Concordia extended win streaks to 14 in the series with Mount Marty and to four in GPAC play on Thursday (Jan. 5). The Bulldogs used 20 steals and 13 3-point field goals to pull away for an 85-62 victory in their first game of 2023.
Following a couple tough losses to Sooner Athletic Conference foes, the Bulldogs are readying for a return to GPAC play. Concordia owns a three-game league win streak as it enters action against Mount Marty and No. 21 Dakota Wesleyan.
The road swing down south concluded on Friday (Dec. 30) as the Bulldogs fell by a 77-64 score at No. 17 Science & Arts of Oklahoma. Sadie Powell led Concordia with 17 points while Taysha Rushton added 16.
In the first of two games against Sooner Athletic Conference foes, the Bulldogs nearly erased a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit before falling, 73-71. Kendal Brigham spurred the comeback efforts and finished with a team high 17 points.
An idle stretch of nearly two weeks will come to an end this week as the Bulldogs venture south for two challenging nonconference clashes. Concordia will travel to play at Texas Wesleyan and at Science & Arts.
An increasingly nasty press resulted in 33 turnovers forced and a runaway 72-55 victory over Doane on Thursday (Dec. 15). The Bulldogs went on a 24-4 fourth quarter run while moving to 7-4 overall (5-4 GPAC) this season.
Two teams that have gained momentum in recent action will meet inside Friedrich Arena on Thursday. Concordia will attempt to extend its series win streak versus Doane and continue the growth its shown over the past two weeks.
The calling card for Concordia Women's Basketball has been its defensive ferocity. The Bulldogs limited Hastings to 32.7 percent shooting and forced 22 turnovers in a 70-57 road win over the Broncos on Saturday (Dec. 10).
Concordia knocked in 21 treys while Mount Marty netted only one on Wednesday (Dec. 7). The result was a 91-48 blowout for the Bulldogs, who got at least one triple from eight different players while moving to 5-4 overall.
Last week's run included a win at No. 25 Morningside as the Bulldogs continue to grow in the early season. Concordia (4-4, 2-4 GPAC) will look for continued progress as it hosts Mount Marty and travels to Hastings this week.
Mackenzie Koepke had played in 102 of a possible 103 games over her first three seasons. After missing the 2021-22 season due to injury, the Lincoln Lutheran alum, a link back to the national championship team, is determined to go out on her own terms.
Just a few weeks after playing the 123rd and final game of her collegiate career, Rylee Pauli reflected on four years of Concordia Women's Basketball. There were ups, downs, unique experiences and incredible highs.
Led by do-it-all guard Taysha Rushton and relentless senior Rylee Pauli, the 2021-22 Bulldogs extended the program's national tournament streak while beating five teams that qualified for nationals throughout the season.
Four starters, including First Team All-GPAC star Taysha Rushton, return for a Concordia Women's Basketball program coming off an appearance in the NAIA national quarterfinals last season. Depth will be a strength.
Taylor Cockerill and Taysha Rushton were the ringleaders for a squad that reached the NAIA national quarterfinals while playing an exciting brand of hoops in 2020-21.
For Concordia Women's Basketball, tradition never graduates. That's become evident in 2020-21, even as the program 'rebuilt' following the graduation of several stars.
In season No. 15 as head coach, Drew Olson has reached the 400-win milestone. As his current and former players will attest, Concordia Women's Basketball is about more than winning.
From October 2011 through December 2020, Concordia Women's Basketball was included in every possible NAIA top 25 ranking, a run of 97-straight poll appearances.
It's a new-look Concordia Women's Basketball team, but the program is determined to prove it's still a major force in the GPAC and nationally. Taylor Cockerill and Mackenzie Koepke are the headlining returners.
Don't forget about TC. The leading scorer for the 2018-19 national championship team, Taylor Cockerill is roughly 90 percent of the way back from the knee injury she suffered last October.