAC) did not get it done on the offensive end this time around while up against an improved Briar Cliff squad.
“They have a good team and they play hard,” Olson said of the Chargers. “Konnor Sudmann’s a really, really good player. You just look at the box score – we shoot 8-of-42 from three. We couldn’t make a basket. We have to have people step up. It’s part of the process. We’re learning and growing.”
The Chargers (7-1, 5-1 GPAC) have reversed their fortunes under the direction of first-year Head Coach Brita Hand. In this particular outing, Briar Cliff followed the lead of the likes of Sudmann (22 points, 14-for-14 from the foul line) and Madelyn Deitchler (16 points and 18 rebounds). Sudmann and company enjoyed a large advantage at the free throw line, where they went 29-for-33 (.879).
Foul shooting and impressive results on the defensive end made the difference for the host. The Bulldogs dug a 10-point deficit early in the second quarter and did not have the offensive production to recover. Concordia shot 25.7 percent (9-for-35) in the first half and even worse (20.9 percent; 9-for-43) over the final 20 minutes. The Chargers maintained a lead of 10 or more for the entirety of the fourth quarter.
Cockerill’s fine afternoon included 12 rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes of action. Taysha Rushton (14) and Mackenzie Koepke (10) were the only other double-figure scorers for the Bulldogs. A plus-eight advantage in turnover margin (21-13) played a role in Concordia having 31 more field goal attempts than Briar Cliff. The Bulldogs managed to make only 18-of-78 tries from the field.
The Chargers endured their only loss in Wednesday’s matchup with Northwestern. In the latest Briar Cliff win, Kennedy Benne (10) joined Sudmann and Deitchler in double figures in scoring. The Chargers owned a 51-44 edge on the boards.
Due to the postponement of the scheduled home game versus Mount Marty on Dec. 9 (makeup date will be Dec. 30), the Bulldogs will wait until next Saturday (Dec. 12) to return to play. On that date, Concordia will be back in Sioux City to take on 24th-ranked Morningside (6-1, 4-0 GPAC).
Top-25 road matchup awaits Concordia
Dec. 10, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Women’s Basketball team will look to bounce back from last week’s loss at Briar Cliff with a trip to Sioux City to take on 24th-ranked Morningside on Saturday (Dec. 12). The top-25 matchup is set to tip-off at 2 p.m. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad owns an overall record of 6-4 and are 5-2 in GPAC play.
This Week:
(11) Concordia (6-4, 5-2) at (24) Morningside (6-2, 4-1)
Saturday, Dec. 12 | 2 p.m.
Rosen Verdoorn Sports City | Sioux City, Iowa
Webcast: Morningside Live
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 158 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 80.5 (30th)
Scoring Defense: 68.4 (86th)
FG% Offense: .378 (T-115th)
FG% Defense: .383 (T-68th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .305 (81st)
3-pt FG% Defense: .333 (T-124th)
Rebound Margin: -1.10 (123rd)
Turnover Margin: +8.80 (11th)
Morningside
Scoring Offense: 80.13 (33rd)
Scoring Defense: 66.88 (T-73rd)
FG% Offense: .444 (T-29th)
FG% Defense: .413 (T-114th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .391 (15th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .300 (78th)
Rebound Margin: -1.0 (122nd)
Turnover Margin: +5.0 (T-36th)
Protocols for fans
At Morningside: Visiting teams will be allotted 100 tickets per contest. Spectators must wear masks at all times. For more information please visit: https://www.msidemustangs.com/covid19-fan-protocols
Last time out
Concordia was defeated soundly last time out by Briar Cliff 69-59. The Concordia offense struggled mightily as the Bulldogs shot a season-low 23.1 percent (18-for-78) from the floor and 19 percent (8-for-42) from behind the arch. One bright spot for Concordia was its defense as the bulldogs forced 21 turnovers and held Briar Cliff to 36.2 percent shooting (17-for-47). Taylor Cockerill (22 points) and Taysha Rushton (14 points) both finished with double figures.
Cockerill joins 1,000-point club
Taylor Cockerill became the 30th member of the program’s 1,000-point club when she reached that mark in the second quarter of the Bulldogs win over Northwestern on Nov.14. Cockerill is also the 14th different player during Drew Olson’s tenure to score 1,000 or more points. The Waverly High School native may be one of the top pure scorers in all of the NAIA. She currently ranks 12th nationally in total scoring with 162 points on the season. She’s also averaging 7.6 rebounds per game.
Becoming the norm
Since halftime of the loss to Midland, Concordia has played at a higher level throughout the majority of the past seven games. After shuffling the starting lineups early in the season head coach Drew Olson has seemed to find his starting five. Over the past five games, the starting lineup has featured guards Taylor Cockerill, Averie Lambrecht and Taysha Rushton and forwards Rylee Pauli and Faith Troshynski. Not surprisingly, Cockerill has played the most minutes (28.8 per game). Rushton (25.9) and Pauli (23.1) have also been leaned upon heavily. Cockerill is the team’s second-leading scorer at 16.2 points per game while Rushton follows right behind with 13.7 points per contest.
Backcourt Ballers
The backcourt duo of Cockerill and Rushton currently rank in the Top-20 in numerous national statistical categories. Rushton currently ranks 16th nationally in total assists with 35 this season. The Lubbock, Texas, product’s ten assists in Concordia’s win over Northwestern back on Nov. 14, is the seventh-highest single-game mark nationally this season. In addition to being ranked 12th in total scoring Cockerill’s 33-point outburst in the Bulldogs home-opening loss to Dakota State on Nov. 5, is the ninth highest scoring mark in a single game nationally.
Getting the best of the best
It is no secret to why Concordia has been one of the most respected programs across all divisions of collegiate basketball in recent years. Concordia has an overall record of 31-6 against ranked opponents over the course of the last three seasons. So far in 2020, the Bulldogs are one and one against ranked opponents with a 73-62 win over ninth-ranked Dordt and a 73-66 loss to No. 20 Carroll College.
Scouting Morningside
Off to a 6-2 start, Morningside saw its five-game win streak come to a halt in its last outing as the Mustangs fell to Briar Cliff 80-78. On paper, Morningside is very similar to Concordia as they both have high-scoring offenses that rank in the top-40 nationally. However, Morningside ranks 29th in field goal percentage as the Mustangs are shooting an impressive 44.4 percent from the field. Concordia will have to lock down on the Mustangs leading scorer Sierra Mitchell who is leading the GPAC in scoring with 18.38 points per game. Sophia Peppers is also a major scoring threat as her 17.5 points per game rank third in the conference. Morningside was picked third in the 2020 GPAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Next Week
Before breaking for Christmas, the Bulldogs will travel to Midland on Tuesday (Dec. 15) before heading north to visit Jamestown on Friday (Dec. 18). Both contests will tip-off at 6 p.m. CT.
Luebbe breaks through with 20 points in loss at Morningside
Dec. 12, 2020
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – As the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team found out on Saturday (Dec. 12), Morningside may possess as much talent as any squad in the GPAC. The 24th-ranked Mustangs made 14 of their first 17 shots from the floor while striding to an 86-67 victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday (Dec. 12) afternoon. Concordia was also plagued by its 22 turnovers.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has dropped back-to-back Saturday trips to Sioux City, Iowa, following a six-game win streak. The Bulldogs slipped to 6-5 overall and to 5-3 within the GPAC.
“We changed some things up (after a rough start) and I thought Kayla Luebbe provided a nice spark with her interior scoring,” Olson said. “I felt like that start put us in too big of a hole. We fought – we battled and got within 11 or 12 going into the fourth. I felt like we fought and we played hard, but we weren’t good enough defensively and in that fourth quarter we had way too many turnovers. You just can’t do that stuff against a good team.”
After trailing by as many as 20 points, Concordia crept back within 11 in the second half with the help of a surprise performance from sophomore and Seward High School product Kayla Luebbe. She entered the contest with eight career points, but totaled 20 points on Saturday on perfect 10-for-10 shooting from the floor. The Bulldogs appeared to gain momentum heading into the fourth quarter before Morningside regained full control with an 8-0 run (led 67-47) to open the final period.
The star power of Sophia Peppers (24 points and nine rebounds) and Sierra Mitchell (21 points) paved the way for a big early advantage for the Mustangs (7-2, 5-1 GPAC). Head Coach Jamie Sale’s side opened up a 29-16 lead at the close of the first quarter. Morningside eventually cooled off (50.8 percent shooting for the game), but had Concordia playing catch up all afternoon. The home team maintained a double-digit lead for the final 32-plus minutes of the contest.
Only one other Bulldog joined Luebbe in double figures. Freshman Taysha Rushton poured in 11 points while knocking down 3-of-6 shots from 3-point range. Taylor Cockerill (team high eight assists) was limited to seven points on 3-for-13 shooting. Concordia shot respectable percentages of 47.4 (27-for-57) from the floor and 32.1 (9-for-28) from beyond the arc. It just wasn’t enough to make up for margins of minus-seven in turnovers and minus-nine in rebounding.
Both teams regularly employ zone defensive looks. The Bulldogs switched things up after being burned early on, especially by Mitchell from the perimeter. Chloe Lofstrom chipped in with 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the field. The Mustangs had been beaten by Concordia in eight of the previous nine series meetings. The result snapped the Bulldogs’ four-game win streak inside the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center.
On a positive note, Luebbe put together a performance to build upon. Said Olson, “She’s been playing well and continuing to work really hard. You can see her game developing a little bit more. She took advantage of the size she had over Morningside’s post players. We needed more of that from others and needed more defensively. Hopefully she can keep giving us an inside presence.”
A couple of road matchups are coming up next week, beginning with Tuesday’s short trek to Midland (9-2, 6-2 GPAC) for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff in Fremont, Neb. The Bulldogs will attempt to avenge the 91-79 home loss they suffered at the hands of the Warriors on Nov. 10. Midland earned a quality victory over Briar Cliff on Saturday.
Morris and the ‘Dogs overmatch neighbors to the west
Dec. 12, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – Star junior guard Bailey Morris carried over her second-half scoring splurge from Wednesday in powering a 95-55 blowout win over visiting York College on Thursday night. Morris exploded for 20-first half points to put the Panthers (4-6) away quickly inside Walz Arena. Seventh-ranked Concordia raised its record to 10-2 overall.
According to eighth-year head coach Drew Olson, Thursday’s win came attached with better play than in the 29-point triumph a day earlier.
“York’s got a couple injuries that have kind of changed their team around, but I’m happy with the way that we played,” Olson said. “We had a lot better focus than we did last night. We only had 14 turnovers.”
Morris, a 5-foot-4 spark plug from Roseland, Neb., ran circles around the York defense. She piled up a season high 26 points with 17 of them coming over the final 6:45 of the first half. Showing off her versatility, Morris scored in just about every possible manner, including a deep 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer that made the score 53-30 in the Bulldogs’ favor.
“She’s been something special the last two days,” Olson said. “She always is, but there were extra highlights for her (Thursday). Some of the things she’s doing – no one else can. She had a great game.”
Morris, second in the GPAC in assists entering play, also dished out a pair of dimes during Concordia’s 27-14 spurt at the end of the half. After drilling a 3-pointer on the previous possession, Morris looked inside and found junior Ashley Kuntz for a layup that made it 48-26 late in the half.
Morris and Kuntz (eight points and five rebounds) were the leaders in reserve for a bench that racked up 56 points to York’s 26.
“Coming off the bench we try to keep up the defensive intensity because that’s been our focus lately,” Kuntz said. “We want to get stops and the offense will come. We try to keep our gaps and keep talking and keep the energy up so when the next wave comes in they can keep it up as well.”
A night after filling up the nets with 15 treys in the win over Nebraska Wesleyan, the Bulldogs added nine more on Thursday. Six of those splashed through in the first half. Morris, who went 5-for-8 from downtown to frustrate the York zone, is 9-for-15 from behind the 3-point line over the past two games.
Concordia shot 45.8 percent from the field while holding the Panthers to a 39.3 percent clip. In addition, the Bulldogs forced 26 York turnovers and committed only 14 themselves.
Senior Kristen Conahan, who tallied 10 points on Thursday, ended the night with 1,564 career points. That total moves her into seventh place on the program’s all-time scoring chart as she passes Andrea Janssen (1,559 points), who played from 1986-90.
Morris and Conahan were two of five Bulldog double figure scorers. They were joined by junior Tracy Peitz (12), sophomore Jenna Lehmann (10) and freshman Becky Mueller (10). Morris topped the team with five assists while freshman Shelby Quinn grabbed six rebounds to lead Concordia.
All 15 Bulldogs who suited up saw action on Thursday. Ten of them registered in the scoring column with eight going for six or more points.
York, a member of the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference, was led by the 12 points of Marisa Maher. The Panthers are now 0-4 against GPAC teams.
The Bulldogs will play at home for the third time in four days when Mount Marty (4-6, 0-5 GPAC) visits Seward for a 2 p.m. tip off on Saturday. The Lancers fell, 79-51, on Wednesday to No. 13 Morningside in their most recent outing. Concordia has earned victories in each of the last four meetings with Mount Marty.
Road trips to Midland, Jamestown up next
Dec. 14, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – A run of six-straight road games continues this week in what will be the final pre-Christmas action for the 11th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team. The Bulldogs are gearing up for trips to Midland on Tuesday and to Jamestown on Friday. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad is coming off an 86-67 loss at No. 24 Morningside over the weekend. Back-to-back defeats in Sioux City, Iowa, (Dec. 5/12) put an end to a six-game win streak.
This Week
(11) Concordia (6-5, 5-3) at Midland (9-2, 6-2)
Tuesday, Dec. 15 | 6 p.m.
Wikert Event Center | Fremont, Neb.
Webcast: Midland Stretch Portal
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Parker Cyza
(11) Concordia (6-5, 5-3) at Jamestown (5-3, 3-3)
Friday, Dec. 18 | 6 p.m.
Newman Arena | Jamestown, N.D.
Webcast: Jamestown Stretch Portal
Live Stats: Dakstats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Parker Cyza
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 169 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 79.3 (36th)
Scoring Defense: 70.0 (T-99th)
FG% Offense: .385 (T-108th)
FG% Defense: .395 (T-91st)
3-pt FG% Offense: .306 (T-79th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .333 (T-129th)
Rebound Margin: -1.82 (107th)
Turnover Margin: +7.4 (21st)
Midland
Scoring Offense: 77.3 (42nd)
Scoring Defense: 68.1 (86th)
FG% Offense: .392 (T-99th)
FG% Defense: .394 (T-89th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .333 (T-44th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .264 (32nd)
Rebound Margin: +3.3 (70th)
Turnover Margin: +0.8 (87th)
Jamestown
Scoring Offense: 73.3 (64th)
Scoring Defense: 66.1 (75th)
FG% Offense: .427 (T-46th)
FG% Defense: .388 (T-79th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .330 (46th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .301 (T-79th)
Rebound Margin: +0.5 (85th)
Turnover Margin: +2.5 (T-61st)
Protocols for fans
At Midland: Visiting fans will not be allowed to attend the game at Midland. The athletic department at Midland put this policy into effect beginning on Nov. 30.
At Jamestown: Capacity inside Jamestown’s arena will be limited to 600 fans. Visiting fans can assure themselves of tickets by purchasing them online: https://www.jimmiepride.com/tickets.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Last week
Due to the postponement of a home game scheduled for Dec. 9 against Mount Marty (rescheduled for Dec. 30), the Bulldogs played just once last week. Concordia entered the Dec. 12 matchup at Morningside having won eight of the previous nine meetings in the series. This time around, the Mustangs started out on fire behind the likes of Sophia Peppers and Sierra Mitchell and built a 20-point first half lead on the way to an 86-67 victory. Concordia had won four-straight trips to the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center in Sioux City. Sophomore Kayla Luebbe put up 20 points for the Bulldogs, but it wasn’t enough to overcome negative margins in turnovers (-7) and rebounding (-9).
Luebbe breaks out
Kayla Luebbe’s 20 points at Morningside came as a surprise, considering she had previously totaled eight points in five career games at the varsity level. The 6-foot-1 Seward High School product took advantage of her size advantage in the post and went a perfect 10-for-10 from the floor. Luebbe earned a spot on the varsity roster this season after mostly playing at the junior varsity level her freshman year. As a Bluejay, Luebbe helped Seward High to three state playoff appearances.
Cockerill/Rushton form dynamic duo
At the top of the scouting report for all Concordia opponents are guards Taylor Cockerill and Taysha Rushton. They pace the Bulldogs with respective scoring averages of 15.4 and 13.5. When factoring in GPAC games only, Rushton has actually led Concordia in scoring at 14.4 points per game. The native of Lubbock, Texas, is also shooting 41.3 percent (19-for-46) from 3-point range versus conference opponents. Cockerill contributes in all areas and is the team leader in rebounding (7.1 per game). A Waverly High School product, Cockerill ranks 23rd on the program’s all-time scoring list (1,087 points).
Out of the gates
Concordia will likely be focused on getting out of the gates stronger after having to play catch up in its two road trips to Sioux City. At the close of the first quarters, the Bulldogs trailed Briar Cliff, 17-9, and Morningside, 29-16. Overall this season, Concordia has managed to outscore its opponents in every quarter – 200-179 in the first, 207-185 in the second, 230-200 in the third and 235-206 in the fourth. As the numbers show, the Bulldogs have increased their scoring totals gradually (on average) throughout the game.
GPAC breakdown
Despite back-to-back losses, Concordia remains near the top of the league standings. The Bulldogs (5-3 GPAC) currently reside behind Morningside (5-1), Briar Cliff (6-2) and Midland (6-2). In a 22-game conference regular season, most of the race is yet to be finished. The rest of the league is gunning to knock Concordia off its perch after winning four-straight GPAC regular season and postseason titles. Morningside is the most recent team other than the Bulldogs to claim a GPAC title (swept 2015-16 conference championships). A new set of GPAC rankings are scheduled to be released by the NAIA on Monday (Dec. 14) at https://www.naia.org/sports/wbkb/2020-21/Releases/Ratings.
Polling
Speaking of rankings, Concordia has been ranked in 96-straight NAIA national poll releases. That stretch dates back to December 2010. During that run, the Bulldogs have garnered the No. 1 national ranking a total of 16 times. A new NAIA national coaches’ poll is scheduled to be unveiled on Wednesday (Dec. 16).
Scouting Midland
After placing eighth in the GPAC last season, Midland has made a jump this season behind the likes of Lexi Haase and Makenna Sullivan. Haase enjoyed a big night (24 points and 10 rebounds) in spurring the Warriors’ 91-79 win at Concordia on Nov. 10. As a team, Midland went 14-for-26 from 3-point range. It marked just the second time that Drew Olson has lost to the Warriors during his coaching tenure. Head Coach Shawn Gilbert’s squad earned a significant 63-54 home win over Briar Cliff last week to keep pace near the top of the GPAC standings.
Scouting Jamestown
Jamestown has played in plenty of tight games having just come off a 64-61 home win over Dakota Wesleyan this past weekend. The Jimmies have another big test coming on Wednesday against Briar Cliff. Concordia alum and Jimmie Head Coach Thad Sankey’s squad has improved on the offensive end this season with the help of Hannah DeMars (16.6) and Kia Tower (15.5). Freshman Audrey Rodakowski (11.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game) has been a nice addition in the post. Jamestown has not yet beaten the Bulldogs since joining the GPAC prior to the start of the 2018-19 season.
Looking ahead
After this week wraps up, Concordia will have a break of nearly two weeks between games. The Bulldogs are scheduled to be at home for the first and only time in the month of December when Mount Marty visits Friedrich Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Dec. 30. The home schedule will ramp up with four home dates in January and another three in February.
Projected Starters
Concordia (6-5, 5-3)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (15.4)
G – Averie Lambrecht, So. (1.9)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.5)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (7.5)
F – Faith Troshynski, Sr. (4.2)
Midland (9-2, 6-2)
G – Lexis Haase, Jr. (14.6)
G – Lexi Kraft, So. (6.9)
G/F – Makenna Sullivan, Sr. (13.9)
G – Peyton Wingert, Jr. (11.2)
F – Katy Gathje, Sr. (8.6)
Jamestown (5-3, 3-3)
G – Emma Stoehr, Sr. (6.3)
G – Kia Tower, So. (15.5)
F – Hannah DeMars, So. (16.6)
F – Noelle Josephson, Jr. (11.0)
C – Audrey Rodakowski, Fr. (11.6)
Bulldogs pile up 109 points to earn fifth-straight victory
Dec. 14, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – Seventh-ranked Concordia exploded out of the gates with a 17-0 lead on the way to a 109-86 rout of visiting Mount Marty (4-7, 0-6 GPAC) on Saturday. The Bulldogs earned their fifth-straight win and completed a three-games-in-four-days stretch in which they won by an average margin of 30.7 points. Eighth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad bumped its records to 11-2 overall and 6-1 in the GPAC.
“We wanted the pace to be really fast and it was,” Olson said. “We were really fast. We played great offensively. We had a really good rhythm and flow.”
Concordia enjoyed a double digit lead for 38:11 of game time in another dominant victory. Senior Kristen Conahan’s 3-pointer less than two minutes into the contest gave the Bulldogs a 12-0 lead and the Lancers would get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way. Mount Marty did not register its first field goal until the 15:17 mark when Kieran O’Malley connected on a trey.
The feisty Bulldog full-court pressure was relentless once again. Tracy Peitz and company forced five 10-second violations in the first 11 minutes of the opening half and Peitz at one point stuffed three-straight inbounds passes. Concordia used that pressure to pester the Lancers to the tune of 22 turnovers and a 28-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
Conahan and junior guards Bailey Morris and Tracy Peitz were the catalysts in leading the Bulldogs to their first 100-point output of the season and first since a 110-65 home win over Midland last season. The Conahan-Morris duo went on a scoring rampage in the latter stages of the first half as Concordia led 62-40 at the break.
Both Conahan and Morris energized the crowd by knifing past defenders for nifty layups and then stepping back for treys when the defense sagged back. Conahan led all scorers with 22 points while Morris finished with 15. Both played 21 minutes.
Peitz totaled 13 points, a career high seven assists, four rebounds and four steals for yet another impressive line. Fellow junior Jericca Pearson was nearly unstoppable when she touched the ball inside. She posted 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting.
“When they’re open I like to get it to them,” Peitz said. “We have great teammates and we all trust each other. They can all put the ball in the hole just as well as anyone else.”
A 31-point second half lead allowed Olson to empty the bench.
“We’ve been able to do that the last few games and get some other kids some experience,” Olson said. “Some of them are feeling a little bit more confident and a little more comfortable playing our style against GPAC opponents.”
Of the 15 players who saw action, 14 chipped in with at least one field goal. Concordia junior Rachel Royuk put a bow on the victory with a 3-pointer from the left wing in the final minute to close out all scoring by the Bulldogs.
The Lancers got 21 points from Logan Wagner. O’Malley tallied 17 buoyed by five treys.
When Mount Marty was able to settle into its half-court offense it had a degree of success, knocking down 11 3-pointers while shooting 19-for-24 from the free throw line. They just could not keep up with a Bulldog offense that lit up the scoreboard by shooting 56.4 percent from the field.
“This game especially, we worked really well together,” Peitz said. “I think that will continue. We’ll have a lot of practices next week. Dakota Wesleyan is a good team and I’m excited for it.”
The Bulldogs will play once more before Christmas. They have nearly a week off before hosting Dakota Wesleyan (9-2, 4-1 GPAC) on Friday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. The Tigers, who are receiving votes in the national poll, defeated Doane 65-59 on Saturday evening.
Fourth quarter grit paves way for win at Midland
Dec. 16, 2020
FREMONT, Neb. – This game could not have been more different than the meeting that unfolded a month earlier inside Friedrich Arena. A re-commitment on the defensive end in the final quarter paved the way for the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team’s most impressive road win of the season. In action on Tuesday (Dec. 15) night, the Bulldogs avenged a Nov. 10 defeat and won, 67-59, over one of the strongest Midland teams in several years.
This was the response 15th-year Head Coach Drew Olson hoped for during a run of difficult road outings. After back-to-back losses in Sioux City pit stops, Concordia (7-5, 6-3 GPAC) got back into the win column.
“I loved our fight,” Olson said. “It just shows the toughness that our team has at times. We’re still learning and growing. That third quarter we kind of lost our heads a little bit with what we needed to do defensively. We allowed a lot of penetration and we left shooters. They got hot for a little bit, but I thought we responded really well, refocused and had a great fourth quarter.”
The fourth quarter was a complete reversal of the third. While making 6-of-9 attempts from 3-point range in the third period, the Warriors (9-3, 6-3 GPAC) erased what had been a 37-25 halftime deficit. Over the final stanza, the Bulldogs held Midland to 3-for-10 shooting and outscored the home team, 19-7. A three-point play by Rylee Pauli and a trey from Taylor Cockerill jump-started the attack to begin the final quarter.
This was a grittier, more defensive-minded battle than the one the Warriors claimed at Concordia, 91-79, in this season’s first matchup. Midland shot 35.7 for the game and was 0-for-4 from long range over the final 10 minutes. The Warriors somehow managed only one measly point over the last five minutes of the contest. Bulldog freshman Taysha Rushton put her side up for good (61-59) with a clutch 3-pointer down the stretch. She then salted the game away with four free throws in the closing 30 seconds.
“They were hitting threes and we just had to come together and play as a team,” Pauli said. “We had to stay focused … Each win we keep finding ourselves and keep playing as a team.”
In a reserve role, Pauli provided a solid inside presence in scoring 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor. Cockerill led all players with 17 points while adding six rebounds in 31 minutes. Rushton finished with 14 points and four assists. Mackenzie Koepke got the start and grabbed a game high nine rebounds.
In the first go-round, Lexis Haase scorched Concordia with 24 points. She was limited to five points on 2-for-9 shooting on Tuesday. Peyton Wingert paced Midland with 16 points and seven rebounds. Sam Shepard and Katy Gathje chipped in with a dozen points apiece.
Two additional keys on Tuesday were the hot start for the Bulldogs and a plus-eight margin in turnovers. Rough opening quarters at Briar Cliff and Morningside had forced Concordia to play catch up for the entirety of those defeats. This was a definite step forward for the growing Bulldogs.
“I think it just showed our team’s competitiveness and the confidence they had coming into this game that they weren’t going to be bothered by the past,” Olson said. “They were coming with good intent and it showed in that first quarter.”
The longest road trip of the regular season is coming up on Friday when Concordia will be at Jamestown (6-3, 4-3 GPAC) for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff in North Dakota. The Jimmies toppled Briar Cliff at home, 78-62, on Tuesday. Jamestown is 5-2 at home this season.
Poll streak by the numbers
Dec. 18, 2020
For 10-straight years, the Concordia University Women’s Basketball program made itself a home inside the NAIA top 25 national rankings. A streak of 97-consecutive NAIA coaches’ poll appearances ended this week when the Bulldogs were omitted from the latest top 25 ranking. Head Coach Drew Olson’s program will attempt to begin a new streak in the near future while now unranked for the first time since the close of the 2010-11 season.
To date, the period of the 2010s has represented the winningest decade in the history of Bulldog Women’s Basketball. The numbers, the memories and the moments have put Olson’s program among the elites in all of college basketball.
By the numbers
· 97-straight NAIA coaches’ top 25 poll appearances (spanned the entire 2011-12 through 2019-20 seasons).
· Out of the 97 poll appearances, Concordia earned the No. 1 ranking 16 times, a top five ranking 63 times and a top 10 ranking 88 times. The Bulldogs finished inside the top five of NAIA Division II in 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
· During the length of the poll streak, Concordia posted an overall record of 284-46. The Bulldogs recorded 30+ wins in six separate seasons.
· Six senior classes in a row played their entire careers for nationally-ranked Bulldog teams.
· Twelve players reached the 1,000-point mark in their careers: Bailey Morris (2,054), Philly Lammers (2,033), Quinn Wragge (1,776), Kristen Conahan (1,656), Katie Rich (1,293), Tracy Peitz (1,277), Mary Janovich (1,159), Dani Hoppes (1,148), Taylor Cockerill (1,104), Grace Barry (1,081), Becky Mueller (1,071) and Brenleigh Daum (1,014).
· Two players scored 40 or more points in a single game:
o Bailey Morris – 45 vs. Northwestern (2/15/04)
o Taylor Cockerill – 40 vs. Indiana Wesleyan (10/26/18)
· Concordia claimed a total of 11 GPAC championships (six regular season, five postseason).
· Qualified for the national tournament each season and reached the national title game in 2015, 2018 and 2019; won the 2019 national title and made a total of five national semifinal appearances.
Memorable/significant victories
There were multiple significant and memorable victories in every season during the poll streak, but to narrow it down …
· 3/3/20 – def. No. 4 Hastings, 60-49, in GPAC tournament championship game. With the win, the Bulldogs pushed their unprecedented string of GPAC regular season/postseason title sweeps to four years in a row. Little did members of the team know at the time, but Concordia would not get the opportunity to defend its national title (due to the COVID-19 cancellation).
· 3/12/19 – def. No. 2 Southeastern (Fla.), 67-59, in NAIA Division II national championship game. After years of coming up short of the ultimate goal, Concordia finally cut down the final net behind national tournament MVP Grace Barry. The 82-79 semifinal win over Northwestern was also a memorable clash.
· 2/27/18 – def. No. 8 Dakota Wesleyan, 90-88, in GPAC tournament championship game. Brenleigh Daum scored 21 points and lifted the Bulldogs to victory with a driving layup just before the buzzer. Concordia defeated DWU three times this season (we won’t discuss the fourth meeting).
· 12/19/17 – def. No. 4 College of the Ozarks, 103-101 (OT). For a regular-season game, this was about as good as it gets. Quinn Wragge tied the game with a trey in the final seconds of regulation in Point Lookout, Mo., before Taylor Cockerill made the big shots in overtime.
· 2/28/17 – def. No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan, 78-77 (OT), in GPAC tournament championship game. An intense rivalry with DWU got some added juice with this nail-biter. This was the first of three-straight years that saw the Bulldogs meet the Tigers in the conference tournament final.
· 3/3/15 – def. No. 1 Morningside, 80-72, in GPAC tournament championship game. This was especially significant in that it would wind up being Morningside’s lone loss of the entire season. Then freshman Mary Janovich topped the Bulldogs with 17 points as Concordia defeated the Mustangs in the GPAC championship game for the second time in four years.
· 2/15/14 – def. No. 3 Northwestern, 89-78. Another regular-season affair, this was the game Bailey Morris really became a Concordia legend. She dropped a still-intact single-game school record of 45 points. Morris went 12-for-26 from the field and 17-for-18 from the free throw line.
· 3/10/12 – def. No. 7 Grand View (Iowa), 80-68, in NAIA Division II national quarterfinals. The victory marked Drew Olson’s first national semifinal appearance as head coach. The 2011-12 season marked the beginning of the program’s rise to elite status under Olson.
· 2/28/12 – def. No. 5 Morningside, 73-66, in GPAC tournament title game. This victory completed a sweep of GPAC regular season/postseason championships. The Bulldogs held Morningside to 30.9 percent shooting in the win.
Of the very few losses during the poll streak, the national championship game defeats at the hands of rivals Dakota Wesleyan (2018) and Morningside (2015) stand out. So too does the 85-83 double overtime loss at Big East member Creighton University on Oct. 22, 2019, in what was an exhibition game.
As part of the run, Olson’s teams have knocked off opponents from every level of collegiate hoops – NAIA, NCAA Division I, II and III. Not mentioned above, the Bulldogs have dominated the Concordia Invitational Tournament. They will carry a 14-game CIT win streak into 2022 when the event resumes after a one-year hiatus.
Highest honors
· NAIA Division II National Player of the Year – Bailey Morris (2015)
· NAIA Division II National Tournament MVP – Grace Barry (2019)
· GPAC Players of the Year – Philly Lammers (2019), Bailey Morris (2014 / 2015)
· GPAC Defensive Players of the Year – Philly Lammers (2020), Mary Janovich (2017), Tracy Peitz (2014), Katie Rich (2012 / 2013)
· Drew Olson was named the GPAC Coach of the Year in 2012, 2017 and 2018. Olson also earned particularly notable honors in 2018 when he was named the United States Marine Corps/WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year and in 2019 when he was chosen as the NAIA’s Phyllis Holmes National Coach of the Year.
Clutch free throw shooting helps Bulldogs prevail
Dec. 18, 2020
Jamestown, N.D. – The Concordia University Women’s Basketball team’s clutch free-throw shooting played a major factor down the stretch in Friday’s 55-50 victory over Jamestown. The Bulldogs went 7-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final 30 seconds of play to fend off any comeback chances Jamestown had in store.
“That was a huge win for us. It was such a long road trip,” Head Coach Drew Olson said. “Jamestown is a really tough team. For us to find a way to win on the road like this was awesome. Obviously, the defense won the game for us because it was rough offensively. Our defense was great. We really focused in on what we wanted to do. We executed it and caused Jamestown some problems.”
Coach Olson’s squad has now won back-to-back games after suffering back-to-back losses last week. Concordia (8-5, 7-3 GPAC) will look to build on this momentum coming out of Christmas break.
Freshman Taysha Rushton looked like a seasoned veteran when she stepped up to the free-throw line in the contest's final minutes. The Lubbock, Texas, native sank all eight of her free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter, including six in the final thirty seconds to ice the game. Overall, the Bulldogs shot an impressive 92.3 percent (12-for-13) from the charity stripe.
“Taysha (Rushton) is such a gamer,” Olson stated. “Even when she’s not at her best she always comes up with big plays down the stretch. She’s got so much confidence and has great composure. That was big time for us.”
The Bulldogs led for all but 36 seconds in the matchup however the game was tight throughout most of its duration. Concordia led 13-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs increased their lead in the second quarter as Bailey Conrad capped the first half with a huge three-pointer right before the buzzer to give the Bulldogs a 31-21 lead going into the break. The third quarter was uneventful, to say the least, as both teams scored four points apiece. Jamestown reeled off a ten-point run in the fourth quarter to draw even at 37 with 5:57 remaining. The Jimmies then pulled ahead 43-42 with 3:10 left in the ballgame. However, Concordia answered when Rushton found Rylee Pauli in the paint for a lay-up to put Concordia ahead 44-43. The Bulldogs did not squander the lead as they held off the Jimmies by knocking down seven of their final eight free throws to notch the victory.
Points were at a premium in this matchup as Concordia shot just 28.8 percent (19-for-66) from the floor while Jamestown shot 29.3 percent (17-for-58). Concordia and Jamestown’s field goal percentages were a testament to the gritty defense shown by both squads. The defensive display was most evident in the third quarter when both teams struggled mightily to put points on the board.
Concordia forced 19 Jamestown turnovers and locked down the Jimmies on the perimeter as Jamestown shot a subpar 4.5 percent (1-for-22) from behind the arch. The shooting mark was the lowest Jamestown has put up this season. The Jimmies came into the contest ranked 46th nationally in three-point percentage as they were converting on 33.3 percent of their attempts from downtown.
Rushton led a balanced Concordia scoring attack with 12 points. Mackenzie Koepke just missed out on double figures as she finished with nine points. Pauli (seven points and 11 rebounds) and Taylor Cockerill (seven points, ten rebounds and six assists) also were significant contributors in the win.
The Bulldog bench was the difference-maker, outscoring the Jimmies 20-0. Taylor Farrell led the reserves with six points, while Conrad (five points) and Sadie Powell (six points) also provide a chunk of the scoring off the bench.
Concordia will break for the holidays before returning on Dec.30 as they host Mount Marty (3-6, 1-5 GPAC) for a 7 p.m. CT tipoff from Friedrich Arena. The game was initially scheduled for Dec. 9 but was rescheduled to its current date due to COVID-19 complications.
Action resumes with a visit from Mount Marty, trip to Northwestern
Dec. 27, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – It’s about time to get back to basketball. After a break for Christmas (11 days without a game), the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team will return to action on Wednesday when it will host Mount Marty. The contest was originally slated to be played on Dec. 9. Conference play will continue on Saturday with the Bulldogs headed to Orange City, Iowa, for a clash with Northwestern. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad won at Jamestown on Dec. 18 in its most recent outing.
This Week
Concordia (8-5, 7-3) vs. Mount Marty (3-8, 1-7)
Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 7 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
Concordia (8-5, 7-3) at Northwestern (5-6, 5-3)
Saturday, Jan. 2 | 2 p.m.
Bultman Center | Orange City, Iowa
Webcast: Red Raiders All-Access
Live Stats: Sidearm Sports
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 171 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 76.5 (40th)
Scoring Defense: 67.5 (87th)
FG% Offense: .374 (T-121st)
FG% Defense: .385 (T-77th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .299 (80th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .310 (T-97th)
Rebound Margin: -1.85 (109th)
Turnover Margin: +7.23 (21st)
Mount Marty
Scoring Offense: 60.7 (137th)
Scoring Defense: 71.9 (121st)
FG% Offense: .363 (136th)
FG% Defense: .414 (128th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .273 (T-121st)
3-pt FG% Defense: .371 (159th)
Rebound Margin: -8.36 (152nd)
Turnover Margin: +0.36 (93rd)
Northwestern
Scoring Offense: 72.8 (64th)
Scoring Defense: 70.0 (T-104th)
FG% Offense: .402 (T-70th)
FG% Defense: .404 (T-110th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .350 (28th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .350 (T-150th)
Rebound Margin: +2.55 (68th)
Turnover Margin: +1.18 (76th)
Protocols for fans
Concordia home games: Consistent with state directed health measures, Concordia will allow up to 50 percent capacity for Wednesday’s home game. Tickets will be sold at the door for this week’s contest.
At Northwestern: Northwestern is currently allowing up to 50 percent capacity at the Bultman Center. For more on fan attendance policies at Northwestern, please visit: https://nwcraiders.com/news/2020/9/3/general-nw-gpac-release-covid-fan-protocols.aspx.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
The Bulldogs have enjoyed this past week off on the heels of back-to-back GPAC wins: 67-59 at Midland on Dec. 15 and 55-50 at Jamestown on Dec. 18. Those results represented a positive response to losses that occurred on Dec. 5 (at Briar Cliff) and on Dec. 12 (at then 24th-ranked Morningside). Concordia still has yet to play at home during the month of December. Its most recent home game took place on Nov. 21 with the result being a 73-62 win over then eighth-ranked Dordt. In the two most recent wins, junior Taylor Cockerill (17 at Midland) and freshman Taysha Rushton (12 at Jamestown) paced the team from a scoring perspective.
Winning with defense
It’s not out of the ordinary for Olson’s teams to win with defense, but things have looked a bit unusual of late. The Bulldogs grinded out victories over Midland and Jamestown while employing a lot of half-court, man-to-man looks. It wasn’t always pretty, but it got the job done. Concordia limited both Midland (.357) and Jamestown (.293) to field goal shooting below 36 percent. The Jimmies went just 1-for-22 from 3-point range. In addition, the Bulldogs forced a healthy combined turnover total of 41 in those victories (while committing 28 total turnovers). Concordia ranks 21st nationally in turnover margin. When needed, Olson can still put on the program’s patented press.
Poll streak
A run of 97-straight NAIA coaches’ poll appearances came to an end earlier this month when the Bulldogs dropped out of the top 25. Concordia had been included in every possible NAIA poll since the start of the 2011-12 season. During that stretch, the Bulldogs earned the No. 1 ranking 16 times, a top five ranking 63 times and a top 10 ranking 88 times. Six senior classes in a row played their entire careers for ranked Concordia women’s basketball teams. With the move to one division, there is now more competition for position within the top 25.
Offensive breakout?
Olson would probably like to believe his team is due for an offensive breakout. The Bulldogs have been held to 67 points or fewer in four-consecutive outings (all within the GPAC). At times, Concordia has flashed offensive firepower, as it did in wins by scores of 111-52 at Doane and 99-47 at College of Saint Mary. The numbers would seem to suggest better offensive days are ahead. Both Taysha Rushton (.342) and Taylor Cockerill (.333) are shooting below 35 percent from the floor in GPAC games. The Bulldogs are a better team when Cockerill is putting the ball in the basket. She enters the week with 1,111 career points to her credit.
GPAC breakdown
Concordia is ranked fourth in the official GPAC rankings, behind Morningside, Midland and Briar Cliff. Several teams in the GPAC are nearing the halfway point of a conference regular-season slate complete with 22 games. At 7-3 in the GPAC, the Bulldogs are tied for second place with Briar Cliff. Morningside sits atop the league standings with a 7-1 GPAC mark. Seven GPAC teams have either three or four league losses entering the week.
Lineup tinkering
Following the 86-67 loss at Morningside on Dec. 12, Olson made some tweaks to his starting lineup. He may have settled on a new one for now. In the victory at Jamestown, the starting five consisted of Taylor Cockerill, Mackenzie Koepke, Averie Lambrecht, Rylee Pauli and Taysha Rushton. Four Bulldogs average 20 or more minutes per game: Cockerill (29.5), Rushton (27.0), Pauli (22.5) and Koepke (21.1). Cockerill and Rushton are the lone two Bulldogs to have started all 13 games.
Scouting Mount Marty
Mount Marty will also be ending a holiday break when Wednesday’s game tips off. The Lancers last played on Dec. 21 when they were beaten at home, 65-44, by Jamestown. Head Coach Todd James Schlimgen’s squad captured its only GPAC victory to this point on Dec. 2 with a 62-53 win over College of Saint Mary. Senior Karlee McKinney paces the squad with an average of 14.5 points per game. Mount Marty is averaging 60.7 points while allowing 71.9 points. Schlimgen’s staff includes former Concordia Golf graduate assistant Logan Wagner (a former standout player for the Lancers).
Scouting Northwestern
The Red Raiders are 5-0 in the month of December with a big road test coming up on New Year’s Eve when they will be at GPAC leading Morningside. Concordia will aim for a regular season sweep of Northwestern. The two sides met in Seward on Nov. 14 with the result being an 83-72 Bulldog victory. Head Coach Chris Yaw’s squad began its winning streak on Dec. 2 with an impressive win at Briar Cliff. Senior sharpshooter Sammy Blum has been the team’s top scorer with an average of 13.3 points per game. As a team, the Red Raiders are shooting 35.0 percent from 3-point range.
Looking ahead
A lot of home games are coming, but Concordia will also be on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 6 for a battle at Dakota Wesleyan. The Bulldogs will then welcome Jamestown to Friedrich Arena for a matchup on Saturday, Jan. 9.
Projected Starters
Concordia (8-5, 7-3)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (14.8)
G – Averie Lambrecht, So. (1.8)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.4)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.3)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (7.8)
Mount Marty (3-8, 1-7)
G – Bailey Kortan, So. (3.6)
G – Karlee McKinney, Sr. (14.5)
G – Callie Otkin, Jr. (7.7)
F – Peyton Stolle, Sr. (4.3)
F – Aubrey Twedt, So. (4.6)
Northwestern (5-6, 5-5)
G – Sammy Blum, Sr. (13.3)
G – Devyn Kemble, Jr. (8.8)
F – Molly Schany, Fr. (11.6)
F – Alexis Toering, Jr. (4.9)
F – Taylor Vandervelde, Jr. (6.5)
Freshmen Conrad, Rushton sizzle in stomping of Mount Marty
Dec. 30, 2020
SEWARD, Neb. – It’s really not supposed to look like this after a layoff of nearly two weeks between games. The Concordia University Women’s Basketball team appeared as sharp as ever while making seven-straight treys to begin Wednesday (Dec. 30)’s contest. The Bulldogs held a double-digit lead for more than 37 minutes in what amounted to a 98-53 stomping of visiting Mount Marty. Freshmen Bailey Conrad and Taysha Rushton went wild for a combined 38 points in the win.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has put together a three-game win streak in the process of moving to 9-5 overall (8-3 GPAC). Concordia returned to action for the first time since an ugly 55-50 victory at Jamestown on Dec. 18.
“Holy cow, what an impressive start,” Olson said. “I was kind of worried that when you come back from a break you’re not going to be as sharp. My assistant coaches said, ‘No, they’re ready just to play at home.’ We’ve been on the road for so long, you could just tell that they were excited to be here. You’re a lot more confident when you shoot in your own gym.”
Rushton has shown how dynamic she can be at times, but she took it to another level on Wednesday. The rookie guard from Lubbock, Texas, nailed four treys during a 21-0 Bulldog run right out of the gate. The Lancers (3-9, 1-8 GPAC) never had a chance from there on out. Concordia knocked down 17 triples for the night in laying waste to Mount Marty’s zone. Rushton went 5-for-6 from long range while equaling a career high 23 points.
Conrad took over in the second half. The native of Tea, S.D., stepped into a starting role and supplied a career best 15 points on the strength of 3-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc. Conrad also dished out four assists and grabbed five rebounds and two steals. In addition, Kayla Luebbe (11 points, six rebounds) and Taylor Farrell (10 points, three steals) found their way into double figures.
Said Olson of Conrad, “She was awesome tonight. I love how she’s developing, getting that confidence and just being more comfortable out there. She’s playing at a really good pace and I’m excited to see her continue to grow.”
Fifteen Bulldogs saw action on Wednesday and 12 of them registered in the scoring column (eight players made at least one 3-point basket). Taylor Cockerill took only three shots, but led the team with six assists. Chloe Schumacher’s seven rebounds (to go with six points) were tops for a Concordia squad that held a huge advantage (57-37) on the boards. The Bulldogs also turned up the heat with the press and forced 20 Mount Marty turnovers.
The Lancers were led by 12 points from Bailey Kortan. Concordia hounded standout Karlee McKinney (2-for-10, five points) and limited Mount Marty to 30.2 percent shooting for the game.
An offensive outburst like this wasn’t necessarily expected after the Bulldogs had scored 67 points or fewer in each of their previous four games. Said Conrad, “We’re continuing to learn from the leadership we have and stepping into our roles as well as we can.”
Additional noteworthy performances were turned in by Kendal Brigham (six points, three rebounds), Rebecca Higgins (six points, three rebounds), Mackenzie Koepke (eight points, six rebounds, two blocks) and Mackenzie Toomey (five points, six rebounds, three assists).
The Bulldogs will be back on the road for the seventh time in eight outings when they travel to Northwestern (5-6, 5-3 GPAC) on Saturday. Tipoff from the Bultman Center in Orange City, Iowa, is set for 2 p.m. CT. The Red Raiders are permitting fans up to 50 percent capacity with tickets being sold at the entrance (no online sales). In this season’s first meeting, Concordia defeated Northwestern, 83-72, in Seward.
Rushton drops career high 28, Dawgs fend off Red Raiders
Jan. 2, 2021
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Big-time shot making down the stretch lifted the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team to a nail-biter of a road victory at Northwestern on Saturday (Jan. 2) afternoon. Budding freshman Taysha Rushton rang in 2021 with a career high 28 points in another starring performance. After having led by as many as 18 points, the Bulldogs hung on for an 81-76 victory inside the Bultman Center in Orange City, Iowa.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has won four in a row to move to 10-5 overall (9-3 GPAC). Concordia has improved to 6-2 in GPAC road games.
“What an awesome game that was and what toughness and grit we are showing on a game-to-game basis,” Olson said. “I love this group. They are buying into what we are doing and it’s been a lot of fun.
“Northwestern is a tough matchup. Their post is really, really good and we had to help a lot on her. Then their 3-point shooters get open. They play well in transition and caught us a couple times. They’re a tough team, but I’m really proud of our group.”
Rushton is becoming a star before our very eyes. She followed up a 23-point outing in Wednesday’s win with another inspiring outing. The young Bulldogs showed toughness down the stretch after watching the Red Raiders (5-8, 5-5 GPAC) take a one-point lead (73-72) on Sammy Blum’s bucket with under two minutes remaining. Mackenzie Koepke followed with a triple before Rushton knocked down a cold-blooded trey of her own.
Outside shooting was a theme once again. Concordia drained 16-of-40 shots from 3-point range on Saturday. Rushton (6-for-13) accounted for a half-dozen of them while backcourt mate Taylor Cockerill went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Cockerill posted 14 points while leading the team with seven rebounds. Rebecca Higgins also poured in a trio of treys on her way to 11 points.
Molly Schany (12 points on 5-for-9 shooting) is the post player Olson referred to. Her work inside helped open things up on the perimeter for the likes of Taylor VanderVelde (18 points) and Blum (12 points). A Bulldog squad that continues to vary its defensive looks from game-to-game emerged with critical stops in crunch time, including a couple of them immediately after the daggers by Koepke and Rushton.
Northwestern made this a white-knuckler with a 24-5 run that began in the third quarter and spanned a good portion of the final period. While Rushton grabs the headline, plenty of her teammates had a hand in building the advantage. Koepke finished with eight points (and four steals) while six points apiece were contributed by Taylor Farrell, Rylee Pauli and Mackenzie Toomey.
“She’s ultra-aggressive, which we love,” Olson said of Rushton. “She’s shooting the ball really well. I also like how she creates a lot of things for other people. She stepped up and hit a big-time shot at the end to give us a cushion. I felt like a lot of people had big games for us. Koepke hits the big three. I thought Mackenzie Toomey and Taylor Farrell were really big for us off the bench, especially in the second quarter.”
Concordia has shown it can win in different types of games. Its win streak has included road grinders over Midland, 67-59, and Jamestown, 55-50, and a home rout of Mount Marty, 98-53. The Bulldogs have now won five meetings in a row with the Red Raiders.
Concordia will be back on the road on Wednesday for a matchup with Dakota Wesleyan (6-5, 4-5 GPAC). Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. The Bulldogs have taken five-straight series meetings and nine of the past 10 matchups with the Tigers. DWU has won three of its last four contests heading into next week.
Jan. 4, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – After winning ugly in the two outings prior to Christmas, the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team ramped up its offensive production last week. The Bulldogs moved their win streak to four by defeating Mount Marty, 98-53, and Northwestern, 81-76. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad currently resides in second place in the GPAC standings (9-3 league mark) as it looks forward to playing at Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday and then hosting Jamestown on Saturday.
This Week
Concordia (10-5, 9-3 GPAC) at Dakota Wesleyan (6-5, 4-5 GPAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 6 | 6 p.m.
Corn Palace | Mitchell, S.D.
Webcast/Live Stats: Dakota Wesleyan Stretch Portal
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Parker Cyza
Concordia (10-5, 9-3 GPAC) vs. Jamestown (8-4, 6-4 GPAC)
Saturday, Jan. 9 | 2 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Parker Cyza
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 172 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 78.2 (33rd)
Scoring Defense: 67.2 (82nd)
FG% Offense: .380 (110th)
FG% Defense: .383 (T-76th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .319 (58th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .311 (T-104th)
Rebound Margin: -0.27 (96th)
Turnover Margin: +7.00 (T-20th)
Dakota Wesleyan
Scoring Offense: 67.8 (100th)
Scoring Defense: 62.8 (51st)
FG% Offense: .397 (T-78th)
FG% Defense: .369 (T-51st)
3-pt FG% Offense: .329 (T-43rd)
3-pt FG% Defense: .312 (T-107th)
Rebound Margin: +4.90 (48th)
Turnover Margin: +1.50 (T-73rd)
Jamestown
Scoring Offense: 70.6 (81st)
Scoring Defense: 62.1 (43rd)
FG% Offense: .420 (43rd)
FG% Defense: .356 (T-29th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .315 (T-63rd)
3-pt FG% Defense: .246 (20th)
Rebound Margin: +0.67 (T-84th)
Turnover Margin: +1.58 (71st)
Protocols for fans
At Dakota Wesleyan: Visiting fans must be on a “guest list” in order to be admitted into games at the Corn Palace. The guest list is intended for family use only.
Concordia home games: Consistent with state directed health measures, Concordia will allow up to 50 percent capacity for its home games. Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online (https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets). Tickets will also be sold at the door, provided capacity limits have not been reached via online sales.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
From an offensive perspective, it’s been an up-and-down first 15 games of the season. The Bulldogs turned it back on last week in their victories over Mount Marty and Northwestern. Concordia opened up the home game versus Mount Marty with a 21-0 lead while making seven-straight 3-point field goals. In that blowout win, four Bulldogs reached double figures in scoring: Taysha Rushton (23), Bailey Conrad (15), Kayla Luebbe (11) and Taylor Farrell (10). In the triumph at Northwestern, Rushton achieved a new career high with 28 points. Concordia turned a one-point deficit (73-72) in the final two minutes into a five-point lead after Mackenzie Koepke and Rushton nailed back-to-back treys. The Bulldogs had led the Red Raiders by as many as 18 points in the third quarter.
Longhorn State star
Lubbock, Texas, native Taysha Rushton is emerging as a star. In both of last week’s games, the 5-foot-4 freshman guard reached double figures in scoring in the opening quarter. She compiled a combined 51 points while shooting 11-for-19 from 3-point range. She’s already one of the GPAC’s most exciting offensive playmakers. Among GPAC players, Rushton ranks first in free throw percentage (.881), tied for fourth in scoring (15.0), fifth in assists/game (3.40), ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (.364) and 12th in steals/game (1.87). Rushton is the first player from Texas on the program’s roster in more than a decade.
3-point shooting stroke returns
It's difficult to begin a game any better than Concordia did versus Mount Marty. The Bulldogs drained their first seven 3-point field goal tries and opened up a 21-0 lead. Rushton and company finished 17-for-39 from beyond the arc for the game. Three days later, Concordia went 16-for-40 from 3-point range while defeating Northwestern. Over the two games, the Bulldogs combined to shoot 41.8 percent (33-for-79) from long range. Olson’s teams have always shot a high volume of 3-pointers. Concordia currently ranks No. 2 nationally for made 3-point field goals (153). It averages 10.2 per game.
Conrad fills starting role
With Averie Lambrecht sidelined last week, Olson inserted freshman Bailey Conrad into the starting lineup for both outings. Conrad delivered with a career high 15 points (3-for-4 from beyond the arc) in the win over Mount Marty. After employing virtually the same starting five the entire 2019-20 season, the Bulldogs have regularly tweaked the lineup as this team continues to grow. Nine different Bulldogs have started at least one game this season. Taylor Cockerill and Taysha Rushton are the lone two players to start each of the first 15 games.
More than a scorer
Now at 1,128 career points (22nd in program history), junior guard Taylor Cockerill does more than score points. At times she has deferred to her teammates when the situation has called for it. Cockerill leads the team in rebounding at 6.9 per game and is averaging 3.3 assists per contest. In the blowout of Mount Marty, Cockerill took only one shot and scored three points. She then ramped things up with 14 points at Northwestern. The Waverly High School product has picked her spots well when it comes to 3-point shooting. Over the past six games, Cockerill has gone a combined 12-for-27 (.444) from beyond the arc.
GPAC update
Most of the conference is either at or near the halfway point of the GPAC regular season schedule. To this point, Morningside (9-1 GPAC) has established itself as the frontrunner with just one league loss. There’s plenty of parity after the Mustangs with seven teams sporting between three and five GPAC defeats: Concordia (9-3), Briar Cliff (8-3), Dordt (7-4), Jamestown (6-4), Midland (6-5), Northwestern (5-5) and Dakota Wesleyan (4-5).
Scouting Dakota Wesleyan
The stars of the 2017-18 national championship team have all graduated. Dakota Wesleyan lost plenty of firepower from last season when it was led by seniors Kennedy Cheeseman, Sarah Carr and Makaela Karst. Head Coach Jason Christensen’s current edition leans upon solid defense and rebounding. Those strengths were on full display in the Tigers’ 61-38 win over Midland on Dec. 19. In that contest, DWU held the Warriors to 17.7 percent shooting and owned a 57-34 rebound advantage. The Tigers also rely on a freshman as their leading scorer – Haidyn Pitsch (13.8) of Prior Lake, Minn.
Scouting Jamestown
Jamestown has won four of its last five games with the only loss during that stretch being the 55-50 grinder versus Concordia on Dec. 18. Also during that spurt, the Jimmies have held each of their opponents to 62 points or less. Last week Jamestown claimed a 66-55 win over Hastings. Sophomore Hannah DeMars has been on a scoring tear and is the GPAC leader at 20.4 points per game. Head Coach Thad Sankey, a Concordia alum and former teammate of Drew Olson, appears to have his best team since arriving in North Dakota prior to the 2018-19 season.
Looking ahead
Next week features another Wednesday road trip and Saturday home game. The Bulldogs will be at Mount Marty on Wednesday, Jan. 13 before hosting 14th-ranked Morningside on Saturday, Jan. 16. Once the Mount Marty game is in the books, Concordia will be at home for six of its final seven regular season games.
Projected Starters
Concordia (10-5, 9-3)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (14.0)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (3.3)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (15.0)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.4)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (7.3)
Dakota Wesleyan (6-5, 4-5)
G – Kaylee Kirk, Jr. (5.2)
G – Rynn Osthus, So. (5.5)
G – Haidyn Pitsch, Fr. (13.8)
F – Matti Reiner, So. (11.8)
C – Jada Campbell, Jr. (9.4)
Jamestown (8-4, 6-4)
G – Emma Stoehr, Sr. (5.8)
G – Kia Tower, So. (13.3)
F – Hannah DeMars, So. (20.4)
F – Noelle Josephson, Jr. (10.5)
C – Audrey Rodakowski, Fr. (10.6)
Rushton honored as GPAC Player of the Week
Jan. 5, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – A prolific week of scoring resulted in recognition for Taysha Rushton. The freshman from Lubbock, Texas, has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Player of the Week, as announced by the conference on Tuesday (Jan. 5). Rushton led the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team to wins last week over Mount Marty and Northwestern.
Rushton has quickly adapted to the college game while taking over the starting point guard role. She equaled a career high with 23 points versus Mount Marty before surpassing that standard with 28 points at Northwestern. Over the two victories, Rushton produced a combined 51 points, six rebounds and five assists and went 11-for-19 from 3-point range and 10-for-12 from the foul line. Rushton reached double figures in scoring in the first quarter in both of last week’s outings.
Among GPAC players, Rushton ranks first in free throw percentage (.881), tied for fourth in scoring (15.0), fifth in assists per game (3.40), ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (.364) and 12th in steals per game (1.87). Rushton and the Bulldogs (10-5, 9-3 GPAC) will return to action on Wednesday with a GPAC clash at Dakota Wesleyan (6-5, 4-5 GPAC).
Cockerill scores 33 in down-to-the-wire loss at DWU
Jan. 6, 2021
MITCHELL, S.D. – After falling behind by 20 points in the first half, the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team rallied to make Wednesday (Jan. 6)’s clash at the Corn Palace a barn-burner down the stretch. Ultimately, Haidyn Pitsch and host Dakota Wesleyan’s hot shooting was too much to overcome. The Tigers shot 52.5 percent from the floor and won, 85-80.
The defeat snapped a four-game win streak for Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad. Olson had led his program to wins in nine of the previous 10 meetings with the Tigers. The Bulldogs stand at 10-6 overall and at 9-4 in GPAC play.
“We got in too big of a hole,” Olson said. “It took us too long to settle in and fight. Once we did you saw that we could be right there. We crawled back into the game and got ourselves in a position to win. When you get down 20 you have to do all of the little things right. We have to do the little things to beat a good team on the road and we just didn’t do that today.”
Concordia star guard Taylor Cockerill enjoyed a monster night that saw her pour in 33 points (equaling a season high). Her offensive outburst nearly succeeded in leading Concordia all the way back from a 42-22 hole in the opening half. Cockerill and company got within two points on two separate occasions in the fourth quarter, but never could grab a lead.
Entering the final minute, the Bulldogs trailed just 78-75. In the closing stretch that followed, Dakota Wesleyan went 7-for-8 from the foul line to put the game away. In crunch time, the Tigers had an answer every time they were threatened. Cockerill kept faint hopes alive with a deep trey in the final seconds, prior to more free throws for DWU.
Pitsch went 4-for-7 from long range on her way to a team high 25 points. Known more for their work on the defensive end, the Tigers (7-5, 5-5 GPAC) put together their second highest single-game point total of the season. Additional double-figure scorers were Matti Reiner (17), Isabel Ihnen (14) and Kaylee Kirk (13). Reiner and Jada Campbell helped DWU own a 39-22 advantage in rebounding. Kirk and Reiner played 36 minutes apiece.
Cockerill made 12-of-19 shots from the floor on Wednesday. Mackenzie Koepke filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, four assists, four blocks and three steals as the team’s only other player to score 10 points or more. Bailey Conrad chipped in with nine points (all in the second half). Meanwhile, Rylee Pauli produced seven points and six rebounds and reigning GPAC Player of the Week Taysha Rushton was limited to six points on 2-for-12 shooting.
On the plus side, Concordia committed only nine turnovers (compared to 16 by the Tigers). In addition, transfer Chaise Pfanstiel made her Bulldog debut on Wednesday. The Millard West High School alum began her collegiate career at Northwest Missouri State University.
“TC had a great game,” Olson said. “Koepke kept us in it with plays on both ends. I thought Pauli played well and Bailey stepped up in the second half. Offensively we were fine. Our defense early on wasn’t there in that first quarter. Then you have the little things at the end of the game with us missing layups and free throws. We needed all of those points to come back.”
The Bulldogs will be at home for the first time in 2021 when Jamestown (9-4, 6-4 GPAC) visits Friedrich Arena for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff on Saturday. The two sides met in North Dakota on Dec. 18 with the result being a 55-50 Concordia victory in a defensive battle. The Bulldogs have beaten the Jimmies in all five meetings since Jamestown joined the GPAC.
Third quarter outburst key to win over Jamestown
Jan. 9, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – In the second meeting with Jamestown in just over three weeks, the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team flipped a switch after halftime. The Bulldogs used a game defining 22-2 run to put the Jimmies on their heels while pulling out a 67-61 victory on Saturday (Jan. 9) afternoon. Three Concordia players scored in double figures as part of a balanced effort.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad will get comfortable inside Friedrich Arena down the stretch of the regular season. The Bulldogs (10-6, 9-4 GPAC) effectively bounced back from an 85-80 loss at Dakota Wesleyan three days earlier.
“I just thought we played harder and had a little bit tougher mindset defensively,” Olson said of the third quarter run. “Thankfully some shots went in for us. We’ve talked to our team about it – the margin of error is just so small (in the GPAC). It really comes down to being able to execute and get stops when you really need it.”
It was quite an accomplishment for Concordia to hold GPAC leading scorer Hannah DeMars to nine points (well below her average of 20.1). In a battle of man-to-man defensive looks, DeMars and Taylor Cockerill frequently locked horns in a matchup of backcourt stars. Despite DeMars shooting 2-for-11 from the floor, the Jimmies (9-6, 6-6 GPAC) fought back from the rough third quarter and got as close as one point (56-55) in the final period.
In a moment as big as any in the game, freshman Bailey Conrad drove and scored to push the lead to five (60-55) in the final four minutes. The Bulldogs held off Jamestown the rest of the way with free throw shooting (7-for-8 in the last three minutes) and grit. A couple of late turnovers also made life difficult on the Jimmies.
Cockerill went a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line on her way to a team high 14 points. She also grabbed nine rebounds. She was joined in double figures by Taysha Rushton (12 points) and Bailey Conrad (10 points, five rebounds). Mackenzie Koepke filled the stat sheet with seven points, nine rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal. Rylee Pauli chipped in with five points, six rebounds and four steals and, off the bench, Taylor Farrell (nine points) knocked down three treys.
Concordia found a way to win despite shooting 33.3 percent (21-for-63) from the floor. Both wins this season over Jamestown have been less than beautiful – but they look great in the standings.
“This group is just so much fun to play with,” Koepke said. “We have younger girls stepping up and playing roles that are big roles – it’s impressive … I just think we’re a really tough team mentally. We play together and we’ve got good chemistry.”
This marked the 10th time that Olson has gone head-to-head with former Bulldog teammate Thad Sankey as opposing coaches. Sankey’s squad was led by the 15 points from Macy Savela. Kia Tower added 13 points. Jamestown shot 39.2 percent from the floor, but lost the turnover (18-12) and rebound (44-35) battles.
“She’s one of the best players in the league,” Olson said of DeMars. “She’s just dominating this season. I thought we did a really nice job at times of limiting her touches and making everything difficult for her. Taysha was fantastic hounding her and I felt like we had a lot of other people step up and take their turns.”
A Wednesday road trip awaits for the Bulldogs, who shift their focus to Mount Marty (3-12, 1-11 GPAC) and a 6 p.m. CT tipoff in Yankton, S.D. In the Dec. 30 matchup between the two sides, Concordia made its first seven 3-point attempts of the game on the way to a 98-53 blowout win in Seward. The Lancers have lost seven in a row, including Saturday’s 90-46 defeat at Dordt.
Concordia readies for second meetings with Mount Marty, Morningside
Jan. 11, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Another challenging week of GPAC play awaits the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team, which is coming off two closely contested outings last week. The Bulldogs fell at Dakota Wesleyan, 85-80, on Jan. 6 despite a 33-point outburst from Taylor Cockerill. They returned to the win column three days later with a 67-61 home win over Jamestown. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad now has its sights set on rematches with Mount Marty and No. 14 Morningside.
This Week
Concordia (11-6, 10-4) at Mount Marty (3-12, 1-11)
Wednesday, Jan. 13 | 6 p.m.
Cimpl Arena | Yankton, S.D.
Webcast/Live Stats: Mount Marty Stretch Portal
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Parker Cyza
Concordia (11-6, 10-4) vs. No. 14 Morningside (13-2, 11-1)
Saturday, Jan. 16 | 2 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 182 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 77.6 (33rd)
Scoring Defense: 67.9 (93rd)
FG% Offense: .380 (T-117th)
FG% Defense: .392 (93rd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .320 (62nd)
3-pt FG% Defense: .329 (T-140th)
Free Throw%: .741 (T-33rd)
Rebound Margin: -0.71 (104th)
Turnover Margin: +6.94 (22nd)
Mount Marty
Scoring Offense: 59.1 (151st)
Scoring Defense: 76.3 (158th)
FG% Offense: .348 (T-156th)
FG% Defense: .436 (T-158th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .272 (T-132nd)
3-pt FG% Defense: .366 (T-171st)
Free Throw%: .668 (110th)
Rebound Margin: -10.0 (T-166th)
Turnover Margin: -0.87 (109th)
Morningside
Scoring Offense: 80.3 (22nd)
Scoring Defense: 60.7 (34th)
FG% Offense: .444 (T-22nd)
FG% Defense: .385 (T-74th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .377 (13th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .293 (T-67th)
Free Throw%: .752 (T-27th)
Rebound Margin: +1.80 (72nd)
Turnover Margin: +6.80 (24th)
Protocols for fans
At Mount Marty: Visiting fans are not allowed to attend games at Mount Marty.
Concordia home games: Consistent with state directed health measures, Concordia will allow up to 50 percent capacity for its home games. Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online (https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets). Tickets will also be sold at the door, provided capacity limits have not been reached via online sales.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
The Bulldogs went 1-1 last week with an 85-80 loss at Dakota Wesleyan and a 67-61 home win over Jamestown. In the defeat at DWU, Concordia fell behind 42-22 in the first half before rallying to get within two in the final quarter. Star guard Taylor Cockerill poured in 33 points on 12-for-19 shooting in leading the comeback effort. Ultimately, the Tigers claimed victory while shooting 52.5 percent from the floor. They got a team high 25 points from Haidyn Pitsch. Three days later, the Bulldogs returned home and shook off a 10-point deficit on the way to the win over Jamestown. Concordia overcame 33.3 percent shooting with the help of margins of plus-nine in rebounding and plus-six in turnovers. Cockerill (14), Taysha Rushton (12) and Bailey Conrad (10) scored in double figures for the Bulldogs. Concordia completed a regular-season sweep of the Jimmies.
Cockerill scores 30+ for third time
All-American guard Taylor Cockerill achieved the third 30-point game of her career in the contest at Dakota Wesleyan. During Drew Olson’s tenure (began in 2006-07), six different players have scored 30 points in a game at least once (see list below). Cockerill’s career high for a single game remains 40 points, a number she put up in the 2018-19 season opener. On the program’s all-time list, Cockerill ranks 21st with 1,175 career points. Last week she passed former teammate Mary Janovich (1,159) on the list. Immediately in front of Cockerill for 20th place is Teresa Nofke (1,207).
30+ points, single game (Olson era)
Bailey Morris (2011-15) – six times
Whitney Stichka (2004-09) – six times
Taylor Cockerill (2017-- ) – three times
Kristen Conahan (2010-14) – twice
Amber Kistler (2010-12) – once
Philly Lammers (2016-20) – once
Olson chasing 400
It hasn’t taken long for Drew Olson to move from his 300th career win to knocking on the door of 400. Olson enters this week with a career record of 396-104 since being hired as head coach prior to the start of the 2006-07 season. According to NAIA records, Olson began this season with the 14th most wins among active NAIA women’s basketball coaches. Of the top 25 active coaches listed by the NAIA, Olson ranks No. 3 in winning percentage. A former Bulldog standout under Coach Grant Schmidt, Olson has led the program to 30 or more wins in a season six times and to 25 or more wins 10 times over his first 14 seasons. In GPAC games only, Olson has produced a record of 224-67.
New additions
The program has welcomed a couple of new student-athletes in recent weeks. An alum of Millard West High School, Chaise Pfanstiel made her Bulldog debut last week and appeared in the Dakota Wesleyan and Jamestown games. She scored her first points in a Concordia uniform by draining a trey in the win over Jamestown. Pfanstiel began her collegiate career at NCAA Division II Northwest Missouri State University where she red-shirted in 2019-20. Pfanstiel enjoyed a distinguished high school career that saw her win a soccer state championship and average roughly 14 points per game on the basketball court as both a junior and senior. Pfanstiel was a high school teammate of current Bulldog Taylor Farrell and of former star Philly Lammers. The other addition to the team is Abby Aplaca, who played three seasons at Concordia University, Portland, which is now closed. Aplaca has yet to appear in a game for the Bulldogs.
Koepke filling up stat sheet
Lincoln Lutheran alum Mackenzie Koepke’s contributions last week went beyond the scoring column. Koepke is growing more comfortable as a shot blocker. She rejected four shots at Dakota Wesleyan and then blocked three more shots versus Jamestown. In the victory over the Jimmies, Koepke filled the stat sheet with seven points, nine rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Koepke is averaging career highs in rebounding (5.0) and steals (2.1) per game while shooting 31.4 percent from 3-point range. On the program’s all-time list for 3-point field goals, Koepke has moved into a tie for ninth with 157 career treys.
GPAC update
New official GPAC rankings are scheduled to be released on the NAIA website on Monday (Jan. 11). Entering this week, Concordia resides in third place in the GPAC standings, behind Morningside (11-1) and Briar Cliff (10-3). Dordt (9-4), Dakota Wesleyan (7-5) and Northwestern (7-5) are also close behind. As Olson has stated, there is plenty of parity two through seven in the conference. At least for now, Head Coach Jamie Sale’s Mustangs have a leg up when it comes to the GPAC regular-season title race.
Scouting Mount Marty
Mount Marty will be attempting to end a seven-game skid. The Lancers never recovered from a 21-0 hole in their meeting with Concordia in Seward on Dec. 30. Since then, Mount Marty has also been beaten handily by the likes of Briar Cliff, Northwestern and Dordt. The most recent victory for the Lancers came by a 62-53 score over College of Saint Mary on Dec. 2. Karlee McKinney is far and away the team’s leading scorer with an average of 13.3 points per game.
Scouting Morningside
Morningside has emerged as the favorite in the conference race. Before Concordia began its recent reign atop the conference, the Mustangs swept GPAC titles in 2015-16. Sale’s team is looking to get back to that perch behind a talented roster led by Sierra Mitchell and Sophia Peppers. In the first meeting that took place in Sioux City, Morningside blitzed the Bulldogs in the first quarter, shot 50.8 percent for the game and ran away with an 86-67 victory. Morningside has won seven in a row since its 80-78 loss at Briar Cliff. The Mustangs will have a chance for revenge on Wednesday when they host the Chargers.
Looking ahead
Following this week’s action, Concordia will have a mid-week bye before hosting Briar Cliff on Saturday, Jan. 23. Starting with the Morningside game, the Bulldogs will play six of their last seven regular-season games at home.
Projected Starters
Concordia (11-6, 10-4)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (15.1)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.0)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (14.3)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.6)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (7.2)
Mount Marty (3-12, 1-11)
G – Kiara Berndt, So. (4.6)
G – Bailey Kortan, So. (5.9)
G – Karlee McKinney, Sr. (13.3)
F – Alexis Arens, Fr. (3.8)
F – Sarah Castaneda, Sr. (4.3)
Morningside (13-2, 11-1)
G – Faith Meyer, Sr. (7.3)
G – Sierra Mitchell, Sr. (17.2)
G – McKenna Sims, So. (6.9)
F – Chloe Lofstrom, Fr. (10.3)
F – Sophia Peppers, Jr. (16.4)
Dawgs record seventh GPAC road win in blowout fashion
Jan. 13, 2021
YANKTON, S.D. – Instead of draining seven-straight threes like it did to begin the previous matchup with Mount Marty, Concordia University Women’s Basketball built its lead behind lockdown defense on Wednesday (Jan. 13) night. The host Lancers managed only three first-quarter points in what amounted to a 94-62 blowout win for the Bulldogs. They unleashed the press inside Cimpl Arena and forced 26 turnovers.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad claimed its seventh GPAC road win of the season and moved to 12-6 overall and to 11-4 in the GPAC. Concordia received votes in the new national poll released on Wednesday.
“I thought we came out with really good focus both in the first and third quarters,” Olson said. “We had a little bit of a lapse in the second quarter but overall, I was pleased with how we played … We wanted to use our depth, we wanted to press more tonight and it was kind of like old school Concordia Women’s Basketball. It was fun to see the way we pressed and hopefully we can continue that.”
The Bulldogs dominated both regular-season meetings with Mount Marty (3-12, 1-11 GPAC) from start to finish. The starting five for Concordia completely overwhelmed the Lancers. Taylor Cockerill (11 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the floor) and company led 23-3 at the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs then poured it on with a 9-0 spurt early in the third period. By the close of the third quarter, Concordia owned an insurmountable 77-38 lead.
Many Bulldogs had a hand in growing that advantage. Sixteen saw action in the game with 13 registering in the scoring column. Eight Concordia players posted eight points or more: Rebecca Higgins (12), Cockerill (11), Kayla Luebbe (10 | 4-for-4 on free throws), Sadie Powell (nine), Mackenzie Toomey (nine), Bailey Conrad (eight), Mackenzie Koepke (eight) and Chloe Schumacher (eight | 6-for-6 on free throws). Higgins sparkled while going 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Koepke, Luebbe and Powell each grabbed four rebounds.
Koepke continues to stuff the stat sheet. She blocked three shots on Wednesday to give her 10 rejections over the past three games. Koepke was also one of three Bulldogs with three steals. The others to swipe a trio of steals were Taylor Farrell and Averie Lambrecht. They also helped in limiting Mount Marty to 34.5 percent shooting.
Making matters worse for the Lancers, they played the game without leading scorer Karlee McKinney. In her absence, Mount Marty was led by 12 points apiece from Eve Millar and Callie Otkin. The Lancers were solid from the foul line (16-for-21), but those numbers could not save them from falling for the eighth-straight outing.
Olson is proud of the work his team has done on the road this season. Concordia will be away from home only once more this regular season. Said Olson, “What came out of it was the toughness we had. We had some great wins on the road – at Jamestown and at Northwestern. Just really gritty performances. I’m really proud of where we’re at right now.”
The Bulldogs will get another shot at first-place Morningside (14-2, 12-1 GPAC) when the two sides get together in Seward on Saturday. Tipoff from Friedrich Arena is set for 2 p.m. CT. Concordia had won eight of the nine meetings prior to the matchup won by the Mustangs, 86-67, in Sioux City, Iowa, on Dec. 12. Now ranked 11th in the NAIA, Morningside will carry an eight-game win streak into the weekend.
Said Olson, “Morningside is awesome. They’re the best team in the league. They have probably two of the top five players in the league. Sierra Mitchell is so hard to guard and Sophia Peppers is really, really good. We have our hands full.”
Late lead relinquished in nail-biter with first-place Morningside
Jan. 16, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – There were many positive signs of growth on a day when the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team fell just short of what would have been its most significant victory of the season. First-place Morningside finished the game on a 10-2 run while edging the Bulldogs in a nail-biter, 66-64, inside Friedrich Arena on Saturday (Jan. 16) afternoon. The 11th-ranked Mustangs avoided an upset despite shooting only 32.9 percent from the floor.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad is disappointed in the result, but encouraged by the growth shown since the previous meeting with Morningside (an 86-67 defeat). Concordia now sits at 12-7 overall and at 11-5 in GPAC play (third place).
“Our team is fighting like crazy,” Olson said. “And we’ve got a lot of toughness to us. We’ve come a long way … We had a couple late turnovers and the offensive rebounds that Morningside got really hurt us. We get them to miss and if we get the rebound it’s a different game. They’re a great team. They hit shots when they needed it and we didn’t. It was a great game. I’m proud of our team and I know it’s something we’re going to learn from.”
Bulldog star guard Taylor Cockerill twice nailed treys in the fourth quarter that put the Bulldogs up by six in both instances. Concordia still led (64-61) with as little as 45 seconds remaining. That’s about the time when Mustang standout Sierra Mitchell came through with a consequential offensive rebound and game-tying 3-point basket. After an empty Bulldog possession, Faith Meyer drove baseline and scored the game-winner with 1.4 seconds left on the clock.
It was a great escape for Morningside (15-2, 13-1 GPAC), which has padded its lead atop the GPAC standings. So many factors played in favor of the Bulldogs, who managed to limit the Mustangs to 10-for-41 shooting from beyond the arc. Mitchell (team high 15 points) had been 2-for-9 from long range before burying the clutch trey in the final minute.
Concordia also poked holes in the Morningside zone by making use of the height of Kayla Luebbe (13 points and eight rebounds) and Chloe Schumacher (11 points and four rebounds). They combined for 24 points on 11-for-12 shooting from the floor. The work of Luebbe and Schumacher almost overcame the team’s 21 turnovers and the 17 offensive rebounds it surrendered.
“We learned we can’t dig ourselves that big of a hole (as occurred in the first meeting with Morningside),” Schumacher said. “We did a great job of coming out strong and doing the little things like rebounding and getting stops.”
Cockerill led all players with 17 points (6-for-14 from the floor) to go along with her seven rebounds. Mackenzie Koepke chipped in with five points and eight rebounds. The starting five other than Cockerill went a combined 6-for-27 from the floor. Overall, the Bulldogs shot 40.0 percent from the field.
Morningside’s 66 points were its lowest total of the season in conference play. While Mitchell paced her side with 15 points, McKenna Sims added 13 and Grace Meyer collected 12 off the bench. Another of the team’s marquee players, Sophia Peppers contributed nine points, seven rebounds and five steals. The only losses for the Mustangs have come against Benedictine College (Kan.) and Briar Cliff.
The Bulldogs will enjoy a mid-week bye before returning home next Saturday to host Briar Cliff (13-5, 11-4 GPAC). Tipoff from Friedrich is again set for 2 p.m. CT. Concordia will attempt to avenge its 69-59 loss at Briar Cliff that occurred on Dec. 5. Under the leadership of first-year Head Coach Brita Hand, the Chargers have already surpassed their win total from the entire 2019-20 season.
Matchup of teams tied for second place on tap for Saturday
Jan. 21, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Women’s Basketball team and Briar Cliff enter Saturday’s matchup deadlocked in second place in the GPAC standings. The contest will tip off at 2 p.m. CT inside Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs have been idle since a 66-64 home loss to No. 11 Morningside last Saturday while the Chargers are coming off a 69-59 loss at Northwestern on Wednesday night. Concordia and Briar Cliff sport identical 11-5 GPAC records with the Chargers having won the first matchup this season.
This Week
Concordia (12-7, 11-5) vs. Briar Cliff (13-6, 11-5)
Saturday, Jan. 23 | 2 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 186 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 77.8 (31st)
Scoring Defense: 67.5 (96th)
FG% Offense: .386 (111th)
FG% Defense: .386 (T-73rd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .316 (70th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .323 (T-133rd)
Free Throw%: .742 (T-29th)
Rebound Margin: -0.42 (109th)
Turnover Margin: +6.53 (23rd)
Briar Cliff
Scoring Offense: 70.4 (79th)
Scoring Defense: 63.9 (55th)
FG% Offense: .398 (T-87th)
FG% Defense: .394 (T-94th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .305 (84th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .304 (T-95th)
Free Throw%: .683 (T-95th)
Rebound Margin: +3.58 (50th)
Turnover Margin: +4.32 (36th)
Protocols for fans
Concordia home games: Consistent with state directed health measures, Concordia will allow up to 50 percent capacity for its home games. Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online (https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets). Tickets will also be sold at the door, provided capacity limits have not been reached via online sales.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
The Bulldogs have had a break since their 66-64 home loss to 11th-ranked Morningside on Jan. 16. Also as part of last week’s action, Concordia blew out Mount Marty, 94-62, in Yankton, S.D. In the win over the Lancers, eight Bulldogs scored eight or more points: Rebecca Higgins (12), Taylor Cockerill (11), Kayla Luebbe (10 | 4-for-4 on free throws), Sadie Powell (nine), Mackenzie Toomey (nine), Bailey Conrad (eight), Mackenzie Koepke (eight) and Chloe Schumacher (eight | 6-for-6 on free throws). It marked the fourth time this season that Concordia has reached 90 or more points in a game. In the matchup with the Mustangs, the Bulldogs held a six-point advantage late in the fourth quarter before Sierra Mitchell and company came through in the clutch. Faith Meyer’s basket with 1.4 seconds left provided the winning score for Morningside, which padded its lead atop the GPAC standings. The Mustangs overcame their 10-for-41 shooting from 3-point range and a game high 17 points from Cockerill and the efficient inside scoring of Luebbe and Schumacher.
Home/road splits
Entering the 2020-21 season, the Bulldogs had gone a combined 63-1 at home over the previous four seasons (2016-17 through 2019-20). So far this season, Concordia has gotten better results on the road (8-3) compared to at home (4-4). Some of that discrepancy is due to the opponents the Bulldogs have faced at home. Three of the four home losses have come against teams currently ranked in the NAIA top 25: No. 7 Carroll College (Mont.), No. 11 Morningside and No. 24 Dakota State University (S.D.). Concordia’s key road results have included wins over three foes with records above .500 in GPAC play: Northwestern (9-5), Jamestown (8-6) and Midland (9-7). The Bulldogs’ eight road wins are tied with Morningside for the most among GPAC squads.
Olson chasing 400
It hasn’t taken long for Drew Olson to move from his 300th career win to knocking on the door of 400. Olson enters this week with a career record of 397-105 since being hired as head coach prior to the start of the 2006-07 season. According to NAIA records, Olson began this season with the 14th most wins among active NAIA women’s basketball coaches. Of the top 25 active coaches listed by the NAIA, Olson ranks No. 3 in winning percentage. A former Bulldog standout under Coach Grant Schmidt, Olson has led the program to 30 or more wins in a season six times and to 25 or more wins 10 times over his first 14 seasons. In GPAC games only, Olson has produced a record of 225-68.
Luebbe/Schumacher emerge
Off the bench, frontcourt players in 6-foot-1 sophomore Kayla Luebbe and 6-foot-2 junior Chloe Schumacher provided a significant lift last week. The former Seward High School standout Luebbe posted a combined 23 points while shooting 9-for-12 from the floor and 5-for-5 from the foul line last week. Meanwhile, Schumacher totaled 19 points on 6-for-6 shooting from the field and 6-for-7 shooting from the free throw line. Morningside struggled to contain Luebbe, who amassed 33 points (16-for-17 from the field) in the two matchups with the Mustangs.
Roster movement
For the first time in her collegiate career, Abby Aplaca put on a Bulldog jersey while suiting up for the game against Morningside. Aplaca will wear No. 55 while fellow transfer Chaise Pfanstiel moved to No. 10. Aplaca previously played for three seasons at NCAA Division II Concordia University, Portland before the school abruptly shut down. As a junior on the team in 2019-20, Aplaca earned conference All-Academic Team honors and averaged 6.3 points per game while starting all 28 games. Aplaca is still waiting to make her CUNE debut. Meanwhile, Pfanstiel has appeared in four games since arriving via Northwest Missouri State University. She’s totaled six points and three steals.
GPAC update
The Bulldogs moved back into a tie for second place in the GPAC standings after Briar Cliff fell at Northwestern on Wednesday. While Morningside (14-1 GPAC) has established itself as the league’s top team, there will be plenty of jockeying for spots 2 through 7 in the conference pecking order. Northwestern (10-5) and Dordt (10-6) are hot on the heels of Concordia and Briar Cliff while Jamestown (8-6), Dakota Wesleyan (8-6) and Midland (9-7) remain in the picture. The Bulldogs have the advantage of playing five of their final six games in the regular season at home.
Scouting Briar Cliff
The Chargers ended a drought against Concordia back on Dec. 5 with a 69-59 win in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs were a rough 8-for-42 from 3-point range and dug themselves a 17-9 deficit at the end of the first quarter. After going 11-19 overall (8-14 GPAC) last season, Briar Cliff has rebounded impressively under first year Head Coach Brita Hand. In the December win over Concordia, Charger star Konnor Sudmann posted a game high 22 points while going 14-for-14 from the foul line. Sudmann averages 14.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Saturday’s game could be an important one in terms of potential national tournament bids.
Looking ahead
The Bulldogs will also play just once next week. They are slated to host College of Saint Mary (2-13, 1-11 GPAC) at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, Jan. 28. The contest was originally slated to be played next Wednesday. Due to the cancellation of the 2021 Concordia Invitational Tournament, Concordia will have the weekend of Jan. 29-30 off.
Projected Starters
Concordia (12-7, 11-5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (15.0)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.2)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.3)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.5)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.7)
Briar Cliff (13-6, 11-5)
G – Kennedy Benne, Fr. (11.8)
G – Payton Slaughter, So. (11.7)
G – Konnor Sudmann, So. (14.7)
F – Josie Condon, So. (4.8)
C – Madelyn Deitchler, Jr. (14.1)
Rushton quarterbacks win in scrum between second-place teams
Jan. 23, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – A matchup between teams tied for second place in the GPAC standings turned into just the type of physical, wire-to-wire battle that one would have expected. The Concordia University Women’s Basketball team rode an offensive outburst from freshman Taysha Rushton and a tenacious defensive effort to a 65-59 win over Briar Cliff on Saturday (Jan. 23). Rushton nailed five of her side’s 11 treys in a victorious effort.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad is unlikely to repeat as GPAC regular-season champions, but it has positioned itself alone in second place for the moment. The Bulldogs moved to 13-7 overall and to 12-5 inside the GPAC.
“That was a good win in an extremely physical game,” Olson said. “I am really proud of our defensive focus. I thought we got rushed a bit. We need to do a better job of taking care of the ball and finishing games, but we showed our toughness throughout. Taysha was awesome and a big reason we got our lead.”
The production of Rushton and a couple of clutch fourth quarter treys from Mackenzie Koepke were key in Concordia building a double-digit lead with under a minute to go. Olson also cited the play of Abby Aplaca, Rylee Pauli, Sadie Powell and Mackenzie Toomey as critical factors. That’s not to say the Bulldogs could ever get comfortable. They struggled at times handling the press of the Chargers and committed 22 turnovers.
This one required a high degree of toughness and grit – and Concordia won’t lose too often when it shoots better than 40 percent (42.9 on Saturday) from the floor. A variety of Bulldogs had a hand in limiting Briar Cliff star Konnor Sudmann to 3-for-13 shooting from the field. Pauli scrapped for four steals while the transfer Aplaca (five points) made her CUNE debut and supplied a lengthy defensive presence on the perimeter.
Rushton ensured that the Bulldogs started this contest better than the one they lost at Briar Cliff earlier this season. After totaling a combined nine points in the previous two games, Rushton drained four 3-point field goals in the first half alone. Her confidence has not wavered. Said Rushton, “It’s just about staying positive. Coach Olson talked about it at one point. Just think positive and don’t let negative thoughts come through. That’s what I did.”
Rushton likened the physicality of the battle to that of a football game. The Bulldogs could not put the ball between the uprights (8-for-42 from 3-point range) in the first meeting with Briar Cliff. This time around they went 11-for-28 from beyond the arc while the Chargers shot 4-for-26 from long range. Taylor Cockerill posted 15 points (9-for-14 from the foul line), eight rebounds and four assists in complimenting Rushton. Koepke contributed nine points and eight rebounds.
The Chargers (13-7, 11-6 GPAC) got exactly 12 points from Madelyn Deitchler, Kaegan Held and Payton Slaughter. Briar Cliff fell despite margins of plus-six in turnovers and plus-one (40-39) in rebounding. As part of a difficult recent schedule, the Chargers have dropped three of four with all three defeats coming on the road.
The stretch of six home games over the final seven outings continues on Thursday (Jan. 28) when the Bulldogs will host College of Saint Mary (2-13, 1-11 GPAC) at 7 p.m. CT. The two sides also met in Omaha just before Thanksgiving with the result being a 99-47 Concordia win. The Bulldogs are 11-0 against the Flames since CSM joined the GPAC prior to the start of the 2015-16 season.
Bulldogs prepping for second meeting with CSM
Jan. 25, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Only one game will make up this week’s schedule for the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team. In a typical year, the Concordia Invitational Tournament would be on tap for this weekend, but CIT was called off for a number of reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of preparing for another CIT, the Bulldogs are readying to host College of Saint Mary on Thursday. Concordia improved to 5-4 at home with last week’s win over Briar Cliff.
This Week
Concordia (13-7, 12-5) vs. College of Saint Mary (2-14, 1-12)
Thursday, Jan. 28 | 7 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: No radio for this game
Commentator: Frank Greene
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 190 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 77.2 (34th)
Scoring Defense: 67.1 (93rd)
FG% Offense: .387 (T-109th)
FG% Defense: .383 (T-72nd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .320 (T-64th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .314 (T-114th)
Free Throw%: .735 (T-37th)
Rebound Margin: -0.55 (112th)
Turnover Margin: +5.80 (28th)
College of Saint Mary
Scoring Offense: 56.6 (170th)
Scoring Defense: 73.5 (151st)
FG% Offense: .379 (T-125th)
FG% Defense: .404 (T-122nd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .247 (T-169th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .357 (T-177th)
Free Throw%: .589 (177th)
Rebound Margin: -2.75 (T-135th)
Turnover Margin: -6.50 (182nd)
Protocols for fans
Concordia home games: Consistent with state directed health measures, Concordia will allow up to 50 percent capacity for its home games. Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online (https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets). Tickets will also be sold at the door, provided capacity limits have not been reached via online sales.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
The Bulldogs also played only once last week. In a matchup of teams that entered the game tied for second place, Concordia defeated Briar Cliff, 65-59, on Jan. 23. Freshman guard Taysha Rushton played a major role in helping the Bulldogs build a 30-21 halftime lead. Rushton wound up with 20 points on the strength of 5-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. Junior Taylor Cockerill added 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals and Mackenzie Koepke contributed nine points, eight rebounds and a blocked shot. On the defensive end, the Bulldogs limited the Chargers to 33.8 percent shooting and star Konnor Sudmann went just 3-for-13 from the floor (nine points). The Bulldogs effectively avenged their 69-59 loss at Briar Cliff that occurred on Dec. 5.
Dominance vs. CSM
College of Saint Mary joined the GPAC prior to the start of the 2015-16 season. As GPAC opponents, Concordia has won all 11 meetings with the Flames and only one of those contests was decided by single digits. The Bulldogs have scored at least 86 points in each of the past nine get-togethers. The 127 points scored by Concordia versus CSM on Nov. 29, 2017, stand as a single-game school record. Earlier this season, 14 Bulldogs registered in the scoring column in a 99-47 win over the Flames in Omaha. These two programs met at the national tournament in the second round in 2015. Concordia won, 92-82.
Matchups as GPAC opponents
1/13/16 – W, 73-67 (Omaha)
2/17/16 – W, 74-62 (Seward)
11/30/16 – W, 95-56 (Seward)
1/18/17 – W, 101-77 (Omaha)
11/29/17 – W, 114-56 (Seward)
1/17/18 – W, 86-57 (Omaha)
11/20/18 – W, 88-55 (Omaha)
2/13/19 – W, 95-51 (Seward)
11/20/19 – W, 127-51 (Seward)
1/15/20 – W, 108-64 (Omaha)
11/24/20 – W, 99-47 (Omaha)
“Trey-sha” Rushton
Taysha Rushton lit it up last week in her 20-point performance versus Briar Cliff. It marked the fourth 20-point outing of the season for the freshman from Lubbock, Texas. Rushton also poured in 23 versus Midland, 23 versus Mount Marty and 28 (career high) at Northwestern. Among all NAIA players, Rushton makes 16th for most made 3-point field goals (43). On the GPAC leaderboard, Rushton ranks second in free throw percentage (.823), fourth in 3-point field goals per game (2.15), eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (.347), 11th in scoring (13.6), 12th in assists per game (2.90) and 14th in steals per game (1.70).
Cockerill moves into program’s top 20
With the 15 points Taylor Cockerill scored in last week’s win over Briar Cliff, the Waverly High School product passed Teresa Noffke (1,207) for 20th on the program’s all-time scoring list. Cockerill has produced 1,218 points during a collegiate career that began with the 2017-18 season. Next up on the list for Cockerill to pass are Amy Scheil (1,244), Tracy Peitz (1,277) and Katie Rich (1,293). Twice this season Cockerill has put up 33 points in a game, seven shy of her career best of 40 (which ranks as the second highest single-game total in program history). Cockerill has also amassed career totals of 430 rebounds, 219 assists and 172 steals over 95 games played.
Olson chasing 400
It hasn’t taken long for Drew Olson to move from his 300th career win to knocking on the door of 400. Olson enters this week with a career record of 398-105 since being hired as head coach prior to the start of the 2006-07 season. According to NAIA records, Olson began this season with the 14th most wins among active NAIA women’s basketball coaches. Of the top 25 active coaches listed by the NAIA, Olson ranks No. 3 in winning percentage. A former Bulldog standout under Coach Grant Schmidt, Olson has led the program to 30 or more wins in a season six times and to 25 or more wins 10 times over his first 14 seasons. In GPAC games only, Olson has produced a record of 226-68.
GPAC update
At least for now, Concordia (12-5 GPAC) stands alone in second place in the league standings. Morningside (15-1 GPAC) has established itself as the clear frontrunner while it chases its first GPAC regular-season title since the 2015-16 season. The Bulldogs will have plenty of competition down the stretch for that No. 2 spot with Northwestern (11-5), Briar Cliff (11-6), Dordt (11-6), Jamestown (9-6) and Dakota Wesleyan (9-6) each sporting either five or six conference losses. Among conference teams, Northwestern’s six-game win streak ranks second only to Morningside’s 11-game string.
Scouting College of Saint Mary
College of Saint Mary snapped a 12-game losing streak last week when it blew out Doane, 81-44, in Omaha. The Flames followed it up with an 84-51 loss at Dakota Wesleyan on Sunday. The program has struggled to return to the level it achieved just before joining the GPAC. College of Saint Mary qualified for the national tournament as recently as 2015. Head Coach Kirk Walker is in his third season at the helm of the program. The team’s top player has been freshman Honnah Leo, who is averaging 14.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Looking ahead
The final road game of the regular season is coming up next Wednesday (Feb. 3) when Concordia will play at Dordt (12-8, 11-6 GPAC). The Bulldogs will close the regular season by hosting Dakota Wesleyan (Feb. 6), Hastings (Feb. 10) and Doane (Feb. 20).
Projected Starters
Concordia (13-7, 12-5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (15.0)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.2)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.3)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.5)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.7)
College of Saint Mary (2-14, 1-12)
G – Kenzi Hoit, So. (4.4)
G – Jada Scott, Jr. (5.5)
G/F – Honnah Leo, Fr. (14.3)
G/F – Madelyn Turner, So. (7.5)
F – Clare Lewandowski, So. (6.3)
Aggressive D, three-ball fuel rout of CSM
Jan. 28, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Everyone had their opportunities to make an impact on Thursday (Jan. 28) as the 25th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team pulverized visiting College of Saint Mary, 111-52. The Bulldogs drained 15 treys and scored at least 23 points in each quarter in a strong performance inside Friedrich Arena. Sophomore Taylor Farrell topped all players with 18 points.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad hopes to show it belongs in the NAIA top 25 after reclaiming a national ranking on Wednesday. Concordia (14-7, 13-5 GPAC) currently resides in second place in the GPAC standings.
Said Olson, “I thought we moved the ball well and played unselfish basketball. That allowed for better shots. I think this game was good to get some people confidence.”
In unleashing the press, the Bulldogs flustered the Flames (2-16, 1-14 GPAC) into committing 36 turnovers. On the other end, Concordia found wide open shooters all evening. Four different Bulldogs curled in multiple 3-point field goals: Farrell (4-for-6), Chaise Pfanstiel (3-for-4), Taysha Rushton (3-for-6) and Faith Troshynski (2-for-3). When it wasn’t bombing away from the perimeter, Concordia could drop it down low to Kayla Luebbe, who racked up 16 points and seven rebounds.
Pfanstiel found a groove early on. Before six minutes had even elapsed in the opening quarter, the Millard West High School product had knocked in 11 points while connecting on three triples. The arrival of Pfanstiel for the second semester gives the Bulldogs another weapon.
“The team was really encouraging during warmups,” Pfanstiel said. “I was hitting in warmups and Coach Olson told me before I went out there, ‘Let it fly’ – so I did and it went in … I’m lucky for the opportunity to come in and play and be part of the team.”
Concordia double-figure scorers included Farrell (18), Luebbe (16), Pfanstiel (13) and Rushton (11). Six other Bulldogs tallied at least six points: Bailey Conrad (nine), Sadie Powell (nine), Chloe Schumacher (eight), Mackenzie Koepke (seven), Rylee Pauli (six) and Troshynski (six). Schumacher also grabbed eight rebounds while feeding a team advantage of 48-30 on the boards. Meanwhile, Mackenzie Toomey plucked six steals and Abby Aplaca and Powell nabbed three apiece. Conrad dished out four assists.
College of Saint Mary had also played road games on Sunday and Monday. The Flames are paced by a talented freshman in Honnah Leo, who collected 16 points while going 4-for-6 from 3-point range on Thursday. As a team, CSM shot 33.3 percent from the floor. The Flames did manage to force 18 Concordia turnovers.
The 111 points scored by the Bulldogs equaled the season high they also achieved at Doane back on Nov. 18. The victory on Thursday marked the 399th win in Olson’s coaching career. The only basketball coach in school history to reach 400 wins is Grant Schmidt, who guided the men’s program to 445 victories from 1989 to 2012.
Idle this weekend, the Bulldogs now get set for their final road game of the regular season. They will play at Dordt (12-9, 11-7 GPAC) at 6 p.m. CT next Wednesday (Feb. 3). In this season’s first matchup between the two sides, Concordia won in Seward, 73-62, while being led by the 15 points produced by Rushton. The Defenders began this season ranked eighth in the NAIA.
No. 25 Bulldogs face challenges from Dordt, DWU
Feb. 1, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – This week will go a long way towards determining whether the 25th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team can maintain its hold on second place in the GPAC standings. As part of a challenging week, the Bulldogs will travel to play at Dordt on Wednesday before hosting Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday. Concordia will play its final three games of the regular season inside Friedrich Arena. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has gotten some late season rest having played only twice since Jan. 16.
This Week
(25) Concordia (14-7, 13-5) at Dordt (12-9, 11-7)
Wednesday, Feb. 3 | 6 p.m.
DeWitt Gymnasium | Sioux Center, Iowa
Webcast: Dordt Media Network
Live Stats: Dakstats
Radio: 104.9 KTMX-FM Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
(25) Concordia (14-7, 13-5) vs. Dakota Wesleyan (13-6, 11-6)
Saturday, Feb. 6 | 4 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 KTMX-FM Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 192 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 78.8 (24th)
Scoring Defense: 66.3 (87th)
FG% Offense: .395 (T-97th)
FG% Defense: .381 (T-68th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .329 (53rd)
3-pt FG% Defense: .311 (T-111th)
Free Throw%: .736 (T-32nd)
Rebound Margin: +0.33 (94th)
Turnover Margin: +6.38 (17th)
Dordt
Scoring Offense: 71.3 (68th)
Scoring Defense: 66.1 (84th)
FG% Offense: .401 (T-80th)
FG% Defense: .378 (T-60th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .331 (T-50th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .325 (T-145th)
Free Throw%: .738 (31st)
Rebound Margin: +9.71 (12th)
Turnover Margin: -3.86 (162nd)
Dakota Wesleyan
Scoring Offense: 71.2 (69th)
Scoring Defense: 60.3 (28th)
FG% Offense: .420 (T-51st)
FG% Defense: .355 (T-19th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .339 (T-37th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .297 (T-73rd)
Free Throw%: .707 (T-68th)
Rebound Margin: +8.11 (19th)
Turnover Margin: +1.05 (85th)
Protocols for fans
At Dordt: Tickets must be purchased online prior to attending games at Dordt. To purchase tickets for Wednesday’s game, visit: https://www.dordt.edu/athletics/tickets. Tickets will not be sold at the entrance.
Concordia home games: Consistent with state directed health measures, Concordia will allow up to 50 percent capacity for its home games. Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online (https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets). Tickets will also be sold at the door, provided capacity limits have not been reached via online sales.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
Concordia played only once last week. It steamrolled College of Saint Mary, 111-52, on Jan. 28 and improved to 6-4 at home this season. The Bulldogs went 15-for-28 from 3-point range and forced 36 turnovers in the blowout. Double-figure scorers included Taylor Farrell (18), Kayla Luebbe (16), Chaise Pfanstiel (13) and Taysha Rushton (11). Six other Bulldogs tallied at least six points: Bailey Conrad (nine), Sadie Powell (nine), Chloe Schumacher (eight), Mackenzie Koepke (seven), Rylee Pauli (six) and Faith Troshynski (six). Schumacher also grabbed eight rebounds while feeding a team advantage of 48-30 on the boards. Meanwhile, Mackenzie Toomey plucked six steals and Abby Aplaca and Powell nabbed three apiece. Conrad dished out four assists.
Return to NAIA top 25
After disappearing from the previous two national polls, Concordia returned to the NAIA top 25 while checking in at No. 25 with the release of the Jan. 27 poll. Earlier this season, the program had a run of 97-straight poll appearances snapped. Out of the 97 poll appearances, the Bulldogs earned the No. 1 ranking 16 times, a top five ranking 63 times and a top 10 ranking 88 times. Concordia finished inside the top five of NAIA Division II in 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Of course the mountaintop moment came on March 12, 2019, when the Bulldogs celebrated the first national title in program history. Concordia has finished with a top 25 ranking in every season since 2010-11.
Turnovers remain key to success
The program’s patented press has been reigned in this season, but turnover margin remains a key ingredient in the current team’s success. The 2020-21 Bulldogs rank 17th nationally with a turnover margin of +6.38. They also rank 17th in the NAIA in steals per game with 13.2 (second most in the GPAC). Those numbers are impressive considering the absence of the press for much of this season. Over the previous four elite seasons of Concordia basketball, the program posted turnover margins of +8.57 in 2016-17, +7.61 in 2017-18, +12.58 in 2018-19 and +14.47 in 2019-20. Those latter two figures led all of NAIA Division II.
Road Dawgs
The Bulldogs have won their past two home games, but their record this season on the road (8-3) actually trumps their mark at home (6-4). If Concordia can find a way to win at Dordt on Wednesday, it would finish its GPAC road slate with an 8-3 conference road record. Among GPAC teams, only Morningside (10-2 away) has been better on the road. Based on the standings, the most notable Bulldog road wins have come over Northwestern, Jamestown and Midland (all three are above .500 in league play). Concordia is 57-9 in true road games since the start of the 2016-17 season.
Olson on doorstep of 400
It hasn’t taken long for Drew Olson to move from his 300th career win to knocking on the door of 400. Olson enters this week with a career record of 399-105 since being hired as head coach prior to the start of the 2006-07 season. According to NAIA records, Olson began this season with the 14th most wins among active NAIA women’s basketball coaches. Of the top 25 active coaches listed by the NAIA, Olson ranks No. 3 in winning percentage. A former Bulldog standout under Coach Grant Schmidt, Olson has led the program to 30 or more wins in a season six times and to 25 or more wins 10 times over his first 14 seasons. In GPAC games only, Olson has produced a record of 227-68. Schmidt (445-276) is the lone basketball coach in school history to rack up at least 400 wins.
GPAC update
Morningside has now clinched at least a share of the GPAC regular-season title (10th in program history). The Mustangs have run away with it at 17-1 in league play. Concordia hopes that it can hold strong in the No. 2 spot down the stretch. The Bulldogs (13-5) are currently tied with Northwestern (13-5) and just ahead of a host of other teams in Dakota Wesleyan (11-6), Briar Cliff (12-7), Jamestown (11-7) and Dordt (11-7). The Mustangs will grab one of the league’s automatic bids to nationals with the other one going to either the GPAC tournament champion or runner up (should Morningside sweep conference championships).
Scouting Dordt
After beginning the season ranked eighth in the NAIA, Dordt has not had exactly the season it had envisioned, but it still has plenty of talent. The Defenders attack opponents with a lineup that includes four starters who stand 5-foot-10 or taller. University of Nebraska transfer Ashtyn Veerbeek has found a groove and leads the team in scoring at 15.0 points per game. Meanwhile, senior Erika Feenstra has starred as one of the GPAC’s best players for her entire career. Head Coach Bill Harmsen has gone bigger with the lineup since guard Bailey Beckman was lost to injury (out since Jan. 14). Dordt has used its size advantage to outrebound its opponents by nearly 10 rebounds per game.
Scouting Dakota Wesleyan
The Tigers roared during the month of January, going 8-1 with one of those victories coming over Concordia, 85-80. That stretch also included solid road victories over Briar Cliff and Midland. DWU boasts a super freshman in Haidyn Pitsch, who burned the Bulldogs for 25 points in this season’s first meeting. Pitsch and company have been especially stout defensively. They lead the GPAC in both scoring defense (60.3) and field goal percentage defense (.355). Head Coach Jason Christensen has his team playing at a high level a season after it graduated standouts Kennedy Cheeseman, Sarah Carr and Makaela Karst.
Looking ahead
Concordia will play only once next week. It will host Hastings (5-14, 4-13 GPAC) at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The regular season will conclude on Saturday, Feb. 10 with the Bulldogs welcoming Doane (4-17, 2-16 GPAC) to Seward.
Projected Starters
Concordia (14-7, 13-5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (15.0)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.2)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.3)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.5)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.7)
Dordt (12-9, 11-7)
G – Jordyn Winterfeld, Jr. (4.0)
F – Erika Feenstra, Sr. (12.2)
F – Baylee Tetzlaff, Sr. (5.3)
F – Ashtyn Veerbeek, Jr. (15.0)
C – Karly Gustafson, So. (11.2)
Dakota Wesleyan (13-6, 11-6)
G – Kaylee Kirk, Jr. (5.9)
G – Rynn Osthus, So. (6.5)
G – Haidyn Pitsch, Fr. (14.5)
F – Matti Reiner, So. (13.6)
C – Jada Campbell, Jr. (11.1)
Olson collects win No. 400 in battle at Dordt
Feb. 3, 2021
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – It took the hustle and grit of Rylee Pauli and the reptilian-like cold blood of Taylor Cockerill to get it done on the road once again. The 25th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team led most of the way and responded to Dordt’s second half push in the process of claiming a 77-71 win in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Wednesday (Feb. 3). National championship winning coach Drew Olson hit a milestone with the 400th win of his career.
Olson’s squad has completed the road portion of the GPAC regular-season slate (8-3 in GPAC road games) and has moved to 15-7 overall and to 14-5 inside conference play.
“This was a much bigger win for this team and what it means for this season,” Olson said. “If you want to talk about 400, we’ve just had so many great teams. It’s not about me – it’s about the great teams and this program, and this win for this season was such a big one.”
The Bulldogs came out hot offensively (52.4 percent shooting in the first quarter), but the story of this contest was more about tenacity on the boards. Up against one of the nation’s top rebounding teams, Concordia beat the Defenders at their own game. Pauli bruised her way to eight of the team’s 22 offensive rebounds. Pauli finished with 13 points and a career high 14 rebounds.
Cockerill posted 15 of her game high 26 points in the second half. The Waverly High School product delivered the dagger with a top-of-the-key three in the final two minutes. That shot pushed the lead from five to eight (75-67). As part of her ultra-aggressive night, Cockerill tallied 10 points in the fourth quarter. There were also big triples nailed at the end of both the first and third quarters by Mackenzie Toomey.
The Bulldogs managed to counter the size of Dordt (12-10, 11-8 GPAC), which starts four players who stand 5-foot-10 or taller. University of Nebraska transfer Ashtyn Veerbeek is a handful. She piled up 19 points and 19 rebounds while four-year standout Erika Feenstra added 15 points. Going off script, the Defenders were outrebounded, 49-44.
Olson even turned on the press in the early going while throwing different looks at Dordt. Concordia forced only 11 turnovers, but it still owned a positive margin because it took care of the ball (eight turnovers). The backcourt of Cockerill, Bailey Conrad and Taysha Rushton combined to commit only two turnovers. Rushton chipped in with nine points while Toomey added eight. Taylor Farrell and Sadie Powell contributed six points apiece off the bench.
“It speaks to the focus we had coming in on the challenge in front of us and rising to it,” Olson said. “Rylee Pauli was phenomenal. There were some individual rebounds throughout the game where it was like, ‘wow, that was a big-time rebound.’ We played tough and physical today … We couldn’t stop Veerbeek in the third quarter so we switched to zone and that kind of slowed them down. We were able to get enough stops. It was more of a gutty win as opposed to a clean basketball game.”
Cockerill and company led by as many as 11 points during the first half. Dordt rallied to lead by five (62-57) in the third quarter before the Bulldogs ended the period with a surge that became a 10-0 run that spilled into the fourth quarter. Concordia never did relinquish the lead the rest of the way.
Considering all that he lost in last year’s senior class, Olson has done a masterful job in keeping the Bulldogs near the top of the GPAC. Olson’s 400 wins are the most by any coach in Concordia Women’s Basketball history. Only Grant Schmidt (445 wins as men’s coach) has won more as a Bulldog Basketball coach.
The Bulldogs will be at home for the remainder of the regular season. Concordia will welcome Dakota Wesleyan (13-7, 11-7 GPAC) to Friedrich Arena for a 4 p.m. CT tipoff on Saturday. In this season’s first meeting, the Tigers defeated the Bulldogs, 85-80, despite a 33-point outburst from Cockerill. Concordia has won nine of the past 11 meetings with DWU.
Olson 400: past and present Bulldogs reflect
Feb. 4, 2021
Currently in his 15th season as Concordia University Women’s Basketball Head Coach, Drew Olson claimed the 400th win of his coaching career on Wednesday (Feb. 3), as the Bulldogs defeated Dordt. According to NAIA records, Olson entered the 2020-21 season with the 14th most victories among active NAIA women’s basketball coaches. Without a doubt, his impact has gone beyond the on-court results. Current and former student-athletes reflected on what has made Olson successful and a pillar of athletics at Concordia (see commentary below).
Some of Olson’s notable accomplishments, in addition to the 400 wins, include:
· 2019 NAIA Division II National Champions
· 12 GPAC Championships (six regular season; six postseason)
· 12 national tournament appearances (24 national tournament wins)
· Five national semifinal appearances (two national runner-up claims)
· Has coached players to 16 All-America awards and one National Player of the Year honor
· 2019 NAIA Phyllis Holmes National Coach of the Year
· 2018 United States Marine Corps/WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year
· Three-time GPAC Coach of the Year; four-time WBCA regional Coach of the Year
A select number of Concordia Bulldogs who were instrumental in pushing Olson from 300 to 400 wins were asked for their thoughts on their head coach and the impact he had on their basketball, professional and personal lives.
Grace Barry | Concordia career: 2018-20
The lessons I have learned from Coach Olson are endless. He taught me both the power of meticulous detail on the fundamentals and the power of being creative within the game. He created a culture where athletes could enjoy playing basketball while also cultivating a competitive and driven environment. In addition, Coach Olson leads by example and instills in his players to keep one’s priorities straight: God, Family, School, Basketball and then everything else. One of the greatest aspects I took away from playing for Coach Olson was when we had a tough practice or a bad game he would always say “Go home, move on, and come back ready to work tomorrow.” I believe when Coach Olson said that it was more than just a lesson for basketball but a life lesson. I believe what makes Coach Olson a great coach is not only his understanding of the game of basketball but his willingness to teach his players about life.
Coach Olson has been incredibly successful because of his will and commitment to win. When it comes down to it, he is going to do whatever it takes to win, whether that be having grueling practices where he is getting after everyone, doing individual workouts with every player, having the tough but necessary conversations, or thinking completely outside the box. In addition, his ability and willingness to listen to his players and work with his players is uncanny. I can remember numerous different conversations Coach Olson and I had that were tough to have but were necessary to help our team develop into a national championship level team. Overall, he has an uncommon commitment to challenge and aid his players to become the best players they can possibly be. He does all of this while also demonstrating a genuine love for his team and his players. One day I hope to be half the basketball coach he is.
Taylor Cockerill | Concordia career: 2017-present
When being recruited to play basketball at Concordia, Coach Olson’s understanding and passion for the game was apparent. He has always been easy to talk with and he truly cares about each of his players. Not only is he an amazing coach, but he is an even better person off the floor. The countless card games, competitive 1-on-1 games, and the daily fun battles are just a few of the memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have learned so much from Olson and feel blessed to have won a National title while playing for him. It was a moment I will truly never forget. Thank you Coach for everything you have done for me and this program! Congratulations on 400 career wins!!
Philly Lammers | Concordia career: 2016-20
What makes Coach Olson successful? Well, the fact that he is a complete nerd when it comes to basketball probably helps. I don't know if there is anything about the game that he doesn't like. But the stats, figuring out how to motivate his players, and what needs to be tweaked to improve his team – that he loves. He'll spend so much time analyzing games and thinking about his game plan, even if everything is seemingly going great at the time. His focus and drive to get better every day is something he not only teaches his team, but practices himself. That is something from my time at Concordia that continues to motivate me. Coach also always saw his players as people to get to know. He understood that we were all different, had different abilities and roles that we could fill. I think the fact that he cares about his team like a family lets him connect and understand his players, which gives him an insight to the game. He was always willing to take the time to talk or workout which showed me more than anything the importance of investing time into people and the importance of relationships. In all reality, there's really no way to concisely sum up four years of experiences and takeaways from Coach Olson. I know that I'll be drawing from my time at Concordia in many different situations and in many different ways whether I realize it at the time or not. And that the 4th key to success is always to have fun.
Quinn Wragge | Concordia career: 2015-19
He was a great coach to learn from, but an even better person to be around. He always challenged me to be better in every aspect of my life, but especially on the court. His dance moves were always a great reminder to not take yourself so seriously, haha!
I took a number of lessons from Olson during my time at Concordia, but here are some that still ring true in my life today! God, Family, School, Basketball. I still try to live my life according to these priorities! Olson was a coach who was constantly trying to improve and better himself. As I have started my own coaching career I realize what an important part of success this is for any team. I am lucky to have witnessed one of the best.
Leave people and things better than you found them – one of his famous expectations. It is one of my favorite things I took with me from Concordia. Huge congrats to Coach Olson on 400 wins, but I know many more are to come.
Dawgs stay hot, avenge earlier loss to DWU
Feb. 6, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Per usual, the outcome of a clash between the Concordia University Women’s Basketball program and Dakota Wesleyan hung in the balance until late in the contest. The Bulldogs typically find a way to win. That happened to be the case on Saturday (Feb. 6) as 25th-ranked Concordia made 14 treys and took care of the basketball on the way to a 76-69 victory.
The result was a reversal of the 85-80 loss the Bulldogs suffered earlier this season in Mitchell, S.D. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has won six of its last seven games to move to 16-7 overall and to 15-5 inside the GPAC (second place).
“It was a great effort on both ends tonight,” Olson said. “I loved our focus on the defensive end. We did a great job in the third quarter. I also thought we took care of the ball really well. (Mackenzie) Koepke was fantastic. She did a great job defending (Matti) Reiner and switching out at times on (Haidyn) Pitsch. Willy (Taylor Farrell) and Becca (Higgins) gave us a good lift off the bench, and as always, Taysha (Rushton) and TC (Taylor Cockerill) were big.
“This team continues to show its grit, toughness and competitiveness.”
Like Concordia, DWU has gained traction while figuring out a new-look roster, as compared to 2019-20. Sometimes the formula looks a bit different from game-to-game, but the Bulldogs are going to have a good chance when they are plus-nine in turnovers as they were on Saturday. As gritty as ever, Cockerill chased down 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.
Cockerill and company turned the tide back in their favor in the third quarter when they allowed the Tigers just 12 points. The Bulldogs built the lead up to 12 (64-52) at one point in the final period. When Pitsch and the enemy threatened to make a push, Koepke (3:53 mark) and Farrell (2:38 mark) buried clutch 3-point field goals.
“We knew we had to lock in more on defense and get those stops to be able to win,” Farrell said. “We played really good team defense, we talked (on the court) and that was the most important thing.”
What makes Concordia a difficult team to prepare for is its willingness to throw the kitchen sink at an opponent. The Bulldogs are known for constant pressing, but now it is unleashed only on occasion. Once again, they showed man and zone looks on Saturday. Dakota Wesleyan shot 49.1 percent from the field, but it was only 5-for-20 from 3-point range.
Rushton topped all players with 23 points. She knocked down four treys and went 7-of-9 on free throw attempts. Cockerill collected 10 points and five assists as part of her double-double. Koepke added 11 points, three steals and a blocked shot. Bailey Conrad, Farrell, Higgins and Rylee Pauli each chipped in with either seven or eight points apiece. Conrad dished out four assists.
The Tigers (13-8, 11-8 GPAC) had gone toe-to-toe with GPAC regular-season champion Morningside on Wednesday (73-68 loss). DWU went 8-1 during the month of January. It was led on Saturday by the 20 points from Pitsch. Kaylee Kirk booked 14 points. Concordia is 10-2 in its last 12 games versus the Tigers.
In their only outing next week, the Bulldogs will host Hastings (6-15, 5-14 GPAC) on Wednesday in a clash set to tip off at 6 p.m. CT inside Friedrich Arena. In this season’s first matchup, Concordia closed the game on a 9-0 run and eked out a 73-66 victory in Hastings. The Bulldogs have defeated the Broncos in 11 of the past 12 series meetings.
Concordia-Hastings to renew rivalry in week's lone outing
Feb. 8, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – In the only outing of the week, the 25th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team will host Hastings on Wednesday night. The program will use the evening to honor a group of four seniors (presentation prior to tipoff). Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad enters the week having won four in a row and six of its last seven. The Bulldogs stayed hot last week by claiming victories over Dordt and Dakota Wesleyan.
This Week
(25) Concordia (16-7, 15-5) vs. Hastings (6-15, 5-14)
Wednesday, Feb. 10 | 6 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 KTMX-FM Max Country
Commentator: Evan Jones
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 199 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 78.6 (26th)
Scoring Defense: 66.7 (91st)
FG% Offense: .393 (T-98th)
FG% Defense: .386 (T-80th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .330 (51st)
3-pt FG% Defense: .305 (T-104th)
Free Throw%: .727 (T-37th)
Rebound Margin: +0.35 (97th)
Turnover Margin: +6.35 (18th)
Hastings
Scoring Offense: 65.3 (121st)
Scoring Defense: 72.8 (158th)
FG% Offense: .383 (T-125th)
FG% Defense: .435 (183rd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .312 (81st)
3-pt FG% Defense: .332 (T-168th)
Free Throw%: .726 (40th)
Rebound Margin: -5.05 (164th)
Turnover Margin: +1.14 (T-80th)
Protocols for fans
Concordia home games: Consistent with state directed health measures, Concordia will allow up to 50 percent capacity for its home games. Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online (https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets). Tickets will also be sold at the door, provided capacity limits have not been reached via online sales.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
As part of a challenging week, the Bulldogs made a statement with a road victory over Dordt, 77-71, and a home win over Dakota Wesleyan, 76-69. Those results put Concordia in prime position to finish as high as second in the GPAC standings. In the triumph in Sioux Center, Iowa, (the final road game of the regular season), the Bulldogs beat the Defenders at their own game while outrebounding them, 49-44. Concordia frustrated Dordt by grabbing 22 offensive boards, including eight by Rylee Pauli, who pulled down a career high 14 rebounds (to go with 13 points). Taylor Cockerill was aggressive on the attack in scoring a game high 26 points. Three days later, Cockerill (10 points, 12 rebounds) turned in her fourth double-double of the season. Taysha Rushton led the way in the scoring department with 23 points as the Bulldogs avenged a loss earlier this season at Dakota Wesleyan. Five others had seven or more points: Mackenzie Koepke (11), Taylor Farrell (eight), Pauli (eight), Bailey Conrad (seven) and Rebecca Higgins (seven).
Olson joins 400 club
After last week’s pair of victories, Drew Olson now owns a career head coaching record of 401-105 since taking over the program prior to the 2006-07 season. Olson became the winningest coach in program history in November 2014 when he passed Carl Everts (195 wins). Olson now owns the second most wins of any basketball coach in school history, behind only Grant Schmidt, who led the men’s program to a record of 445-276 from 1989-2012. Olson played for Schmidt for three seasons and helped the Bulldogs reach two national tournaments. According to NAIA records, Olson is one of 14 active NAIA women’s basketball coaches with at least 400 wins.
Ball security
Without pressing as frequently as previous seasons, Concordia has forced fewer turnovers from its opponents (21.3 per game this season as compared to 31.4 per game last season). However, the Bulldogs remain one of the nation’s best teams in terms of turnover margin. Part of the reason for that has been Concordia’s ability to take care of the ball (averaging 15.3 turnovers per game). Last week, the Bulldogs put up their two lowest single-game turnover totals of the season – eight at Dordt and six versus Dakota Wesleyan. Freshman point guard Taysha Rushton has turned it over just once over the past three games in 75 minutes of action.
Hitting the boards
As a program, Concordia has been known for forcing turnovers, making 3-point field goals and dictating up-tempo basketball – but not necessarily for rebounding. Last week, offensive rebounding was a major plus as the Bulldogs grabbed 22 at Dordt and 15 versus Dakota Wesleyan. With its recent uptick on the boards, Concordia now has a positive rebound margin (+0.35) for the season. This team doesn’t have a Philly Lammers in the post, but Taylor Cockerill (6.7 rebounds per game) helps make up for it with her tenacity from the guard position. In addition, Rylee Pauli (5.3) and Mackenzie Koepke (5.1) are contributing more than five rebounds per contest.
Celebrating the senior class
Prior to tipoff on Wednesday, the program will honor a group of four seniors: Taylor Cockerill, Rebecca Higgins, Emily Jones and Faith Troshynski. It’s worth noting, that both Cockerill and Higgins are listed as juniors on the roster in reflection of their athletic eligibility. However, each of the four seniors is on track to graduate this May. Cockerill is the most accomplished in terms of career accolades. The Waverly High School product led the 2018-19 national championship team in scoring and was named a first team All-GPAC and honorable mention All-America selection that season. She missed the 2019-20 season due to injury. Over 98 career games, Cockerill has totaled 1,254 points, 450 rebounds, 229 assists and 150 steals. Higgins has now been a three-year varsity contributor while Troshynski is in her first season playing for the Bulldogs after transferring from Briar Cliff. Emily Jones is serves the program as a manager.
GPAC update
With the regular season now winding down, the eight teams that will qualify for the GPAC tournament have already been decided. Now it’s about playing for seeding. Morningside is locked into the No. 1 spot as the regular-season champion. Concordia (15-5) has the inside track in the race for the No. 2 seed while Northwestern (14-5) and Briar Cliff (14-7) still have a mathematical shot. The Bulldogs do not have to worry about what happens behind them, so long as they win their final two regular-season games. In the current standings, only one game separates the teams that are sitting 5 through eight.
Scouting Hastings
The Broncos have struggled to recover from the graduation of the bulk of their star players from the 2019-20 team that went 30-3 overall. Hastings’ season will end along with the regular season on Feb. 20. Now in her sixth season, Head Coach Jina Douglas had led the program to national tournament appearances in each of the previous five years. Veterans such as senior Kaitlyn Schmit and Taylor Beacom have experienced plenty of success and are the team’s top scorers. After starting out 3-3 in GPAC play, Hastings has gone 2-11 in conference games. Concordia has won 11 of the last 12 meetings over the Broncos.
Looking ahead
The Bulldogs will have the weekend off and will close the regular season by hosting Doane on Saturday, Feb. 20. Concordia has clinched a home game for the GPAC tournament quarterfinals set for Wednesday, Feb. 24.
Projected Starters
Concordia (16-7, 15-5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (14.6)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.1)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.7)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.5)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.7)
Hastings (6-15, 5-14)
G – Taylor Beacom, Jr. (9.6)
G – Kaitlyn Schmit, Sr. (11.5)
G – Ali Smith, Jr. (8.5)
F – Natalia Dick, Fr. (6.0)
F – Carley Leners, Fr. (9.1)
No. 22 Bulldogs roll past Broncos on senior night
Feb. 10, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – This one won’t rank amongst the classic battles between the perennially powerful Concordia University and Hastings women’s basketball programs. A massive run in the second quarter allowed the 22nd-ranked Bulldogs to cruise to a 79-64 victory over the visiting Broncos on Wednesday (Feb. 10) evening. Prior to tipoff, Concordia honored a senior class of Taylor Cockerill, Rebecca Higgins, Emily Jones and Faith Troshynski.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has won five in a row and seven of its last eight outings. The Bulldogs (17-7, 16-5 GPAC) moved one step closer to locking up the No. 2 seed for the GPAC tournament coming up later this month.
“We wanted to mix things up on Hastings and get them off balance and see what was going to be more effective,” Olson said. “After that first quarter we knew to feed it inside and use Kayla (Luebbe) a little bit more. That second quarter was dominant – third quarter we were good too. I thought the fourth quarter we were mixing lineups and our flow maybe wasn’t great. We’ll take the win.”
Concordia had Hastings overmatched. The Bulldogs had little trouble finding the shots they desired while shooting at a 55.6 percent clip for the first half. Early in the second quarter, the Broncos owned a slight 17-15 lead. Concordia responded with a 26-4 run that put it in front, 41-21, at the half. The advantage grew as large as 28 points and never dipped below 15 the rest of the way.
All three senior players were part of the starting lineup on Wednesday. While the starting five looked a bit different, usual suspects like Cockerill (15 points and four steals) and freshman Taysha Rushton (17 points; three 3-point field goals) feasted on a loose Hastings defense. In the post, sophomore Kayla Luebbe enjoyed a fine night that saw her put up 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor.
The approach to this game represented another example of Concordia’s growing maturity. It had to sweat out a 73-66 win at Hastings back on Dec. 2. These Bulldogs are playing too well and with too much confidence to allow for a slip-up down the stretch.
“It’s a pretty special day,” Higgins said of senior night. “It’s always a special day to play here, to play at Friedrich Arena, especially with this team. From the beginning of the year we’ve really had to grow together. I think that’s made us really tight. Every opportunity we have to play with each other is pretty special.”
All 15 Concordia players saw action with 13 registering in the scoring column. Mackenzie Koepke posted a line of six points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots while Sadie Powell chipped in six points and two rebounds off the bench. Higgins collected four rebounds while Troshynski netted one of the team’s 12 3-point field goals.
Hastings is now 1-12 in its last 13 games versus Concordia. The Broncos (6-16, 5-15 GPAC) were limited to 27.5 percent shooting on Wednesday. Off the bench, Elle Danley recorded a team high 11 points. Hastings has struggled mightily since starting out 3-3 in conference play.
The Bulldogs will now wait until Saturday, Feb. 20 for their regular-season finale, which will put them up against Doane (5-19, 3-18 GPAC). Tipoff on that date is set for 2 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. In this season’s first meeting, Concordia knocked down 17 treys in a 111-52 rout of the Tigers in Crete.
“I think it’s a big stretch for us,” Olson said. “We can be too relaxed and start taking step backwards. You either get better or you get worse each day. We have to keep getting better. Our goal isn’t just to beat Doane or get second (in the GPAC). We’re looking big picture with nationals and stuff like that. We’re going to work really hard and hopefully get better.”
Cockerill honored as GPAC Player of the Week
Feb. 16, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – For her role in the victory over Hastings, star guard Taylor Cockerill has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday (Feb. 16). This marks Cockerill’s first weekly honor of the season. She joins Taysha Rushton (Jan. 5) as the second Bulldog to collect the GPAC award in 2020-21.
While celebrating senior day inside Friedrich Arena on Feb. 10, Cockerill totaled 15 points, four steals and three rebounds in a 79-64 win over Hastings. The Waverly High School product went 6-for-9 from the floor and 3-for-5 from 3-point range. She saw 23 minutes of action.
On the season, Cockerill is averaging 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 40.5 percent from the floor and 35.4 percent from beyond the arc. In 99 career collegiate games, Cockerill has amassed 1,269 points (19th most in program history), 453 rebounds, 229 assists and 154 steals. She paced the 2018-19 national championship team in scoring and was named first team All-GPAC and an honorable mention All-America selection.
Cockerill and the 22nd-ranked Bulldogs (17-7, 16-5 GPAC) will finish the regular season on Saturday when they host Doane (5-19, 3-18 GPAC) at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday.
Regular-season finale coming up Saturday
Feb. 17, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – A 25-game regular-season schedule will come to a conclusion on Saturday when the 22nd-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team hosts Doane. Tipoff from Friedrich Arena is set for 2 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs have dominated the series, winning each of the last nine meetings. With a win, Concordia would clinch the No. 2 seed in the GPAC tournament. Meanwhile, the 2020-21 season will end on Saturday for the Tigers.
This Week
(22) Concordia (17-7, 16-5) vs. Doane (5-19, 3-18)
Saturday, Feb. 20 | 2 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 KTMX-FM Max Country
Commentator: Parker Cyza
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 201 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 78.6 (24th)
Scoring Defense: 66.5 (96th)
FG% Offense: .395 (T-101st)
FG% Defense: .380 (68th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .330 (T-47th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .301 (T-87th)
Free Throw%: .729 (41st)
Rebound Margin: 0.00 (103rd)
Turnover Margin: +6.17 (17th)
Doane
Scoring Offense: 63.3 (142nd)
Scoring Defense: 78.8 (187th)
FG% Offense: .371 (155th)
FG% Defense: .408 (T-142nd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .274 (T-150th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .328 (T-164th)
Free Throw%: .701 (T-85th)
Rebound Margin: -5.29 (170th)
Turnover Margin: -4.63 (182nd)
Protocols for fans
Concordia home games: Consistent with state directed health measures, Concordia will allow up to 50 percent capacity for its home games. Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online (https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets). Tickets will also be sold at the door, provided capacity limits have not been reached via online sales.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
In last week’s lone action, the Bulldogs cruised to a 79-64 home win over Hastings on Feb. 10. Prior to tipoff, the program honored four seniors: Taylor Cockerill, Rebecca Higgins, Emily Jones and Faith Troshynski. After trailing early in the second quarter, Concordia closed the first half on a 26-4 run and led, 41-21, at the break. The lead ballooned to as many as 28 points in the third quarter. Three Bulldogs finished in double figures: Taysha Rushton (17), Taylor Cockerill (15) and Kayla Luebbe (14). Mackenzie Koepke added six points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. Concordia went 12-for-35 from 3-point range with the help of seven Concordia players who netted at least one 3-point field goal. The Bulldogs have won 12 of the past 13 meetings with the Broncos.
Cockerill earns GPAC award
For her role in the win over Hastings, junior (in terms of eligibility) guard Taylor Cockerill was named the GPAC Player of the Week. It marked the second time this season that a Bulldog had picked up the award. Freshman Taysha Rushton pulled in the same accolade on Jan. 5. If this season is the end of the line for Cockerill, it’s already been a career worth celebrating. The Waverly High School product led the 2018-19 national championship team in scoring and was named a first team All-GPAC and NAIA honorable mention All-America selection. In 99 career collegiate games, Cockerill has totaled 1,269 points (19th most in program history), 453 rebounds, 229 assists and 154 steals. Those stats have come over three seasons. Cockerill sat out the 2019-20 campaign due to injury.
3-point barrage
Rewind things back to just before New Year’s Day and one would have found Concordia sporting a team 3-point shooting percentage of 29.9 – ranked 80th in the NAIA at the time. In the 11 games since then, the Bulldogs have shot 36.5 percent (130-for-356) from beyond the arc to move their season 3-point percentage to 33.0 (tied for 47th best in the NAIA). From a percentage standpoint, the top individual perimeter shooters during that stretch have been Taylor Cockerill (.455), Taylor Farrell (.404), Bailey Conrad (.394) and Taysha Rushton (.377). Rushton has knocked down the most total 3-point field goals over that time with 29. Concordia owns a record of 9-2 in those 11 games (at least 10 3-point field goals in eight of those outings).
Rushton ahead of the class
Taysha Rushton is a strong candidate for GPAC Freshman of the Year accolades. Rushton’s rookie season has been right in line with some of the best first collegiate seasons produced by recent Bulldog stars. During Drew Olson’s tenure, two Concordia players have earned GPAC Freshman of the Year honors: Mary Janovich (2014-15) and Philly Lammers (2016-17). Rushton’s scoring average of 13.8 points per game ranks as the second highest for a Bulldog freshman during Olson’s 15 seasons leading the program (see below). A starter in all 24 games, Rushton is also averaging 2.70 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 34.4 percent from 3-point range.
Highest scoring averages of Concordia freshmen, OIson era
Quinn Wragge – 14.8 (2015-16)
Taysha Rushton – 13.8 (2020-21)
Philly Lammers – 13.2 (2016-17)
Becky Mueller – 11.4 (2013-14)
Kristen Conahan – 10.6 (2010-11)
TaLisa Krejci – 10.0 (2006-07)
Mary Janovich – 9.8 (2014-15)
Katie Rich – 9.5 (2009-10)
Taylor Cockerill – 9.0 (2017-18)
Bailey Morris – 8.5 (2011-12)
Series vs. Doane
Concordia has won 18 of the past 19 meetings with Doane. The only defeat during that stretch occurred during the 2015-16 season. The last five matchups have been incredibly lopsided with the Bulldogs winning those contests by margins of 40, 59, 63, 55 and 59 points. In this season’s first clash, Concordia drained 17 treys in a 111-52 victory in Crete. Rylee Pauli posted a career high 20 points while Taylor Farrell added 17 points off the bench in that contest.
GPAC update
Concordia is looking to lock itself into the No. 2 seed in the GPAC tournament by winning on Saturday. The Bulldogs would hold the tiebreaker over Northwestern (both teams currently 16-5 in the GPAC) due to a regular-season sweep of the Red Raiders. The eight teams that will play in the conference tournament have been decided, however, many of those squads are still jockeying for seeding in this final week of the regular season.
Scouting Doane
Doane has improved while under the leadership of Head Coach Ryan Baumgartner, who is in his first full season at the helm of the program. The Tigers have won five games this season after winning only two during the 2019-20 campaign. The standout individual is Haylee Heits, who has accumulated 1,351 points and 606 rebounds in her collegiate career. Doane owns GPAC wins this season over Mount Marty (twice) and College of Saint Mary.
Looking ahead
Concordia will host a GPAC tournament quarterfinal game on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The Bulldogs will be either the No. 2 or 3 seed, pending this weekend’s results. An opponent is yet to be determined. Dates for the proceeding rounds are Feb. 27 for the semifinals and March 2 for the championship game.
Projected Starters
Concordia (17-7, 16-5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (14.6)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.1)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.8)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.5)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.5)
Doane (5-19, 3-18)
G – Madison Davis, So. (7.7)
G – Olivia Nall, Fr. (9.9)
F – Ragan Nickless, Jr. (3.2)
F – Haylee Heits, Sr. (13.7)
G – Sydney Roth, So. (9.7)
Dawgs throttle Doane, lock up GPAC's No. 2 seed
Feb. 20, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – For the most part, Saturday (Feb. 20)’s regular season finale went as scripted for the 22nd-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team. The Bulldogs overwhelmed visiting Doane with their athleticism, forced 32 turnovers and rolled to a 98-57 win inside Friedrich Arena. A 33-point first quarter outburst by Concordia set the tone for another rough series meeting for the Tigers.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s has concluded the regular season at 18-7 overall and at 17-5 within the GPAC. The Bulldogs finished alone in second place in the conference standings. They have won each of the past 10 meetings over Doane.
“I thought it was a good game for us. We hadn’t played in a long time so just to get a game in felt good,” Olson said. “I felt like the start of that third quarter we were not very good. It was nice to see our team fight. We needed to have those competitive juices come out and I think we’ll be ready for the conference tournament now.”
Yes, there was a hiccup to begin the third quarter when Doane went on a 14-4 run. However, Concordia turned on the jets and allowed for the entire roster to see extensive action. Junior Mackenzie Koepke enjoyed perhaps her best offensive outing of the season while pouring in a game high 17 points on the strength of 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. She was joined in double figures by Taylor Cockerill (12) and Averie Lambrecht (11).
A sophomore from Waverly, Neb., Lambrecht supplies energy off the bench. She helped provide a spark during that lull to open up the second half.
“We kind of came out in the third quarter and slacked off,” Lambrecht said. “We weren’t as focused and that was something we were very concerned about in this game – being focused and mature. We needed more intensity and more energy. We made big plays in our press and racked up the points again.”
All 14 Bulldogs who saw action registered in the scoring column. Bailey Conrad put together a nice game that included seven points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals. Cockerill added six steals and four assists. Off the bench, Kendal Brigham scored the nets with three treys for nine points. Sadie Powell chipped in with eight points and five rebounds and Rebecca Higgins and Taylor Farrell contributed seven points apiece.
As a team, Concordia shot 45.8 percent from the floor. It went 13-for-44 (.295) from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs enjoyed advantages in turnovers (+17) and rebounding (+5). On the other side, Doane shot 40.8 percent from the floor – but it had 34 fewer field goal attempts than Concordia. The Tigers (5-20, 3-19 GPAC) have ended their 2020-21 season.
For their 13th GPAC tournament game in a row, the Bulldogs will be at home while holding down the league’s No. 2 seed. Concordia will host No. 7 seed Dakota Wesleyan (14-10, 12-10 GPAC) at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Feb. 24 in the quarterfinals of the postseason tournament. During the regular season, the two sides split with the home team getting the upper hand in both instances.
Said Olson, “It’s going to be a tough game. They’re a really tough team and they execute well. Monday through Tuesday is all going to be preparing for them.”
GPAC tourney win streak to be put to test by DWU
Feb. 22, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Winner of four-straight GPAC tournament championships, the Concordia University Women’s Basketball program enters the 2021 postseason as the league’s No. 2 seed. In three of the four GPAC tournament title games, the Bulldogs went up against Dakota Wesleyan. Those same two rivals now look forward to meeting up on Wednesday in the GPAC quarterfinals. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad carries a six-game win streak into action. Concordia is 4-0 so far in the month of February.
GPAC Quarterfinals
(22) Concordia (18-7, 17-5) vs. Dakota Wesleyan (14-10, 12-10)
Wednesday, Feb. 24 | 7 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 KTMX-FM Max Country
Commentator: Parker Cyza
Buy Tickets: https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 202 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 79.4 (20th)
Scoring Defense: 66.2 (94th)
FG% Offense: .398 (T-92nd)
FG% Defense: .381 (T-72nd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .328 (T-49th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .300 (T-85th)
Free Throw%: .731 (39th)
Rebound Margin: +0.2 (100th)
Turnover Margin: +6.60 (18th)
Dakota Wesleyan
Scoring Offense: 69.8 (77th)
Scoring Defense: 61.5 (48th)
FG% Offense: .413 (T-62nd)
FG% Defense: .361 (T-26th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .333 (T-37th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .319 (T-146th)
Free Throw%: 722 (54th)
Rebound Margin: +7.0 (27th)
Turnover Margin: +0.83 (83rd)
Protocols for fans
Concordia home games: Consistent with state directed health measures, Concordia will allow up to 50 percent capacity for its home games. Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online (https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets). Tickets will also be sold at the door, provided capacity limits have not been reached via online sales.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
The Bulldogs played only once last week as the regular season concluded. They blitzed Doane with a 33-11 scoring advantage in the opening quarter. All 14 Concordia players registered in the scoring column in a 98-57 victory. The Bulldogs have won 10-straight meetings with the Tigers, including six in a row by margins of at least 40 points. Mackenzie Koepke went 4-for-7 from 3-point range while dropping in a season high 17 points. Taylor Cockerill (12) and Averie Lambrecht (11) also reached double figures while Cockerill plucked six steals. Lambrecht’s point total represented a career high.
Strong finish to regular season
It's easy to forget it now, but Concordia began the season at 0-3 with all three losses suffered on its home court. Those results were unheard of for a program that had gone a combined 63-1 at home over the previous four seasons. But the 2020-21 Bulldogs proved the sky wasn’t falling by going 18-4 the rest of the regular season with a home mark of 9-1 during that stretch. Concordia has won six in a row overall and eight of its last nine. The only defeat over the past nine outings was a 66-64 home loss at the hands of GPAC regular season champion Morningside. The strong close to the regular season has put the Bulldogs in at-large national tournament consideration (should they fail to grab an automatic bid). Concordia was ranked 22nd in the most recent NAIA poll.
Cockerill’s place in school history
Taylor Cockerill will likely be a first team All-GPAC choice, just as she was in her most recent healthy season (2018-19). Cockerill’s shooting percentages this season are remarkably similar to her 2018-19 campaign. She’s currently shooting 41.3 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 77.9 percent from the free throw line (compared to respective percentages of 40.3, 36.2 and 77.4 in ’18-19). Cockerill is the only player in program history with at least 1,200 points, 450 rebounds, 230 assists, 160 steals and 140 3-point field goals for a career. Cockerill passed Tracy Peitz (1,277) last week for 18th on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,281 points.
Off the bench
The bench has gotten plenty of run time in the past two wins (over Hastings and Doane). As mentioned above, Averie Lambrecht achieved a career high of 11 points this past weekend. In addition, Wahoo High School product Kendal Brigham made her first varsity appearance since Jan. 13 and knocked down 3-of-4 attempts from 3-point range. From a statistical perspective, sophomore Taylor Farrell has been the team’s most counted-upon weapon off the bench. She’s averaging 7.6 points while shooting 37.5 percent from 3-point range. On the interior, Kayla Luebbe (5.8 ppg, 64.6 FG%) has been an efficient scoring option.
GPAC tournament success
As a byproduct of four GPAC tournament titles in a row, Concordia owns an active GPAC postseason win streak of 12. The victims during that stretch have been Dakota Wesleyan (three times), Briar Cliff (twice), Hastings (twice), Midland (twice), Dordt, Morningside and Northwestern. All three victories over DWU have come in the GPAC tournament final. A year ago, the Bulldogs toppled Hastings in the conference postseason championship game. Under Drew Olson, Concordia has never lost a GPAC tournament title game (6-0).
GPAC Championship Games, program history
2020 – vs. Hastings | W, 60-49
2019 – vs. Dakota Wesleyan | W, 75-63
2018 – vs. Dakota Wesleyan | W, 90-88
2017 – vs. Dakota Wesleyan | W, 78-77 (OT)
2015 – at Morningside | W, 80-72
2012 – vs. Morningside | W, 73-66
2005 – at Morningside | W, 47-35
2004 – at Morningside | L, 63-76
GPAC tournament bracket
As the No. 2 seed, Concordia will have an opportunity to host in the GPAC semifinals if it can beat Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday. The Bulldogs can earn an automatic bid to the national tournament by winning the conference tournament or by finishing as the postseason runner up to No. 1 Morningside. Here are the Feb. 24 quarterfinal matchups.
No. 8 Jamestown (15-10, 12-10) at No. 1 Morningside (23-2, 21-1), 6 p.m.
No. 5 Dordt (15-10, 14-8) at No. 4 Briar Cliff (16-9, 14-8), 7 p.m.
No. 6 Midland (15-10, 12-10) at No. 3 Northwestern (16-9, 16-6), 6 p.m.
No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan (14-10, 12-10) at No. 2 Concordia (18-7, 17-5), 7 p.m.
Scouting Dakota Wesleyan
The Tigers have competed closely with Concordia this season, winning at the Corn Palace, 85-80, and falling at Friedrich Arena, 76-69. Dakota Wesleyan ranks as one of the league’s top defensive teams, landing at No. 1 in field goal percentage defense (.361) and No. 2 in scoring defense (61.5). Head Coach Jason Christensen’s squad has remained at a high level with the help of freshman Haidyn Pitsch, who leads the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game. DWU will make a GPAC postseason trip to Seward for the fourth time in five seasons.
Looking ahead
The Concordia/DWU winner will advance to Saturday’s GPAC semifinals and play either third-seeded Northwestern or sixth-seeded Midland. Game time is to be determined. The GPAC championship game will be played on Tuesday, March 2.
Projected Starters
Concordia (18-7, 17-5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (15.0)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.2)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.3)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.5)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.7)
Dakota Wesleyan (14-10, 12-10)
G – Kaylee Kirk, Jr. (5.9)
G – Rynn Osthus, So. (6.5)
G – Haidyn Pitsch, Fr. (14.5)
F – Matti Reiner, So. (13.6)
C – Jada Campbell, Jr. (11.1)
GPAC tourney win streak continues with quarterfinal triumph
Feb. 24, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Put this one under the category of a gritty, no frills type of performance. It’s all about surviving and advancing this time of year. While hosting a GPAC tournament quarterfinal clash, the 17th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team held visiting Dakota Wesleyan to 31.0 percent shooting in a 70-58 victory on Wednesday (Feb. 24). The Bulldogs overcame some of their own shooting struggles by going 18-for-25 from the foul line.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson’s program just doesn’t lose at home in the postseason. Dating back to 2013, Concordia has won 16 straight GPAC tournament home games. The Bulldogs have moved to 19-7 overall.
“I’m just really proud of our team and the fight that we have,” Olson said. “Dakota Wesleyan’s really good. They’re a great defensive team with a lot of really good pieces. They gave us a great battle, but we were able to make enough plays. Our freshmen really came through today. You had Sadie Powell with the big spurt in the first half and Bailey Conrad was great all game. Taysha (Rushton) came up big in the second half. I’m just really proud of all of them.”
This one definitely wasn’t easy, despite it appearing in the second quarter that Concordia just might blow it wide open. The Tigers (14-11) kept on coming. A key sequence came in the final minute when an intentional foul was called and resulted in a three-point possession for the Bulldogs, who increased their lead from five to eight points (66-58). A steal by Rushton on the ensuing play essentially sealed the game up. Four more free throws put the finishing touches on another win inside Friedrich Arena.
Defensive tenacity and ball security were key factors for Concordia, which ended up plus-nine in turnover margin. The Tigers opened the game a miserable 1-for-13 from the field. Powell got loose in the second quarter when she scored eight points in a row for the Bulldogs. Fellow freshman Kendal Brigham drained a triple in the corner that made it a 32-16 Concordia lead late in the first half.
“It’s a lot of fun working with my teammates,” Powell said. “They feed me when I’m open. We work really well together. If I’m the one who gets to score then that’s great. If it’s not me that’s great too. It’s just fun when we can all jell together really well.”
DWU grinded its way back into the contest and got within two (57-55) on Matti Reiner’s jumper with less than five minutes remaining. The Bulldogs responded with a critical 6-0 run that included two Taylor Cockerill free throws and a bucket apiece from Rylee Pauli and Taysha Rushton. After Reiner’s basket, the Tigers managed just one field goal the rest of the way as Concordia locked in.
Rushton led all players with 19 points while going 8-for-10 from the foul line. Pauli put together a fine night that included 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals while Powell posted 10 points and three rebounds. Conrad notched nine points, six assists and four rebounds and showcased a pretty drive to the basket just before the half. Mackenzie Koepke grabbed a team high 10 rebounds.
Dakota Wesleyan gave Concordia all it could handle in all three meetings this season (including a Tiger win at the Corn Palace). Reiner (13 points and 10 rebounds) and Jada Campbell (12 points and 12 rebounds) both turned in double-doubles on Wednesday. Leading scorer Haidyn Pitsch was held to three points on 1-for-10 shooting.
Another stiff challenge awaits the Bulldogs, who will host third-seeded Northwestern (17-9) in the GPAC semifinals on Saturday (tipoff at 3 p.m. CT). The Red Raiders have won 12 of their last 13 games after their 76-54 quarterfinal victory over Midland. Concordia swept the regular season series with Head Coach Chris Yaw’s squad.
“We have to refocus,” Olson said. “We talk about how we win, we lose, we go home. You come back the next day ready to work. Whether you had a good game or a bad game, be ready for the next one. Northwestern’s another great team. We’ve been fortunate to beat them twice, but they’re really good and really balanced. We have to be ready to go.”
Berth in GPAC title game on the line Saturday
Feb. 25, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – A fifth-straight appearance in the GPAC tournament final will be on the line on Saturday when the 17th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team hosts Northwestern. The GPAC semifinal clash will tip off at 3 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs swept the regular season series from the Red Raiders, who have won 12 of their past 13 outings. Concordia defeated Dakota Wesleyan in the quarterfinals while Northwestern routed Midland.
GPAC Semifinals
(17) Concordia (19-7) vs. Northwestern (17-9)
Saturday, Feb. 27 | 3 p.m.
Friedrich Arena | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Live Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 KTMX-FM Max Country
Commentator: Parker Cyza
Buy Tickets: https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 203 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 79.0 (22nd)
Scoring Defense: 65.8 (92nd)
FG% Offense: .397 (T-93rd)
FG% Defense: .379 (T-66th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .327 (T-48th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .301 (T-87th)
Free Throw%: .730 (T-45th)
Rebound Margin: 0.00 (102nd)
Turnover Margin: +6.69 (17th)
Northwestern
Scoring Offense: 74.2 (51st)
Scoring Defense: 63.4 (68th)
FG% Offense: .427 (T-35th)
FG% Defense: .380 (T-70th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .357 (15th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .311 (T-123rd)
Free Throw%: .724 (53rd)
Rebound Margin: +4.81 (45th)
Turnover Margin: +1.58 (69th)
Protocols for fans
Concordia home games: Consistent with state directed health measures, Concordia will allow up to 50 percent capacity for its home games. Fans are encouraged to purchase advance tickets online (https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets). Tickets will also be sold at the door, provided capacity limits have not been reached via online sales.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
In Wednesday’s 70-58 GPAC quarterfinal win over Dakota Wesleyan, the Bulldogs raced out to a 32-16 lead before the contest settled into a grinder. The Tigers went 1-for-13 from the field to start the game and finished at 31.0 percent for the night. The Concordia lead shriveled all the way down to two (57-55) in the fourth quarter before the Bulldogs responded with a critical 6-0 run. Three Concordia players reached double figures: Taysha Rushton (19), Rylee Pauli (16) and Sadie Powell (10). The freshmen had a big hand in the win, including Rushton and Powell. Concordia has now beaten DWU four times in the past five GPAC tournaments.
GPAC tournament win streaks
The success in the postseason is another marker of the excellence of Bulldog Women’s Basketball. With Wednesday’s win, Concordia now owns a 13-game GPAC tournament win streak and has won 16 straight GPAC postseason home games. The Bulldogs have not lost a GPAC tournament home contest since the 2013 conference semifinals. Head Coach Drew Olson has been at the controls for six of the program’s seven GPAC tournament championships. Olson is a perfect 6-0 in GPAC postseason title games
GPAC Championship Games, program history
2020 – vs. Hastings | W, 60-49
2019 – vs. Dakota Wesleyan | W, 75-63
2018 – vs. Dakota Wesleyan | W, 90-88
2017 – vs. Dakota Wesleyan | W, 78-77 (OT)
2015 – at Morningside | W, 80-72
2012 – vs. Morningside | W, 73-66
2005 – at Morningside | W, 47-35
2004 – at Morningside | L, 63-76
Freshmen come of age
Olson is especially pleased with the growth of a freshman class that includes star guard Taysha Rushton, starter Bailey Conrad and role players in Kendal Brigham, Sadie Powell and Mackenzie Toomey. Rushton has been a consistent producer throughout her rookie season and is a strong candidate for GPAC Freshman of the Year honors. Her season scoring average of 13.7 is the second highest for a freshman during the Olson era (No. 1 is Quinn Wragge – 14.8 in 2015-16). As for Conrad, the overall numbers don’t tell the full story. She tallied nine points and six assists versus Dakota Wesleyan while continuing to gain Olson’s trust. Meanwhile, Powell put home a career high 10 points in the quarterfinal win. Brigham is back on the varsity roster and appears to be soaring in confidence (4-for-5 from 3-point range over the last two games).
Rising in the ranks; 20-win mark
Concordia is hopeful of earning an automatic bid to the national tournament, but it will most certainly be in the discussion for an at-large berth even if it falls short of that aim. In the new NAIA Coaches’ Poll released on Wednesday, the Bulldogs leapt five spots to No. 17. Concordia checked in at No. 11 in the preseason before falling out of the rankings when it struggled early in the season. Olson’s squad reappeared in the national poll at No. 25 on Jan. 27 before moving up to 22nd on Feb. 10 and then to 17th on Feb. 24. It should be noted that the national rankings do not determine at-large berths to nationals.
On another note, the Bulldogs are one win away from 20 wins, a significant accomplishment during this COVID-19 affected season. Only twice in his previous 14 seasons as head coach has Olson failed to hit the 20-win mark. Olson enters the weekend with a career record of 404-105. Concordia is hoping to reach the national tournament for the 10th consecutive season.
Recent meetings with Red Raiders
The Bulldogs are tasked with attempting to beat Northwestern for the third time this season. In the regular season, Concordia knocked off the Red Raiders, 83-72, in Seward and then, 81-76, in Orange City. In the first battle, Taylor Cockerill piled up 25 points while Taysha Rushton poured in 28 in the second meeting. The two programs have not faced off in the GPAC tournament since 2017 when the Bulldogs blew out Northwestern, 88-51, in the semifinals. However, Northwestern is the program to most recently beat Concordia in Seward in a GPAC tournament game. That happened in the 2013 conference semifinals. Overall, the Bulldogs have won five straight in the series. That run began with the 2019 NAIA Division II national semifinals as part of Concordia’s national title run.
GPAC tournament update
It was a chalky first night of the GPAC tournament as the top four seeds all held serve at home. While the Bulldogs get set to host Northwestern, No. 1 seed Morningside will entertain crosstown rival and fourth-seeded Briar Cliff in the other semifinal. The GPAC championship game will take place on Tuesday, March 2 at the home gym of the highest remaining seed.
GPAC Quarterfinals – Feb. 24
No. 1 Morningside def. No. 8 Jamestown, 84-75
No. 4 Briar Cliff def. No. 5 Dordt, 67-54
No. 3 Northwestern def. No. 6 Midland, 79-54
No. 2 Concordia def. No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan, 70-58
GPAC Semifinals – Feb. 27
No. 4 Briar Cliff at No. 1 Morningside, 3 p.m.
No. 3 Northwestern at No. 2 Concordia, 3 p.m.
Scouting Northwestern
The Red Raiders have rebounded impressively after their 0-6 start to the season. Since the calendar flipped to 2021, Northwestern is 12-2 with the lone losses coming against Concordia and Morningside. Head Coach Chris Yaw’s squad can heat it up from the perimeter, as evidenced by its 3-point shooting percentage of 35.7. The primary shooters to watch out for are Sammy Blum (.440 from 3-point range) and Devyn Kemble (.397 from 3-point range). In conference games only, the Red Raiders posted a scoring margin (+13.1) that rivaled that of Concordia (+14.9). If not for the rough start, Northwestern would likely also be ranked in the top 25.
Looking ahead
The Bulldogs hope to be playing in the GPAC tournament title game next Tuesday (March 2) against either Briar Cliff or Morningside. By next week, the NAIA will also reveal the field for the opening round of the national tournament. The NAIA has scheduled the women’s basketball selection show for 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 4.
Projected Starters
Concordia (19-7, 17-5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (15.0)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.2)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.3)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.5)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.7)
Northwestern (17-9, 16-6)
G – Sammy Blum, Sr. (13.7)
G – Devyn Kemble, Jr. (10.0)
F – Molly Schany, Fr. (12.7)
F – Alexis Toering, Jr. (4.9)
F – Taylor Vandervelde, Jr. (7.7)
Terrific backcourt trio paddles Dawgs to GPAC final
Feb. 27, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The 17th-ranked Concordia University Women’s Basketball team provided a glimpse at just how good it can be when it’s playing at peak levels. The terrific backcourt trio of Taylor Cockerill, Bailey Conrad and Taysha Rushton exercised control of Saturday (Feb. 27)’s GPAC tournament semifinal while leading the Bulldogs to an 83-70 win over visiting Northwestern. A breathtaking second quarter left a hot Red Raiders opponent in the dust.
The names and faces change, but Head Coach Drew Olson always seems to have his program kicking into gear this time of year. Concordia (20-7) is headed to the GPAC tournament final for a fifth year in a row.
“It feels really good – just really proud of our team,” Olson said. “It was an incredible effort, especially in that first half. We came out with a good aggressiveness and took the scouting report and used it to our advantage. We knew they were going to hedge hard on the ball screens. TC and Bailey made some incredible passes. I felt like we were really locked in all first half.”
The aforementioned group of backcourt standouts features the veteran Cockerill and two rising freshmen in Conrad and Rushton. They seemed to make all the right decisions on when to drive and when to drop the ball over Northwestern for easy buckets for the likes of post players Kayla Luebbe and Rylee Pauli. The dynamic Texan Rushton went wild for 11 of her game high 21 points during a second quarter that saw the Bulldogs outscore the Red Raiders, 24-8.
Concordia shot 47.8 percent (44.8 percent for the game) in the first half and led, 47-25, at the break. Cockerill, Conrad and Rushton combined for 49 points (16-for-34 from the field), 14 rebounds and 11 assists to just three turnovers. All three Bulldogs logged at least 28 minutes of action. Rushton added four rebounds to her line while Cockerill posted 18 points, six assists and six rebounds and Conrad notched 10 points, four assists and four rebounds.
“Obviously it was fun,” Rushton said of the second quarter surge. “We were focused in, like really zoned in and not letting them get any transition buckets. We were having fun on offense and just moving the ball … Their defense couldn’t stop our posts and guards.”
A normally efficient 3-point shooting team, Northwestern (17-10) went just 4-for-24 (.167) from beyond the arc. That meant the Red Raiders had to rely more upon frontcourt players like Molly Schany (14 points) and Alexis Toering (10 points). Northwestern limited its turnovers to 13, but it caused only eight Bulldog turnovers. The Red Raiders did manage to hold an advantage in rebounding, 43-37.
Rushton also put up 19 points in the GPAC quarterfinal win over Dakota Wesleyan. Her impressive play as a freshman is a big reason why Concordia finds itself in another GPAC championship game. Said Olson, “She was awesome. I think she’s one of the best players in the conference and hopefully that comes through when they give the awards out. She’s just been phenomenal for us all year. She’s been big-time in all the big games. I also thought all our freshmen played well.”
Pauli reached double figures with 11 points before fouling out late in the contest. Three players off the bench contributed either seven or eight points: Taylor Farrell (eight), Luebbe (eight) and Sadie Powell (seven). While Rushton knocked down five treys, Farrell drilled two. Their collective play helped the Bulldogs build a lead as large as 24 points.
Concordia has won each of its last 17 GPAC tournament home games and has won 14-straight GPAC postseason contests overall. Under Olson, the Bulldogs are 6-0 in conference tournament championship games.
Two of those streaks will be on the line on Tuesday (March 2) when Concordia will head to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on seventh-ranked Morningside (25-2) in the championship game. Tipoff from the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center is set for 7 p.m. CT. The Mustangs got the better of the Bulldogs in both regular-season meetings. These two programs last met in a GPAC tournament title game in 2015 when the result was an 80-72 Concordia win in Sioux City.
With nationals bid secured, Concordia aims for GPAC tourney title
Feb. 28, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – For the fifth year in a row, the Concordia University Women’s Basketball program has advanced to the GPAC tournament championship game. The major difference this time is that the Bulldogs will have to conquer enemy territory in order to hoist the banner. No. 17 Concordia is getting set to play at seventh-ranked Morningside in the title game at 7 p.m. CT on Tuesday. Fans must be on a pre-approved visitors list in order to be admitted into the game.
GPAC Championship Game
(17) Concordia (20-7) at (7) Morningside (25-2)
Tuesday, March 2 | 7 p.m.
Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center | Sioux City, Iowa
Webcast: Morningside Video Stream
Live Stats: http://www.qkstats.net/live/xlive.htm
Radio: 104.9 KTMX-FM Max Country
Commentator: Parker Cyza
Tickets: Fans must be on pre-approved admission list
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 203 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Scoring Offense: 79.1 (22nd)
Scoring Defense: 66.0 (92nd)
FG% Offense: .399 (T-89th)
FG% Defense: .378 (T-64th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .329 (48th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .296 (78th)
Free Throw%: .728 (T-50th)
Rebound Margin: -0.22 (102nd)
Turnover Margin: +6.63 (15th)
Morningside
Scoring Offense: 80.0 (19th)
Scoring Defense: 61.5 (45th)
FG% Offense: .442 (18th)
FG% Defense: .396 (T-104th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .385 (5th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .300 (T-88th)
Free Throw%: .749 (24th)
Rebound Margin: +1.48 (80th)
Turnover Margin: +7.70 (8th)
Protocols for fans
Morningside continues to limit fan attendance to friends and family of the student-athletes and coaches involved in events it hosts. According to its policy, visiting fans must be on a pre-submitted attendance list. Tickets are not sold online or at the entrance.
--NOTE: All GPAC events require fans to wear face coverings. To review specific COVID-19 protocols for the GPAC and its member institutions, visit: http://www.gpacsports.com/gpac-covid19-fan-protocols.
Recent action
Concordia put together what was likely its best half of basketball all season while building a 47-25 lead on Northwestern in the GPAC semifinals. The Bulldogs outscored the Red Raiders 24-8 in the second quarter that set the tone for the day. Concordia won by a final of 83-70 while being led in scoring by Taysha Rushton (21), Taylor Cockerill (18), Rylee Pauli (11) and Bailey Conrad (10). Backcourt play was particularly one-sided in favor of the Bulldogs, who held a +5 advantage in the turnover department. Concordia limited Northwestern to 37.1 percent shooting for the game. The Bulldogs won all three meetings this season with the Red Raiders.
Hunting another GPAC tournament title
The program is seeking its eighth all-time GPAC tournament title and seventh under Drew Olson’s direction. Concordia lost its first-ever GPAC postseason championship appearance and has proceeded to win the next seven. Olson is 6-0 in GPAC championship games having defeated Dakota Wesleyan (three times), Morningside (twice) and Hastings in those battles. Concordia and Morningside also met in Sioux City for the 2015 GPAC tournament title game with the result being an 80-72 Bulldog win. That marked the only loss of the 2014-15 season for the Mustangs.
GPAC Championship Games, program history
2020 – vs. Hastings | W, 60-49
2019 – vs. Dakota Wesleyan | W, 75-63
2018 – vs. Dakota Wesleyan | W, 90-88
2017 – vs. Dakota Wesleyan | W, 78-77 (OT)
2015 – at Morningside | W, 80-72
2012 – vs. Morningside | W, 73-66
2005 – at Morningside | W, 47-35
2004 – at Morningside | L, 63-76
Backcourt powers way to title game
Olson knew what he had entering the season with Taylor Cockerill, although the star guard was coming off of major knee surgery. However, there were some unknowns in the backcourt with the likes of Grace Barry and Riley Sibbel having moved on. Olson handed the keys over to freshman Taysha Rushton, who is a budding star and someone Olson believes is already one of the top players in the GPAC. The trio of Cockerill, Rushton and Bailey Conrad combined for 49 points and 11 assists against only three turnovers in the GPAC semifinal game. Cockerill and Rushton are both putting up stellar numbers, but the stats won’t tell the full story for Conrad, who has now started 14 games. All three have provided a steadying presence to a team posted single-digit turnover totals in four of the past six outings.
Familiar coaching rivals
Drew Olson of Concordia and Jamie Sale of Morningside are two of the most accomplished women’s basketball coaches in the entire country. Both reached milestones this season with Sale passing 600 wins and Olson eclipsing 400 victories. Sale is in his 20th season leading the Mustangs while Olson is in year 15 at his alma mater. Their long and successful tenures have led to memorable clashes between these programs – particularly in 2015 when the two sides went head-to-head in both the GPAC tournament championship and NAIA Division II national championship games. Sale has the upper hand all-time against Olson with an 18-15 record. That includes the two Morningside wins this season over Concordia.
Hitting the 20-win mark
Several elite programs will not hit the 20-win mark this season due to COVID-19 schedule restrictions. In other words, reaching that plateau is an achievement worth celebrating. Concordia recorded win No. 20 in the GPAC semifinals. Olson has led the Bulldogs to at least 20 victories in 13 of his 15 seasons at the helm of the program (one season with 19 wins). The previous four seasons set a new standard for winning as Concordia posted win totals of 34, 36, 35 and 32, respectively. The 36 victories are tied for the most in a single season in program history. In addition, the program has clinched a 10th-straight national tournament appearance.
GPAC tournament update
The higher seeds have prevailed in every game so far during the 2021 GPAC tournament. In addition, the closest final margin has been nine points (Morningside over Jamestown in the quarterfinals). That sets up a 1 versus 2 matchup in the GPAC tournament final. No matter the result, both Concordia and Morningside will be ticketed for the opening round of the national tournament.
GPAC Quarterfinals – Feb. 24
No. 1 Morningside def. No. 8 Jamestown, 84-75
No. 4 Briar Cliff def. No. 5 Dordt, 67-54
No. 3 Northwestern def. No. 6 Midland, 79-54
No. 2 Concordia def. No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan, 70-58
GPAC Semifinals – Feb. 27
No. 1 Morningside def. No. 4 Briar Cliff, 72-59
No. 2 Concordia def. No. 3 Northwestern, 83-70
Scouting Morningside
The Mustangs have gotten to 25-2 in large part due to a high-powered offense led by two of the GPAC’s best players in Sierra Mitchell (18.2 ppg) and Sophia Peppers (15.3 ppg). Both Mustangs are sure fire first team all-conference selections. Mitchell (1,970 career points) is closing in on 2,000 points for her career. In the GPAC semifinal win over Briar Cliff, Mitchell posted 20 points and five assists while Peppers notched 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Morningside owns a 19-game win streak that dates back an 80-78 loss at Briar Cliff on Dec. 9. The closest call during the streak was the 66-64 squeaker in Seward on Jan. 16. The Mustangs are a team with aspirations of advancing deep into the national tournament.
Looking ahead
The NAIA has scheduled the women’s basketball selection show for 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 4. Concordia has guaranteed itself a spot in the opening round of the national tournament to be held on March 12-13. The NAIA has declared eight different opening round sites. The selection show will unveil pairings and location assignments.
Projected Starters
Concordia (20-7, 17-5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (14.3)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.6)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.9)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.4)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.9)
Morningside (25-2, 21-1)
G – Faith Meyer, Sr. (7.3)
G – Sierra Mitchell, Sr. (18.2)
G – McKenna Sims, So. (7.2)
F – Chloe Lofstrom, Fr. (9.2)
F – Sophia Peppers, Jr. (15.3)
Rally spurred by Cockerill, Rushton falls just short in GPAC title clash
Mar. 2, 2021
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – In a city where the Concordia University Women’s Basketball program has forged countless memories, it nearly put together a comeback for the ages. Tuesday (March 2)’s GPAC tournament title clash had all the drama anyone could have asked for in a pulse-pounding battle that took every bit of 40 minutes to decide. Ultimately, Sophia Peppers’ layup with 0.8 seconds left lifted seventh-ranked Morningside to a 67-65 victory.
Fifteenth-year Head Coach Drew Olson has led the program to six of its seven all-time GPAC tournament championships. The result stings, but the Bulldogs (20-8) likely gained even more confidence from what unfolded.
Said Olson, “We showed a ton of fight. This team has really grown. We've developed that toughness and togetherness. That was awesome to see ... Morningside runs a great program. (Morningside coach) Jamie (Sale) and I have been battling for many years. We have a lot of respect for each other.”
The backcourt of Taylor Cockerill and Taysha Rushton showcased big-time shot making while torching the nets at Allee Gym. Rushton finished with 24 points while knocking down 6-of-10 attempts from 3-point range. Meanwhile, Cockerill poured in 21 points while drilling 4-of-5 shots from long range. Rushton poured in 19 of her points in the first half before Cockerill rained in 19 in the second half.
Without Rushton’s hotter-than-the-surface-of-the-sun second quarter, Concordia would have been dead in the water. Rushton wouldn’t allow it. The Lubbock, Texas, native dropped home five treys in the quarter, including four in the last four minutes of the half. That 36-15 deficit turned into a much more manageable disadvantage of 38-31 by halftime. Cockerill carried the torch from there and gave the Bulldogs their first second-half lead (53-52) via a three-point play early in the fourth quarter.
“Taysha and TC are really special,” Olson said. “What Taysha showed tonight was incredible. She willed our team back when we were down. Both her and TC continued to find ways to keep us in the game. Collectively, other people really contributed to it too with their defensive toughness and a couple of good plays offensively … Taysha and TC were awesome.”
Neither team led by more than three points in a fiercely intense fourth quarter that saw both sides trade blows. Down the stretch, Taylor Rodenburgh hit two massive jumpers to turn a three-point Mustang deficit into a two-point lead (65-63) in the final seconds. Cockerill responded with a driving layup to even things up once again. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they fell victim to a last-second game winner for the second-straight meeting with Morningside (26-2).
In a season affected by COVID-19 in obvious ways, this atmosphere was about as good as it gets. Behind a loud home crowd, the Mustangs (14-0 at home) had just enough to hold off Concordia in a matchup of the league’s top two seeds. Peppers led her side with 16 points while McKenna Sims added 15. The Bulldogs managed to limit mega star Sierra Mitchell to five points on 2-for-14 shooting from the floor.
Some of that defensive success could attributed to Rushton, who is more than just a sharpshooter. Rushton and company did an admirable job of holding Morningside to 41.8 percent shooting after a hot early start. A rarity this season, the Bulldogs finished in the red in turnover margin (-2) and also got outrebounded, 38-32.
Cockerill added six rebounds, three assists and three steals to her line. Mackenzie Koepke pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked a pair of shots. In addition, Rylee Pauli chipped in with six points, four assists and four rebounds and Bailey Conrad notched six rebounds and three assists.
Rushton didn’t look much like a freshman during Concordia’s GPAC tournament run. She averaged 21.3 points while going 12-for-24 from 3-point range in conference postseason play. She did her best to keep alive the program’s streak of GPAC tournament success. The Bulldogs had won 14-straight GPAC postseason contests.
Concordia had already secured an automatic bid to the national tournament prior to tipoff on Tuesday. The Bulldogs will make a 10th-straight national tournament appearance and the 20th in program history. Opening round assignments will be announced at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday when the NAIA holds its women’s basketball selection show.
Said Olson, “We feel really good. We’re confident and we know we can play with anybody. We’re excited that we’re still playing. We’re ready to play another team right now.”
Cockerill, Rushton highlight All-GPAC honors
Mar. 3, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – After putting on a show in the 2021 GPAC tournament championship game, junior Taylor Cockerill and freshman Taysha Rushton have pulled in first team All-GPAC honors, as announced by the league on Wednesday (March 3). Meanwhile, juniors Mackenzie Koepke and Rylee Pauli were both recognized as honorable mention all-conference choices. Head Coach Drew Olson’s program also placed two players on the first team last season (Grace Barry and Philly Lammers).
Cockerill is now a two-time first team all-conference honoree. The Waverly High School product also picked up first team accolades in 2018-19 for the national championship team. While returning from an injury that sidelined her in 2019-20, Cockerill has started all 28 games and leads the team in points (14.5), rebounds (6.2) and assists (3.04) per game. She is shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, 38.0 percent from 3-point range and 78.7 percent from the foul line. Twice this season Cockerill has poured in 33 points in a single game. She will enter the national tournament having piled up career totals of 1,324 points (16th most in program history), 471 rebounds, 244 assists, 164 steals and 148 3-point field goals. She was chosen as a 2018-19 NAIA honorable mention All-America selection.
Rushton emerged as a strong candidate for the GPAC Freshman of the Year award (which wound up going to Dakota Wesleyan’s Haidyn Pitsch). The native of Lubbock, Texas, immediately stepped into a starting role and has averaged 14.3 points, 2.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Rushton is shooting 36.6 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from 3-point range and 81.9 percent from the free throw line. Rushton ranks fourth among all GPAC players with 66 made 3-point field goals (2.36 per game). Her scoring average is the second highest for a freshman during Drew Olson’s tenure.
Koepke has garnered some form of all-conference recognition in each of her three collegiate seasons. She collected honorable mention (2018-19) and second team All-GPAC (2019-20) accolades the previous two seasons. The Lincoln Lutheran High School alum is averaging 7.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.0 block per game. She is shooting 29.9 percent from 3-point range. Koepke has totaled 736 points, 375 rebounds, 176 3-point field goals and 173 steals over 99 career collegiate games.
Pauli is a first time All-GPAC honoree in what is her first season as a starter. The Omaha, Neb., native is averaging 6.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor. Pauli posted a career high 20 points in the win at Doane. Her GPAC tournament included a 16-point, seven-rebound outing versus Dakota Wesleyan. Pauli has started 26 of 28 games.
The 17th-ranked Bulldogs will learn of their assignment and opponent for the opening round of the national tournament on Thursday when the NAIA bracket is announced. The selection show is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Thursday.
Bulldogs headed to Park City as opening round No. 1 seed
Mar. 4, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The brackets are now set as Concordia University Women’s Basketball prepares for the 20th national tournament appearance in program history. Head Coach Drew Olson will take his team to Park City, Kan., for the opening round. As the No. 1 seed in Park City Bracket B, the Bulldogs will have a bye before playing the winner between No. 2 seed Loyola University New Orleans and No. 3 seed Langston University (Okla.).
Loyola and Langston will go head-to-head on March 12. Concordia is set to open up its national tournament on March 13 at a time to be announced. All games in the Park City Bracket will take place at Hartman Arena. The complete schedule can be viewed HERE.
The Bulldogs (20-8) earned an automatic bid to the national tournament as the GPAC postseason runner up. The field is made up of 48 teams (37 automatic and 11 at-large qualifiers). The at-large bids were determined by the Women’s Basketball National Selection Committee. This committee consists of one representative from each geographical area and six at-large members. The 16 teams to emerge from the opening round will advance to play at the final site – the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, March 18-23.
This marks the first year under the new national tournament format. The NAIA shifted from two divisions to one beginning with the 2020-21 season. In the future, the tournament will feature 64 teams, meaning there will be no byes in the opening round. Despite the change in format, the Tyson Events Center remains the hopeful final destination for each of the qualifiers.
Loyola (20-1) gained entry into the tournament by winning the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament. Meanwhile, Langston (8-7) qualified via its Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament runner-up claim. Concordia is the No. 16 overall seed in the tournament while Loyola is 19th and Langston is 39th.
More details regarding specific game times, fan attendance policies and live streaming will be disseminated when available. The women’s basketball page of the NAIA website serves as an additional resource.
National tournament historical facts
· In its first 19 appearances at the national championships, Concordia has posted a record of 35-17 with seven journeys to at least the national semifinals (three national championship game appearances). The Bulldogs are 13-6 in first-round games. All of the program’s national tournament berths have come since 1992 – the same year the NAIA split into two divisions for basketball. The 2019-20 season marked the final one featuring two divisions. The 2019-20 squad had garnered the No. 1 overall seed in a tournament that was shut down in the middle of the first round.
· Seven of the 15 players on Concordia’s national tournament roster have prior national tournament experience. That list includes Taylor Cockerill, Taylor Farrell, Rebecca Higgins, Mackenzie Koepke, Averie Lambrecht, Rylee Pauli and Chloe Schumacher. Cockerill has the most national tournament game experience having been part of runs to the national championship game in both 2018 and 2019. In 10 career national tournament games, Cockerill has totaled 90 points with a single game high of 26 in the second round of the 2019 tournament versus Cardinal Stritch. In the next round (quarterfinals) in 2019, Koepke poured in 15 points in a victory over Indiana Tech. Koepke has 40 career points at the national tournament to her credit.
· Head Coach Drew Olson has been at the controls for each of Concordia’s past 13 national tournament appearances (including 2021). His record at the national tournament now stands at 24-10 with five trips to the final four, including three national championship game appearances (2015, 2018, 2019). The program raised its first-ever national championship banner in March 2019. Olson has won more national tournament games than any coach in school history (men’s or women’s programs).
· During the 2020-21 regular season, the Bulldogs went up against four fellow national tournament qualifiers: Carroll College (Mont.), Dakota State University (S.D.), Morningside and Northwestern (total of eight games versus national qualifiers). Concordia defeated Northwestern three times while falling short against the other three opponents. However, it lost twice by two points to Morningside. Carroll and Dakota State both took part in the Cattle Classic (Nov. 5-7) at the beginning of the season.
· Olson became the program’s fifth coach to lead Concordia to the national tournament when he made his first appearance in 2008. Past coaches to take the Bulldogs to nationals were Todd Voss (three), Mark Lemke (two), Micah Parker (one) and Carl Everts (one). Voss guided two squads that reached the national semifinals.
Previewing the Park City Bracket B opening round
Mar. 8, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – For the first time since 1991, the NAIA will hold just one women’s basketball national tournament (previously two separate divisions). The Concordia University Women’s Basketball team is one of 48 teams left standing in a bracket that begins with the opening round. Sixteen teams will emerge from the opening round and advance to play at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, a familiar destination for the Bulldogs. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad earned a bye to begin the opening round and will play either No. 2 seed Loyola University New Orleans or No. 3 seed Langston University (Okla.) at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday.
NAIA Opening Round | Park City Bracket B
Concordia (20-8) vs. Loyola/Langston
Saturday, March 13 | 1 p.m.
Hartman Arena | Park City, Kansas
Webcast: KCAC Stretch Portal ($9.99/game)
Live Stats: Dakstats
Radio: 104.9 KTMX-FM Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza / Devin Smith
--Tickets are $15/session (2 and under are free)
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 204 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
(16) Concordia
Scoring Offense: 78.6 (22nd)
Scoring Defense: 66.0 (92nd)
FG% Offense: .401 (T-86th)
FG% Defense: .380 (T-69th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .331 (T-47th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .298 (T-80th)
Free Throw%: .730 (T-45th)
Rebound Margin: -0.43 (108th)
Turnover Margin: +6.32 (17th)
(19) Loyola
Scoring Offense: 76.1 (33rd)
Scoring Defense: 57.2 (19th)
FG% Offense: .436 (T-22nd)
FG% Defense: .354 (T-23rd)
3-pt FG% Offense: .304 (T-91st)
3-pt FG% Defense: .271 (T-27th)
Free Throw%: .708 (T-78th)
Rebound Margin: +13.52 (5th)
Turnover Margin: +1.33 (70th)
(39) Langston
Scoring Offense: 79.0 (21st)
Scoring Defense: 75.1 (173rd)
FG% Offense: .415 (T-54th)
FG% Defense: .387 (T-81st)
3-pt FG% Offense: .331 (T-47th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .305 (T-104th)
Free Throw%: .650 (T-150th)
Rebound Margin: +2.4 (67th)
Turnover Margin: -0.13 (106th)
Hartman Arena Info
Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan., is the host site of Concordia’s opening round pod. The arena website can be viewed here: https://www.hartmanarena.com/. The venue will be limiting capacity to 20 percent (roughly 1,000 fans). Fans in attendance this weekend will be required to wear masks. The ticket cost is $15 per session.
Recent action
The Bulldogs were very narrowly beaten in the GPAC tournament championship game, 67-65, by Morningside on March 2. After trailing 36-15 in the second quarter, Concordia closed the first half on a 16-2 run spurred by a flurry of 3-point field goals by freshman Taysha Rushton, who led all players with 24 points. The Bulldogs came all the way back to take the lead during a back-and-forth fourth quarter at the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Taylor Cockerill poured in 19 of her 21 points after halftime in showcasing some big-time shot making of her own. Sophia Peppers scored the game-winning basket with less than a second remaining to allow the Mustangs to sweep GPAC regular season and postseason titles. The Bulldogs made their fifth-straight appearance in the conference tournament final.
National tournament history
Concordia has won six-straight national tournament games, a run that includes the entire 2019 NAIA Division II tournament and the first round of the 2020 tournament (before it was cut short by COVID-19). In its first 19 appearances at the national championships, Concordia has posted a record of 35-17 with seven journeys to at least the national semifinals (three national championship game appearances). The Bulldogs are 13-6 in first-round games. All of the program’s national tournament berths have come since 1992 – the same year the NAIA split into two divisions for basketball. The 2019-20 season marked the final one featuring two divisions. Head Coach Drew Olson has been at the controls for each of Concordia’s past 13 national tournament appearances (including 2021). His record at the national tournament stands at 24-10 with five trips to the final four, including three national championship game appearances (2015, 2018, 2019). The program raised its first-ever national championship banner in March 2019. Olson has won more national tournament games than any coach in school history (men’s or women’s programs).
Cockerill/Rushton named to GPAC first team
The GPAC released all-conference teams on March 3 when Taylor Cockerill and Taysha Rushton were announced as first team selections (Mackenzie Koepke and Rylee Pauli were recognized with honorable mention accolades). Cockerill is now a two-time first team all-conference honoree. The Waverly High School product also picked up first team accolades in 2018-19 for the national championship team. While returning from an injury that sidelined her in 2019-20, Cockerill has started all 28 games and leads the team in points (14.5), rebounds (6.2) and assists (3.04) per game. She is shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, 38.0 percent from 3-point range and 78.7 percent from the foul line. She will enter the national tournament having piled up career totals of 1,324 points (16th most in program history), 471 rebounds, 244 assists, 164 steals and 148 3-point field goals. Rushton emerged as a strong candidate for the GPAC Freshman of the Year award (which wound up going to Dakota Wesleyan’s Haidyn Pitsch). The native of Lubbock, Texas, immediately stepped into a starting role and has averaged 14.3 points, 2.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Rushton is shooting 36.6 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from 3-point range and 81.9 percent from the free throw line. Rushton ranks fourth among all GPAC players with 66 made 3-point field goals (2.36 per game). Her scoring average is the second highest for a freshman during Drew Olson’s tenure.
Rankings surge
Concordia continued to rise in the national rankings when it was seeded 16th in the NAIA heading into the national tournament. The Bulldogs opened up at No. 11 in the NAIA preseason poll. In the first poll of the regular season (Dec. 16), Concordia did not receive a single vote in the coaches’ poll. Since then, Drew Olson’s squad his risen steadily after re-entering the top 25 on Jan. 27. The absence from the mid-December rankings ended the program’s stretch of being ranked for 97-straight polls. As it stands, the Bulldogs have appeared in the top 25 in 101 of the last 103 NAIA coaches’ polls.
2020-21 NAIA Poll Rankings
Oct. 14 – 11th
Dec. 16 – NR
Jan. 13 – RV
Jan. 27 – 25th
Feb. 10 – 22nd
Feb. 24 – 17th
March 4 – 16th (rated by selection committee)
Rushton on fire
No player scored more points during the GPAC tournament than rising star Taysha Rushton, who tallied 19 or more points in all three contests. Had the voting taken place following the conference tournament, it seems likely that Rushton would have been named the GPAC Freshman of the Year. Over the course of the GPAC postseason, Rushton averaged 21.3 points while going 12-for-24 (.500) from beyond the arc. In addition, she committed only three turnovers in a combined 107 minutes of action in the conference tournament. The native of Lubbock, Texas, has reached the 20-point mark seven times this season.
Rushton, GPAC Tournament
Quarterfinals vs. DWU: 19 points | 5-11 FGs | 1-5 3-pt FGs
Semifinals vs. NWC: 21 points | 7-16 FGs | 5-9 3-pt FGs
Championship vs. MC: 24 points | 9-15 FGs | 6-10 3-pt FGs
Scouting Loyola
Loyola is ranked 19th in the NAIA by the Women’s Basketball National Selection Committee. The Wolfpack earned an automatic bid to the national tournament by winning the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) tournament. This marks the 13th all-time national tournament appearance for Loyola, which is located in New Orleans, La. SSAC Coach of the Year Kellie Kennedy guides a squad that enters the national tournament on a 15-game winning streak. The Wolfpack landed three players on the all-conference first team: Kennedy Hansberry, Taylor Thomas and Presley Wascom. Loyola rates as a strong defensive team having held opponents to 35.4 percent shooting. The team’s lone loss of the season came at the hands of the University of Mobile (Ala.) back on Jan. 19.
Scouting Langston
Langston is ranked 39th in the NAIA by the Women’s Basketball National Selection Committee. The Lady Lions locked up a spot in the national tournament via a runner-up finish in the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament. Langston will be headed to nationals for the 14th time in program history and for the first time since 2016. Head Coach Elaine Powell’s squad played an abbreviated schedule while going 8-7 this season. Senior forward Asheika Alexander ranks fifth in the nation in scoring at 22.2 points per game. She also averages 6.7 rebounds and shoots 38.5 percent from 3-point range. The Lady Lions roster includes players from 10 different states.
Sioux City remains final site
Despite the changes to the national tournament format, the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, remains the hopeful destination for the Bulldogs this March. A win on Saturday would allow Concordia to advance to Sioux City as one of 16 remaining teams in the field. The opening round winners are re-seeded into a 16-team bracket.
Projected Starters
Concordia (20-7, 17-5)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (14.3)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.6)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (13.9)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.4)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.9)
Loyola (20-1)
G – Kennedy Hansberry, Jr. (10.0)
G – Taylor Thomas, So. (11.7)
G – Presley Wascom, Sr. (12.2)
F – Sandra Cannady, So. (10.3)
F – Chelsea Gray, Sr. (7.6)
Langston (8-7)
G – Grace Williams, Jr. (8.8)
F – Asheika Alexander, Sr. (22.2)
F – Talia Edwards, Sr. (11.3)
F – Jailynn Lawson, Sr. (13.4)
F – Alexia Levenston, Sr. (3.8)
Bracket reveal: Concordia draws Marian in round of 16
Mar. 14, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Late on Saturday (March 13), the NAIA revealed the 16-team bracket for the final site of the 2021 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship. As the No. 13 seed, the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team will take on fourth-seeded Marian University (Ind.) at 6 p.m. CT on Friday (March 19). All games in the bracket will be held at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad advanced to the final site thanks to Saturday’s 71-54 win over No. 19 Loyola University New Orleans in the opening round of Park City Bracket B. Taylor Cockerill produced a game high 22 points as the Bulldogs shook off a 14-point first half deficit. Olson has led the program to at least the national round of 16 a total of nine times.
In Indianapolis Bracket B, Marian cruised to a 92-69 win over Grand View University (Iowa). The winner between Concordia and Marian will advance to the national quarterfinals and play either fifth-seeded Morningside or 12th-seeded University of St. Francis (Ill.). That quarterfinal matchup will take place at 8 p.m. CT on Saturday (March 20). The dates for the proceeding rounds are March 22 for the semifinals and March 23 for the national championship game.
Tickets for the national tournament can be purchased online via the Tyson Events Center website: https://www.tysoncenter.com/. Cost is $15 per day for adults and $7 per day for students.
Round of 16 preview: Concordia vs. Marian
Mar. 15, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Here they are again. New team. New tournament format. Same Concordia University Women’s Basketball program. The Bulldogs will make their way to the Tyson Events Center for the 10th-straight season after toppling Loyola University New Orleans, 71-54, to win the NAIA Park City Bracket B Opening Round. The tournament field has shrunk to 16 teams as play shifts to Sioux City, Iowa, which had been the site of the NAIA Division II tournament since 1998. Thirteenth-seeded Concordia will take on fourth-seeded Marian University (Ind.) on Friday in the round of 16.
NAIA Round of 16
Concordia (21-8) vs. Marian (27-5)
Friday, March 19 | 6 p.m.
Tyson Events Center | Sioux City, Iowa
Webcast: NAIA Network (fee required)
Live Stats: Dakstats
Radio: 104.9 KTMX-FM Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza / Devin Smith
Buy Tickets: LINK
Request Media Credentials: To request media credentials, fill out the form linked HERE.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
*2020-21 NAIA national rank in parentheses
-NOTE: 204 of 235 NAIA women’s basketball programs have played at least one game this season.
(16) Concordia
Scoring Offense: 78.4 (21st)
Scoring Defense: 65.6 (88th)
FG% Offense: .399 (T-89th)
FG% Defense: .376 (T-59th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .328 (T-48th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .295 (T-77th)
Free Throw%: .734 (T-41st)
Rebound Margin: -0.14 (106th)
Turnover Margin: +6.14 (18th)
(5) Marian
Scoring Offense: 80.7 (15th)
Scoring Defense: 58.9 (25th)
FG% Offense: .486 (T-2nd)
FG% Defense: .364 (T-37th)
3-pt FG% Offense: .357 (18th)
3-pt FG% Defense: .324 (T-159th)
Free Throw%: .699 (T-90th)
Rebound Margin: +7.28 (23rd)
Turnover Margin: +5.69 (19th)
Tyson Events Center Info
From 1998 through 2020, the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City served as the host site for the NAIA Division II national tournament. Now it transitions into the final site for the one-divisional format that features a 16-team bracket. Current COVID-19 policies at the Tyson require fans over the age of 2 years old to wear masks. Additional facility information for fans can be found HERE.
NAIA Opening Round
It was a struggle for much of the first half in the NAIA Opening Round matchup with 19th-ranked Loyola University of New Orleans. Concordia started out 3-for-26 from the floor and fell behind by as many as 14 points. Sophomore sharpshooter Taylor Farrell was a saving grace, making a trio of 3-point shots in the first half to keep the Bulldogs within nine (32-23) at the break. Taylor Cockerill took over in the second half when she poured in 18 of her game high 22 points. The Bulldogs also locked down on the defensive end, allowing the Wolf Pack to go only 6-for-35 (.171) from the floor over the final 20 minutes. Farrell finished with 14 points while Taysha Rushton added 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. Off the bench, Mackenzie Toomey made her first game appearance in more than a month and chipped in seven points, four rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal. Concordia went 18-for-22 from the foul line to help seal the win.
National tournament history
Concordia has won seven-straight national tournament games, a run that includes the entire 2019 NAIA Division II tournament and the first round of the 2020 tournament (before it was cut short by COVID-19). In its first 19 appearances at the national championships, Concordia has posted a record of 35-17 with seven journeys to at least the national semifinals (three national championship game appearances). The Bulldogs are 13-6 in first-round games. All of the program’s national tournament berths have come since 1992 – the same year the NAIA split into two divisions for basketball. The 2019-20 season marked the final one featuring two divisions. Head Coach Drew Olson has been at the controls for each of Concordia’s past 13 national tournament appearances (including 2021). His record at the national tournament stands at 25-10 with five trips to the final four, including three national championship game appearances (2015, 2018, 2019). The program raised its first-ever national championship banner in March 2019. Olson has won more national tournament games than any coach in school history (men’s or women’s programs).
Cockerill moves up school scoring list
Junior guard Taylor Cockerill moved up another rung on the program’s all-time scoring list with her 22-point outing in the opening round. Now having totaled 1,346 career points, Cockerill has passed Elizabeth Rhoden (1,337) for 14th on the school scoring list. The top 10 in school history have all scored at least 1,630 points. Cockerill has piled up 112 of her career points at the national tournament. Her national tournament high was 26 points versus Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) in the second round of the 2019 national title run. Cockerill has now played in 11 career national tournament games. She was part of advancements to the NAIA Division II national title game in 2018 and 2019.
Rankings surge
Concordia continued to rise in the national rankings when it was seeded 16th in the NAIA heading into the national tournament. The Bulldogs opened up at No. 11 in the NAIA preseason poll. In the first poll of the regular season (Dec. 16), Concordia did not receive a single vote in the coaches’ poll. Since then, Drew Olson’s squad his risen steadily after re-entering the top 25 on Jan. 27. The absence from the mid-December rankings ended the program’s stretch of being ranked for 97-straight polls. As it stands, the Bulldogs have appeared in the top 25 in 101 of the last 103 NAIA coaches’ polls.
2020-21 NAIA Poll Rankings
Oct. 14 – 11th
Dec. 16 – NR
Jan. 13 – RV
Jan. 27 – 25th
Feb. 10 – 22nd
Feb. 24 – 17th
March 4 – 16th (rated by selection committee)
On the big stage
The Tyson Events Center always presents an adjustment in terms of the shooting backdrop that comes with a larger venue. Concordia hopes to have gotten some of that adjustment out of the way after playing at the spacious Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan., last week. In the first half of the opening round game, Taylor Cockerill went 1-for-7 from the floor while Taysha Rushton went 0-for-7. Both players settled in during the second half in combining for 28 points over the final 20 minutes. Of the 15 Bulldogs on the national tournament roster, seven have experience playing at the Tyson Events Center. In the 2020 first round game versus Wilberforce University (Ohio), Chloe Schumacher went 3-for-5 from 3-point range. As noted above, Cockerill put together one of the more memorable games of her career at the Tyson when she posted a 19-point fourth quarter against Cardinal Stritch. Cockerill also tallied 17 points in the 2018 national title game and 13 points in the 2019 national championship contest.
Scouting Marian
Seeded fifth overall to begin the national tournament, Marian will be the highest-rated team Concordia has faced this season. Head Coach Katie Gearlds (now in her eighth season) has elevated the Knights program into powerhouse status. Gearlds led Marian to back-to-back NAIA Division II national titles in 2016 and 2017 and the program has won six-straight Crossroads League regular season championships. The current team is led by Crossroads Player of the Year Imani Guy, who averages 15.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.23 blocks per game. With Guy’s scoring in the post, the Knights have been one of the nation’s most efficient offensive teams (ranked second nationally in field goal percentage). Guy was joined by teammates Ella Collier and Abby Downard as first team all-conference selections. Concordia and Marian have never played one another at the national tournament. However, the two programs did meet on Oct. 28, 2016, with the result being a 72-64 Knights victory in Denver, Colo.
NAIA Bracket
The 16-team NAIA bracket can be viewed HERE. The winner between 13th-seeded Concordia and fourth-seeded Marian will advance to the national quarterfinals and take on either No. 5 Morningside or No. 12 University of St. Francis (Ill.) at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The proceeding rounds of the tournament will be held March 22 for the semifinals and March 23 for the national championship game. According to the NAIA’s research, six of the remaining 16 programs have won at least one national title: Concordia, Indiana Wesleyan, Marian, Morningside, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and Westmont (Calif.).
Projected Starters
Concordia (21-8)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (14.8)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.4)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (14.1)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.3)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (6.8)
Marian (27-5)
G – Ella Collier, Fr. (13.8)
G – Abby Downard, Sr. (9.4)
G – Macy Willoughby, Sr. (7.9)
F – Imani Guy, Sr. (15.1)
F – Tamia Perryman, Fr. (6.7)
Tourney win streak extended as under-Dawgs move to NAIA quarterfinals
Mar. 19, 2021
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Concordia University Women’s Basketball program continues to make a habit out of rising to the occasion in March. In an unfamiliar underdog role, the 13th-seeded Bulldogs led for roughly 35 minutes and held off a late push from fourth-seeded Marian University (Ind.), 73-67, on Friday (March 19). Freshman guard Taysha Rushton proved fearless in a 27-point outing for the victors, who move on to the NAIA national tournament quarterfinals.
Head Coach Drew Olson’s program has won eight-straight national tournament games, dating back to the 2019 national title run. The Bulldogs (22-8) knew they couldn’t get into a low-post slugfest with the physically imposing Knights, so they went on the run.
“We believe we’re as good as any team,” Olson said. “It’s all about matchups and who’s playing really well at this time. Hopefully we can keep going … it was an awesome performance, just really gritty. Defensively I thought we did a really good job of pressuring the ball full court. Rylee Pauli was awesome in limiting touches, but when they did touch it we did a good job doubling in the post and causing them more problems.”
In terms of coaching performances, this has been a Picasso for Olson, who has melded a youthful group into a team of believers. They have developed into the type of tough and gritty squad that opponents hate to play against. Olson unleashed the press on Friday and watched scrappers like Rylee Pauli and Mackenzie Toomey go to work.
The speed and athleticism of Rushton was a problem for Marian. She buried 14 points in the first half and another 13 in the second. A Rushton triple with just over a minute left in the third quarter pushed the lead to 12 (52-40). The lead actually grew as large as 15 points in the fourth quarter after Pauli’s put-back basket with 6:40 to play.
Of course the Knights (27-6) were not going to go quietly with their season hanging in the balance. While Crossroads League Player of the Year Imani Guy (six points on 3-for-11 shooting) was held in check, Macy Willoughby helped pick up the slack. She totaled 19 points and nailed a triple in the final minute that made it just a one-point game (66-65). Concordia buckled down and Taylor Cockerill emerged with a key steal to preserve a two-point advantage at the time.
It was enough to induce heartburn, but what really mattered was that the team in the dark blue jerseys celebrated when the clock hit zeroes.
“We just left everything out on the court,” Rushton said. “We have to fight and battle every game. That’s just what we did – and it was fun. It was super fun out there.”
There were shades of vintage Concordia on display as the Marian turnovers mounted during the first half surge that saw the Bulldogs quickly dig out of a 7-0 hole. The Knights finished with 22 turnovers and were outrebounded, 41-38, despite their size advantage. Concordia also owned a large advantage at the foul line, making 17-of-25 attempts compared to Marian going 4-for-4.
Pauli posted 17 points and six rebounds while Cockerill added 11 points, seven rebounds and six steals. Bailey Conrad chipped in with six points and three steals and Toomey supplied six points off the bench. Mackenzie Koepke’s scramble of a rebound (one of seven) and bucket in the final minute was one of the more significant plays of the waning moments.
This time of year, it’s about surviving and advancing. In an underdog spot, the Bulldogs eliminated a Marian squad that had the look of a team capable of making a deep run. Said Olson, “I just felt like we were a little bit more locked in. The idea of picking up full court really bothered them.”
The special freshman season continues for Rushton, who played in front of a large number of family members who made the trip. She again showed that she can score in a variety of ways, but also bothered the ball out top. Her 27 points were just one shy of a career high. Said Rushton, “It was super nice for my family to come watch me.”
Now it’s time to get ready for Concordia-Morningside Part IV. The Mustangs have won the season’s first three meetings. Here’s a quick look at the matchup in the national quarterfinals. Fifth-seeded Morningside won Friday’s late game over 12th-seeded University of St. Francis (Ill.), 53-42.
NAIA National Quarterfinals
Concordia (22-8) vs. Morningside (28-2)
Saturday, March 20 | 8 p.m.
Tyson Events Center | Sioux City, Iowa
Webcast: NAIA Network (fee required)
Live Stats: Dakstats
Radio: 104.9 KTMX-FM Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza / Devin Smith
Buy Tickets: LINK
Meetings this season
12/12/20 – Morningside 86, Concordia 67 (Sioux City)
1/16/21 – Morningside 66, Concordia 64 (Seward)
3/2/21 – GPAC Title: Morningside 67, Concordia 65 (Sioux City)
Noteworthy
Concordia and Morningside have met once before in the national tournament. That occurrence played out in 2015 when the Mustangs clipped the Bulldogs, 59-57, in the NAIA Division II national championship game. Drew Olson and Morningside Head Coach Jamie Sale have gone head-to-head for many memorable battles. Sale is 19-15 all-time against Olson. The two coaches have combined for more than 1,000 career wins with Sale (600+) and Olson (400+) both reaching milestones this season.
Projected Starters
Concordia (22-8)
G – Taylor Cockerill, Jr. (14.6)
G – Bailey Conrad, Fr. (4.5)
G – Taysha Rushton, Fr. (14.6)
F – Mackenzie Koepke, Jr. (7.2)
F – Rylee Pauli, Jr. (7.1)
Morningside (28-2)
G – Faith Meyer, Sr. (7.4)
G – Sierra Mitchell, Sr. (17.8)
G – McKenna Sims, So. (7.7)
F – Chloe Lofstrom, Fr. (9.1)
F – Sophia Peppers, Jr. (15.2)
Up Next: Saturday’s winner between Concordia and Morningside will have Sunday off before playing in the national semifinals at 6 p.m. CT on Monday (March 22). The semifinal opponent will be either No. 1 Thomas More (Ky.) or No. 9 Dakota State (S.D.).
Postseason run ends in national quarterfinals
Mar. 20, 2021
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – In yet another battle between the top two teams in the GPAC, hometown Morningside continued its storybook season. Meanwhile, the 2020-21 journey has ended for the Concordia University Women’s Basketball program. Despite a near triple-double from Taylor Cockerill, the fifth-seeded Mustangs shot 64.3 percent in the second half and pulled away for an 83-67 victory in Sioux City, Iowa, on Saturday (March 20) night.
This was the eighth time that Head Coach Drew Olson has led the program to at least the NAIA national quarterfinal round. That feat was made more difficult this season with the move to one division in the NAIA. Led by Olson and Cockerill, the Bulldogs (22-9) improved tremendously from October to March.
“It was a crazy up and down year that was so different,” Olson said. “I just thought we overcame a lot of things and grew together. We found out the type of team we needed to be and played really well down the stretch. For this team to get to the elite eight really shows the growth we had.”
In a postgame exchange between coaches, Morningside’s Jamie Sale admitted to Olson that he had trouble sleeping leading into this matchup. The Mustangs had won each of the three previous meetings, but the last two had been squeakers at the buzzer. Sale’s bunch didn’t allow for such drama this time around with its sizzling shooting in the second half. Sierra Mitchell (26) and Taylor Rodenburgh (20) combined for 46 points.
Cockerill was never going to let Concordia give in. After trailing by 16 late in the third quarter, the Bulldogs cut its deficit down to just six (63-57) with more the six minutes remaining. Rylee Pauli put home back-to-back buckets in the comeback effort. However, the high-powered Mustangs (29-2) always had an answer. Rodenburgh rattled off the seven-straight Morningside points to push the lead back to double digits (72-60), where it remained the rest of the way.
An injury to starting freshman guard Bailey Conrad in the opening two minutes changed the way Concordia operated on Saturday. Without Conrad to handle the ball, the responsibility increased for fellow freshman Taysha Rushton. Cockerill and Rushton no longer had Conrad to play off of on the perimeter and the rotations changed for Olson.
“We had a good mindset coming in,” Olson said. “Early on things just didn’t go our way. We missed a couple bunnies. When Bailey went down it really changed our rotation and how we like to attack them. It just taxed Taysha a lot more. We weren’t good enough today to beat a really good team, especially when they played like they did in the second half. They were really, really good.”
There was no time to make excuses without Conrad. Cockerill did her best to pick up the slack and played like a Bulldog once again, finishing with a line of 17 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. Her fiery competitiveness and toughness were on display again in the second half. Cockerill’s career point total stands at 1,374 in three collegiate seasons. She is eligible to play another season, if she so chooses.
Said Olson, “She’s pretty special. She’s one of the greatest of all time in our program’s history with the things she accomplished – and that’s just in three years. Fierce competitor. Amazing teammate. Amazing leader. One of my favorites to get to coach. I know God has plans for her. I don’t know what that is. I hope she comes back – that’s selfish. I love coaching her.”
Off the bench, Kayla Luebbe provided a big lift with 15 points on 7-for-7 shooting from the floor. Luebbe scored in double figures three times this season against Morningside. Fresh off a sparkling performance in Friday’s win over fourth-seeded Marian University (Ind.), Pauli notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Rushton added eight points and three steals and Mackenzkie Koepke contributed nine points.
The Mustangs celebrated GPAC regular season and postseason titles and now will play in the national semifinals against top seed Thomas More (Ky.). Morningside also got out to a slow start offensively on Saturday. It heated up with a 49-point second half while spurred by the GPAC Player of the Year in Mitchell.
Concordia isn’t going anywhere. The Bulldogs will be back in 2021-22 with aspirations of another national tournament run. The program appreciates the efforts of Cockerill, Rebecca Higgins and Faith Troshynski, who are each seniors from an academic perspective.
Cockerill named NAIA All-American by WBCA
Mar. 22, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – After helping steer the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team to the NAIA national quarterfinals, junior guard Taylor Cockerill has been named to the 2021 NAIA All-America team by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The exclusive squad features 10 All-Americans as well as a group of honorable mention selections. The Waverly High School alum was also tabbed an honorable mention All-American by the NAIA in 2019.
As the emotional leader of the Bulldogs, Cockerill also paced the team in points (14.7), rebounds (6.5) and assists (3.23) per game this season. She posted shooting percentages of 41.3 from the field, 37.1 from 3-point range and 77.8 from the foul line. Cockerill scored 20 or more points in eight separate games, including two 33-point outings. In the national quarterfinal clash with Morningside, she turned in 17 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists while narrowly missing out on a triple-double.
Cockerill ranks 14th on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,374 career points. In 106 games as a Bulldog, she has also totaled 498 rebounds, 259 assists, 171 steals and 150 made 3-point field goals. Her 40-point game as a sophomore ranks as the second highest single-game total in school history.
Following the national tournament, Head Coach Drew Olson said the following about “TC,” as she’s known: “She’s pretty special. She’s one of the greatest of all time in our program’s history with the things she accomplished – and that’s just in three years. Fierce competitor. Amazing teammate. Amazing leader. One of my favorites to get to coach. I know God has plans for her. I don’t know what that is. I hope she comes back – that’s selfish. I love coaching her.”
Taylor Cockerill Honors
· 2020-21 WBCA NAIA All-American
· 2018-19 NAIA Honorable Mention All-American
· 2x First Team All-GPAC (2018-19 and 2020-21); Honorable Mention All-GPAC in 2017-18
Cockerill tabbed honorable mention All-American by NAIA
Mar. 25, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Announced as an All-American by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) three days earlier, junior guard Taylor Cockerill has also been tabbed an honorable mention All-American in the official release from the NAIA (Thursday, March 25). This particular set of All-Americans is selected by the NAIA All-America Committee. The first, second and third teams included 12 All-Americans apiece (36 total All-Americans).
As the emotional leader of the Bulldogs, Cockerill also paced the team in points (14.7), rebounds (6.5) and assists (3.23) per game this season. She posted shooting percentages of 41.3 from the field, 37.1 from 3-point range and 77.8 from the foul line. Cockerill scored 20 or more points in eight separate games, including two 33-point outings. In the national quarterfinal clash with Morningside, she turned in 17 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists while narrowly missing out on a triple-double.
Cockerill ranks 14th on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,374 career points. In 106 games as a Bulldog, she has also totaled 498 rebounds, 259 assists, 171 steals and 150 made 3-point field goals. Her 40-point game as a sophomore ranks as the second highest single-game total in school history.
Following the national tournament, Head Coach Drew Olson said the following about “TC,” as she’s known: “She’s pretty special. She’s one of the greatest of all time in our program’s history with the things she accomplished – and that’s just in three years. Fierce competitor. Amazing teammate. Amazing leader. One of my favorites to get to coach. I know God has plans for her. I don’t know what that is. I hope she comes back – that’s selfish. I love coaching her.”
Taylor Cockerill Honors
· 2020-21 WBCA NAIA All-American
· 2x NAIA Honorable Mention All-American (2018-19 and 2020-21)
· 2x First Team All-GPAC (2018-19 and 2020-21); Honorable Mention All-GPAC in 2017-18
Cockerill selected as captain of World-Herald All-Nebraska team
Apr. 27, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – An All-America season the propelled the Concordia University Women’s Basketball team to the quarterfinals of the NAIA national tournament has led to another major honor for Taylor Cockerill. The Waverly, Neb., native was selected as the captain of the Midlands NAIA Women’s Basketball All-Nebraska Team, as chosen by the Omaha World-Herald. Cockerill was joined on the five-member first team by teammate Taysha Rushton. In addition, Mackenzie Koepke and Rylee Pauli were tabbed as honorable mention choices.
As the emotional leader of the Bulldogs, Cockerill also paced the team in points (14.7), rebounds (6.5) and assists (3.23) per game this season. She posted shooting percentages of 41.3 from the field, 37.1 from 3-point range and 77.8 from the foul line. Cockerill scored 20 or more points in eight separate games, including two 33-point outings. In the national quarterfinal clash with Morningside, she turned in 17 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists while narrowly missing out on a triple-double. The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association recognized Cockerill on its All-America team.
Rushton put together one of the finest seasons ever for a Concordia freshman and was named first team All-GPAC. The native of Lubbock, Texas, ranked second on the team to Cockerill in scoring with an average of 14.4 points per game. She also shot 34.3 percent from 3-point range (team high 73 treys) and 81.4 percent from the foul line. Rushton piled up 27 points in the NAIA round of 16 win over Marian University (Ind.). She also dropped 24 points in the GPAC tournament title game.
Koepke and Pauli were honorable mention All-GPAC choices and provided veteran presences within the starting lineup. Koepke averaged 7.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks this past season. She has drained 181 career 3-point field goals. Meanwhile, Pauli averaged 7.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals as a junior. She recorded 17 points in the win over Marian.
NAIA Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska Team
G — *Taylor Cockerill, Concordia, 14.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg
G — Faith Ross, Bellevue, 12.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg
G — Taysha Rushton, Concordia, 14.4 ppg, 2.6 apg
F — Elexis Martinez, Bellevue, 16.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg
F — Makenna Sullivan, Midland, 10.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg
Honorable mention: Bellevue: Jamie Winkler. Concordia: Mackenzie Koepke, Rylee Pauli. Doane: Madison Davis, Haylee Heits. Hastings: Carley Leners, Kaitlyn Schmit. Midland: Lexis Haase, Peyton Wingert. Nebraska Wesleyan: Johanna Vandenack. Peru State: Dayna Dewitt, Maddy Duncan. College of St. Mary: Honnah Leo, Clare Lewandowski. York: Julia Trujillo.