ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Concordia-St. Paul women's basketball team opens its 2025-26 season at the Central Region Showcase in St. Joseph, Missouri this Friday, Nov. 14. The Golden Bears are set to play the Fort Hays State Tigers at Civic Arena on Friday, tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
On Saturday, Nov. 15 the Golden Bears take on Missouri Western at Civic Arena, tip-off of that game is set for 6 p.m.
"I think this regional crossover is huge for us," Head Coach Amanda Johnson said. "Just to kind of see where we're at right away."
Last season the Golden Bears put together a historic season, going 29-3 (20-2), setting a record for most regular season and conference wins in program history. CSP proceeded to march through the conference tournament, defeating Minnesota State 92-73 to claim their sixth conference title.
The Golden Bears earned a trip to the NCAA tournament as the second seed in the Central Region, before falling to Southwest Minnesota State in the first round.
"Our goal is winning the conference and getting back to regions," Johnson said. "And obviously just making it further is a big goal for us this year."
Central Region Showcase Info
The 2025 Central Region Showcase is set to take place Nov. 14-15 at Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eight teams are set to compete at the showcase four from the MIAA; Northwest Missouri, Fort Hays State, Emporia State and Missouri Western. Along with four teams from the NSIC; CSP, Sioux Falls, MSU Moorhead and Wayne State.
Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance through the link above or at the arena. Prices are per day and are $12 for adults and $8 for youth/students/senior citizens, children 5 & under are free.
All games will be streamed live via the MIAA Network, with two options for fans to view the games. Fans can purchase a day pass for $15 for access to all four games on that day, or a tournament pass for $25 which allows viewing access for all eight games.
Conference Outlook
CSP was picked to finish second in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 202 points and four first place votes. Last season's runner-up Minnesota State were picked to finish first with 194 points and eight first place votes.
With the addition of Jamestown to the NSIC, the conference will also return to a north-south divisional format for the 2025-26 season. CSP will be in the eight team south division comprised of Minnesota State, Sioux Falls, St. Cloud State, SMSU, Winona State, Wayne State and Augustana.
The north division will also be made up of eight teams including; MSU Moorhead, UMary, Minnesota Duluth, Minot State, Northern State, Minnesota Crookston, Bemidji State and Jamestown.
Minnesota State was picked to finish atop the south division, the Mavericks received 48 points and six first-place votes. Concordia was picked to finish in second place with 41 points and two first place votes. In the north division MSU Moorhead was picked to finish first, with the Dragons receiving 43 points and three first-place votes.
Minnesota State senior guard Natalie Bremer was selected as the NSIC Player of the Year for the South Division. In the North Division Crookston guard Emma Miller was selected as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.
Meet the Bears: Returners
CSP saw a number of departures from their starting five last season, with the graduation of Lindsey Becher, Julia Bengston and Megan Gamble. In their absence CSP will look to their depth from last year to step up and make an impact.
"I think that was huge for us last year, having great depth," Johnson said. "Our backups got good minutes last year."
Among the depth players that will have expanded roles this year are Lauren Wilson, Emma Mommsen and Ashley Schuelke. Collectively the group averaged 17 minutes a night last year, with Schuelke averaging 7.8 points off the bench at shooting guard.
After a breakout sophomore campaign in 2023-24 that saw her average 12.8 points per game, Lauren Wilson will get a chance to play starting minutes for CSP at the four this season. With Wilson in a starting role the Golden Bears will add some grit and tenacity to the starting five.
"She's a post player that can play outside too," Johnson said. "We're going to have her inside banging around a little bit, but then she can shoot from beyond the arc. She's just a tough matchup on defense."
At the center position Emma Mommsen will get the starting nod after averaging 13.6 minutes, 3.6 points and 3.4 rebounds a game off the bench last season. Mommsen made an impact for the Golden Bears in their only exhibition matchup of the season, recording a 11 point,14 rebound double-double.
"I think that the way she performed in that exhibition is exactly what she is capable of doing throughout the year," Johnson said. "Her percentages, finishing around the rim, her strength and her free throws keep improving every year."
The two remaining pieces from last year's starting five are senior guard Lydia Haack and junior guard Leah Dengerud.
Haack averaged a team-leading 30.7 minutes per game for the Golden Bears last season, while averaging 16.8 points per game, earning All-NSIC first team honors. On defense Haack also played a key role averaging 4.8 rebounds and a team-leading 1.7 steals per game.
In 2025-26 the senior point guard will look to continue playing a key role for CSP on both offense and defense as a player that opponents struggle to keep up with.
"She's just a gamer," Johnson said. "She's not going to be the most vocal player, but she's going to play with her actions on the court."
One area where Johnson does see Haack taking a step forward is her three-point shot, which she has been working on over the offseason. Adding another tool to her skill set to impact games for the Golden Bears.
"She can really get to the rim and finish, we all know that," Johnson said. "Now we want her to shoot a little bit more this year."
Meet the Bears: Transfers
The Golden Bears added two transfers over the offseason sophomore guard Avery Moeller from Winona State and sophomore guard Norah Danielson from Wayne State.
While Moeller and Danielson are new to the program, both have previously interacted and played with members of the CSP roster. Moeller in particular played with redshirt freshman guard Ava Thompson at Rosemount High School.
With Moeller CSP looks to add a longer shooting guard with a quick release and good three-point shot that can make an impact off the bench.
"Avery is a longer, physical shooting guard that will be one of the first guards coming off the bench," Johnson said. "We see her role as knocking down a couple of threes for us this season."
Norah Danielson's familiarity with CSP goes back to her club team, where Johnson had the opportunity to see her play with the Minnesota Fury. Danielson's addition will bring some toughness off the bench.
"Watching her play for her AAU team, I thought she would be a good fit," Johnson said. "Especially losing a couple bigs, Norah is going to come off the bench and play a role as a four player."
Meet the Bears: Freshman
This season the Golden Bears bench is comprised of a mix of both incoming and redshirt freshman. Ayana Bousum and Cassidy Pitzl both redshirted last season and spent their first season learning and will look to add some depth off the bench this season.
Ava Thompson also redshirted after a knee injury this season and will look to provide depth off the bench this season.
Concordia will also have two true freshmen on the roster this season in Ella Kuhlman and Cierra Kortan. Like Bousum and Pitzl last season both will likely redshirt this season.
Exhibition Recap
The Golden Bears picked up a win in their only exhibition match of the year, a 88-42 win over St. Kate's at the Gangelhoff Center on Oct. 30.
CSP built a 19-11 lead through one quarter of play, before putting together a commanding 31 point second quarter to take a 50-19 lead into the half.
Junior center Emma Mommsen recorded a 11 point, 14 rebound double-double performance against the Wildcats. Going a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor.
Senior guard Lydia Haack tallied 19 points, three rebounds and four assists while shooting 9-for-15 from the field. Haack also made an impact on the defensive side of the ball coming away with five steals in a defensive effort that saw the Golden Bears force 22 turnovers.
As a team the Golden Bears shot 35-79 (44%) from the field while limiting the Wildcats to 15-55 (27.3%). In total 12 CSP players found the score sheet as the Concordia bench outscored St. Kate's 29-16.
"It was a fun first game to see the new starting rotation," Johnson said. "And just kind of see how they started off with the jerseys on, the lights on and the fans here."
Fort Hays State Preview
Series History: CSP 1, Fort Hays State 1
The third all-time matchup between the Golden Bears and the Tigers will be a ranked one as CSP comes into season ranked 11th and Fort Hays ranked 9th in WBCA Preseason Poll. The series is currently split 1-1, with the Tigers taking the most recent matchup 67-54 in 2019.
The Golden Bears win over the Tigers came back in 2014, with a tight 70-68 win at the Gangelhoff Center. Mishayla Jones led the way, with a career high 25 points in the narrow two point victory.
The Tigers went 28-5 last year with a 16-3 record in the MIAA, before falling to no. 8 Pittsburg State in the MIAA Championship game. Fort Hays earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament, beating Southern Nazarene 81-72 in the quarterfinals, before falling to Southwest Minnesota State in the Central Region semifinals 77-65.
Fort Hays opened its 2025-26 season with an exhibition matchup against Kansas at the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. The Tigers fell to the Jayhawks 95-59.
The Tigers graduated both of their leading scorers from last season, guard Katie Wagner-Degarmo averaged 17.2 points per game last year and Olivia Hollenbeck averaged 16.1.
The top returner for Fort Hays is junior guard Talexa Weeter who averaged 14.1 points per game last season, with 6.0 rebounds per game. Weeter was named to the 2025 MIAA All-Tournament team and earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors.
Head Coach Tali Kahrs enters her third season with the Tigers. Kahrs holds a career record of 53-13 entering the 2025-26 season, after being selected as a finalist for the WBCA Coach of the Year award last season.
Missouri Western Preview
Series History: CSP 2, Missouri Western 1
For the third consecutive season the Golden Bears and Griffons will matchup in the regular season. Last season CSP had the upper hand with a 77-60 win at the Gangelhoff Center.
Junior guard Lydia Haack dropped 21 points for CSP, shooting 9-for-14 from the field. Lindsey Becher added 16 points, six rebounds and two blocks as the Golden Bears built a 41-27 lead at the half en route to a 16 point victory.
The Griffons put together a 20-10 record last season, going 14-5 in MIAA play. Making a run to the MIAA semifinals before falling to no. 9 Fort Hays State 77-73. Missouri Western earned a bid to the NCAA Central Region Tournament, where they lost in the quarterfinals to Minnesota State 87-73.
Missouri Western got its 2025-26 season underway with an exhibition matchup against Creighton University, the Griffons dropped the exhibition match 117-66.
The Griffons opened regular season play two weeks ago at the Division II CCA Tip-off Classic in St. Joseph, Missouri. Dropping their first game of the season against no.1 Grand Valley State 83-61, before falling to no. 13 Lubbock Christian 82-75.
Alyssa Bonilla, the Griffons top scorer from a year ago, graduated. Bonilla averaged 17.8 points per game last season being named All-MIAA First Team.
The Griffons added a trio of senior transfers in guards Ambranette Storr from Southwest Baptist, Lindsey Kelderman from Northwest Missouri and Mia Morel from Edward Waters University.
Missouri Western State also has a new head coach for the 2025-26 season after the departure of Ashton Feldhaus to become the head coach at Morehead State. In the offseason Luke Scheidecker was named as the 11th head coach in MWSU history after a five year stint as the head coach at Wabash Valley College.
