ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Golden Bear women's basketball team (11-17, 8-14 NSIC) are preparing for their first round of the NSIC playoffs, when they will take on St. Cloud State (17-9, 14-8 NSIC) on the road. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, February 21st at 6 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud. The last time that the Bears faced the Huskies in a playoff games was in 2016, when CSP defeated the Huskies 83-72 in St. Cloud.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Bears are entering the playoffs on a four-game winning streak, most recently defeating both Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State on the road. Concordia first defeated Sioux Falls on Friday night, shooting 51.7% from the floor, which is their highest shooting percentage of the year. CSP then defeated Southwest Minnesota State the following day, surviving a fourth-quarter comeback from the Mustangs to win 70-68.
 
Lindsay Dorr compiled back-to-back double-doubles over the weekend, averaging 20.0 points and 11.0 rebounds, while also tallying nine blocks between the two games. These were Dorr's seventh and eighth double-doubles of the year and her third in the last three games. Her weekend's performance earned her the first NSIC Player of the Week honor of her career.
 
Anna Schmitt was also a major contributor in the wins, averaging 18.5 points, while also dishing out eight assists. With her 19 points on Friday night, the 5-7 guard moved into third on the CSP all-time scoring list and is now just ten points shy of 1,500 career points.
 
The Bears got off to a slow start against Sioux Falls on Friday, trailing 11-6 at the first media timeout. Rallying, CSP finished the quarter on a 16-5 run and never looked back from there, leading the rest of the game. The Bears outscored their opponents 17-9 in the second quarter, heading into the halftime break with a 14-point lead. In the second half, the Bears led by double figures throughout, including by 20+ points for the majority of the fourth quarter. The Cougars went on a 13-2 run to finish the game, but by then the game was too far out of reach and Concordia still won by 18.
 
Dorr was the leading scorer in the game, scoring 22 points, while shooting an impressive 76.9% from the floor, which is her highest shooting percentage since hitting seven of nine against Harding on November 11th, 2017. The junior center was also the only player to finish with double digit rebounds, with ten. Schmitt was closely behind Dorr, scoring 19 in the contest. Junior Lexi Lee and freshman Sydney Weierke chipped in with seven points apiece (a career-high for Weierke), and Kayla Miller and Haydn Becker dished out a game-high four assists each.
 
In the game against SMSU the following day, the Bears took advantage of Mustang turnovers and offensive rebounds, scoring 38 points on second chances and turnovers combined.
 
The two teams were tied at 11 apiece entering the first media timeout, but the Bears ended the quarter on a 10-0 run, to secure a 23-13 lead after the first ten minutes. CSP continued to build up their lead in the second and third quarters, leading by 24 entering the final frame. The Mustangs put together a frantic comeback effort, outscoring the Bears 28-6 in the final quarter, but Concordia held on, never giving up the lead, to go on to win 70-68.
 
Dorr and Schmitt were the top CSP scorers in the contest, each scoring 18 points, with Dorr also securing a team-high 12 boards and a career-high five blocks. Hanna Vidlund was the game's third highest scorer, tallying 16 points, while shooting 70.0% (7-10) from the floor and also recording five assists.
 
ST. CLOUD STATE SERIES HISTORY
The Bears own a 15-17 record against St. Cloud State, but have won nine out of 16 conference contests against the Huskies. CSP has been especially successful against St. Cloud in recent years, winning six of their last eight matchups, including three wins on the road. When playing in St. Cloud, the Bears are 6-7 and their last loss against the Huskies was less than a month ago in St. Cloud.
 
LAST MEETING VS SCSU
When playing the Huskies last month, the Bears fell in a 62-49 decision. St. Cloud held Concordia to only five points in the first quarter of the game, but the Bears only trailed by five at the half. The third quarter sunk CSP as they were outscored 22-12 and the Huskies went on to win by 13.
 
The Bears shot better from the field and from three, but the Huskies really cashed in on points from the line, hitting 17 of 22 (77.3%), compared to the Bears' four of 13 (30.8%). St. Cloud also exploited CSP turnovers, forcing 21 that led to 17 points for them throughout the game.
 
Vidlund was the leading scorer for the Bears, scoring 16, as she connected on six of nine shots from the field (66.7%). Dorr was the only other Golden Bear ending in double figures, scoring 14 and securing a team-high nine rebounds.
 
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
St. Cloud State is 17-9 on the year and 14-8 in the conference. The team plays their best at home, posting a solid 11-2 home record. The Huskies are coming off a weekend of losses to Minnesota State Moorhead and Northern State.
 
The Huskies are averaging 64.7 points per game while shooting 41.4% from the field and 36.2% from beyond the arc. St. Cloud averages 3.6 more rebounds per game than their opponent and, at the same time, averages 2.1 less turnovers and 2.2 more steals per game.
 
Senior guard Andrea Thomas is the leading scorer for the Huskies, averaging 13.4 points per game while also leading the team in assists with 2.3 per game and steals with 48 on the year. Freshman Tori Wortz is not far behind Thomas, averaging 10.2 points per game. Sophomore forward Brianna Johnson is the team's top rebounder, averaging 5.7 boards per game.
 
NSIC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Concordia has a 24-10 record in 14 previous trips to the NSIC tournament. CSP has taken home the title four times ('05, '07, '08, '14) and has reached the tournament final seven times. Concordia holds an 11-3 record in first round games in the tournament
 
LAST YEAR IN THE TOURNAMENT
The Bears hosted Minnesota Crookston in the first round of the tournament last season, falling 77-73 to the Golden Eagles. Concordia trailed by eight at the half, but the third quarter belonged to the Bears, as they held Crookston to only five points throughout the quarter, while scoring 23 themselves. After allowing the Eagles to score the first basket of the half, the Bears went on a 19-0 run, eventually leading by ten heading into the final frame.
 
Crookston started to chip away at this lead, eventually taking the lead with 1:39 left in the game. The Bears quickly tied it with a free-throw, but then UMC hit a three with 30 seconds left to reclaim the lead. The Bears then missed a three and were forced to foul. With the Eagles knocking down both free-throws, they led by five. The Bears scored and fouled again, with UMC only hitting one free-throw this time. The Bears got off two shots in their final possession, but neither fell and the Eagles won by four.
 
The Eagles shot 50.0% from the field and from deep, which topped CSP's numbers, as the Bears shot 40.9% from the field and a meager 19.0% from three. Caitlyn Russell and Schmitt were the top scorers, scoring 24 and 21 points, respectively. The Bears capitalized on 19 points off turnovers and 17 second chance points, but the Eagles were clutch in the final minutes, coming up with the victory.
 
KEY STATS
-Lindsay Dorr posted back-to-back double-doubles on the weekend, averaging 20.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks. This impressive weekend of play earned her the first NSIC Player of the Week honor of her career.
-Anna Schmitt averaged 18.5 points on the weekend and moved up to the third spot in the CSP all-time scoring list, with 1,490 career points.
-Hanna Vidlund put together a solid performance against SMSU, scoring 16 points, while hitting 70.0% (7-10) of her shots from the field.
 
If you are unable to make the trip, follow along with action at cspbears.com/watch. If the Bears win against St. Cloud, they will take on either Minnesota Crookston or Wayne State in Sioux Falls at the Sanford Pentagon.