Women’s basketball eager to build off previous success

Bulldog women’s basketball celebrates an 83-77 win over Hastings last year.

Photo credit: Kai Olbrich

By Trey Boychuk

Concordia’s women’s basketball team is ranked third in the Great Plains Athletic Conference preseason standings, and with 90% of  last year’s roster returning and coach Drew Olson entering his 21st season, the team is eager to build on last year’s trip to the first round of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national tournament.

The Bulldogs finished last season with a 23-8 overall record and a 17-5 record in conference play, tying for third in the GPAC standings. Concordia earned a sixth seed in the NAIA national tournament but fell to Bethel College by two points in the first round.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs gained valuable postseason experience that they hope will help them make a deeper run this year.

Concordia brings back much of the lineup that helped the team reach the national tournament, with four of five starters and 15 of 17 players returning. It is experience that Olson believes can give the Bulldogs an advantage as they prepare for another season.

“It does give us a little bit more of an edge and confidence,” Olson said.

The close loss to Bethel has also given the team extra motivation. Senior Raelyn Kelty, who has reached the national tournament twice in her three years at Concordia, said the team is using last season’s finish as motivation to improve.

“We know what it feels like to fall short of our goals, and I think that has only made us hungrier to take that next step and make a deeper run at nationals this year,” Kelty said.

Leadership will be another important factor as the Bulldogs look to meet their expectations, as Kelty and fellow senior Samaira Leu have taken on larger roles, helping set the tone for a team with postseason experience and hopes of returning to the national stage.

Leu said the team’s success will depend on its ability to put the group ahead of individual goals.

“It takes everyone being focused on the team and being selfless, which is one of our biggest values and strengths,” Leu said.

Kelty and Leu have high expectations for their team as they head into their senior season because they know what it is capable of, even though it isn’t going to be easy.  Kelty said staying together and focused will be key for the team this season.

“We have a really talented group of girls who all have the same goals and expectations,” said Kelty.  “I think if we keep working hard, stay together, and focus on getting better every day, we can make a deep postseason run.”