The Northwestern College women’s basketball team returns to the Bultman Center when they host Concordia in a GPAC match-up this weekend. Tip-off on Saturday, Jan. 2 is set for 2pm. Northwestern is currently tied with Jamestown for sixth place in the GPAC with a 5-4 league record, 5-7 overall; Concordia is second in the current GPAC standings at 8-3, 9-5 overall.
Northwestern trails the all-time series (since the 1987-88 season) 25-42 against the Bulldogs. The Raiders are 1-9 in their last 10 games against their rival from Seward, Neb. They last beat Concordia at home on Feb. 2 in 2019, 81-75.
Earlier this season Emilee Danner scored a career-high 32 points in the Raiders 83-72 loss to Concordia on Nov. 14 in Seward, Neb. Danner was red-hot from the perimeter, knocking down 7-of-1 three-pointers while also grabbing five rebounds. Molly Schany and Sammy Blum both contributed 10 points with Schany pulling down 11 rebounds.
Northwestern trailed 45-26 at the half but outscored the host Bulldogs 46-38 in the second half. The Raiders were within five (72-67) late but Concordia closed with an 11-5 run.
Since losing to both Sioux City schools in early December, Concordia has rattled off three straight wins against Midland, Jamestown and Mount Marty. Last time out, they cruised to a 98-53 win against the Lancers, improving to 8-3 in conference play.
Olson begins his 15th season as the Bulldogs head coach and returns one starter, six players from a 2019-20 team that won both the GPAC regular and postseason titles, finishing with a 32-2 record. They welcome a transfer (from Briar Cliff) as well as an All-American from 2018-19 (Taylor Cockerill), who missed last year due to injury. Concordia was picked second in the GPAC preseason poll.
The Raiders had their five-game win streak snapped last time out, losing to #14 Morningside 75-62 Thursday night. Northwestern led by as many as 12 early in the third quarter but the Mustangs got hot from the arc, making seven three-pointers in the final half to get the come-from-behind win. Northwestern is tied with Jamestown for sixth place in the current league standings at 5-4, 5-7 overall.
