Candace (Olstad) Dudley was a proven winner and one of the more consistent standout performers for Golden Bear women’s basketball. She helped lead the program to four straight 20-plus win seasons and held a 91-36 career overall record and 51-19 record during NSIC action.
But the Elgin, Minnesota native (Elgin-Millville High School) rose to the occasion when it mattered most, producing three-straight NSIC All-Tournament Team honors that included a pair of NSIC Tournament championships for the Golden Bears, who also secured a pair of NSIC Regular Season titles. During her three All-Tournament Team performances, the Golden Bears reached the championship game all three years as she averaged 13.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in the league playoffs.Â
She helped the program to three straight NCAA Central Region Tournament berths, including a pair of first-round victories. The team peaked by finishing the 2007-08 season ranked #14 in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll.
A three-year full-time starter, she also cracked the starting lineup seven times during her freshman campaign, and then proceeded to increase her scoring average each of the next three seasons, culminating in being named the team’s MVP as a senior.Â
Her career includes the distinction of being the only player in program history to score 1,200 or more points, grab 600 or more rebounds, and shoot 40 percent or better from three-point range as a true threat in the paint and from the perimeter.Â
She was the first of four Olstad siblings to compete in Concordia basketball, playing three seasons alongside her sister, Kali, while her younger brothers Clay and Cole also played together for three seasons from 2011-12 to 2013-14.Â
Dudley began her post-CSP career as an elementary school teacher for 13 years in Lake City, Minnesota, leaving the classroom in 2022 to pursue her entrepreneurial career. She is now an online business manager and owns a wholesale product-based business (Willow & Wren).
Candace and her husband, Nick, have been married for 11 years, and have three children (Jalen, Willow, and Millie). She continues her involvement in basketball as a youth basketball coach.Â
Career Awards
- All-NSIC Second Team (2008-09)
- All-NSIC Honorable Mention (2007-08)
- Three-time NSIC All-Tournament Team selection (2007, 2008, 2009)
- Three-time NSIC All-Academic Team selection (2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09)
- Senior captain & team MVP (2008-09)
- Named team Most Improved Player three times (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08)
CSP Records
- 1st (at time of graduation, now 5th) - career defensive rebounds (514)
- 1st (at time of graduation, now t-1st) - career games played (125)
- 2nd - season three-point percentage (.452, 33-73, 2007-08)
- 3rd (at time of graduation, now 7th) - career rebounds (676)
- 4th - career three-point percentage (.405, 96-237)
- 4th (at time of graduation, now 10th) - career blocked shots (84)
- 4th (at time of graduation, now 7th) - career game started (100)
- 4th (at time of graduation, now 9th) - career minutes played (3,007)
- 8th (at time of graduation, now 15th) - career points (1,267)
- 8th (at time of graduation, now 15th) - career field goals made (467)
- t-8th (at time of graduation, now t-13th) - career three-point field goals made (96)
- 10th (at time of graduation, now 13th) - career free throw percentage (.760, 237-312)
Career & Season Stats
- One of nine players in program history with 1,200-plus points and 600-plus rebounds
- The only player to achieve 1,200-plus points, 600-plus rebounds and .400-plus three-point field goal percentage
- Season scoring average increased each season (4.8, 10.4, 11.8, 13.4)
- Averaged at least 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds three years in a row
- Ranked eighth in the NSIC in blocked shots (0.64/game) in 2005-06
- Ranked fifth in the NSIC in field goal percentage (.518) in 2006-07
- Ranked in the top-10 of the NSIC in three-point percentage (.514, 4th), blocks (0.9, 8th), rebounding (6.3, 10th) and field goal percentage (.481, 10th) in 2007-08
