Women’s Basketball Dominates in GPAC Tournament Semifinal Game

The Bulldogs advance to the final round of the GPAC tournament with a win over Northwestern. Photos by Anyssa Neustel

by Chris Johnstone

Second-ranked Concordia women’s basketball continued their post-season play with a GPAC semifinal 88-51 win over the Northwestern Red Raiders.

Freshman forward Philomena Lammers once again dominated with 18 points, five rebounds and five blocks. Three other Bulldogs scored 12 points each, including senior forward Erin Vieselmeyer, junior guard Dani Andersen and junior guard Brenleigh Daum.

The Bulldogs held the Red Raiders to just 29 percent shooting from the field and 21 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

“The dynamic of Northwestern’s team was different than the last two times we played them due to injuries and transfers coming in. But focusing on the game right in front of us has always been the strategy,” graduate assistant Alexis Akin-Otiko said. “We like to press and create a high pace, high possession game. So naturally there are bound to be turnovers, but this was one of the more focused defensive performances the team has shown all year.”

Northwestern Guard Kassidy De Jong lead the way for the Red Raiders with 11 points, but it was not enough to stop the Bulldog defense as Concordia forced 34 turnovers from the Red Raiders in the contest.

“Coach Olson watches a lot of film and always has the girls prepared for the Dakota Wesleyan game. He is very in tune with the feeling of the team so to relax we went bowling as a team one day this week instead of practice to clear their heads,” Akin-Otiko said.

Moving forward, the Bulldogs will now take on Dakota Wesleyan Tigers, who they split the regular season series with 1-1. Walz Arena will house the GPAC championship on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.