Bulldogs Win Close Game Against Dakota Wesleyan
#21 Mackenzie Koepke shoots a three-pointer.
Photo Courtesy of Olivia Dunklau
By Olivia Dunklau
The Concordia Bulldogs basketball team beat the Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers from Mitchell, South Dakota, 76-69 at home Saturday night.
In a close match up, the Bulldogs stayed hot but the two teams battled neck and neck, keeping the score close up until the end. The Bulldogs went into halftime trailing 35-36 and continued to linger behind the Tigers throughout a majority of the game.
“Our team talked about needing to focus on our defense and getting stops,” said junior forward Rebecca Higgins. “It came down to who wanted it more and who was going to get stops on defense.”
Lead scorer, freshman Taysha Rushton, totaled 23 points and two assists for the team. Junior Taylor Cockerill had 10 points while also hunting down 12 rebounds, five assists, and one steal. Another double-digit scorer was junior Mackenzie Koepke, with 11 points, two assists, and three steals.
“Some of our strengths this year have been our willingness to grow and adjust to what the team needs on that given day,” Higgins said. “Our biggest strength is our fight. This team knows how to fight.”
Finally earning back the lead in the third quarter, the Bulldogs kept the intensity and won the game 76-69. Now Concordia stands with a 16-7 overall record and 15-5 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Hosting Hastings College on Wednesday, Feb. 3, the Bulldogs will tip-off at 6 p.m.
