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Players To Watch:
Jenna Freudenberg (G, Sr., 5-9, Parkers Prairie)

2007-08 All-MIAC Honorable Mention; second on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg) in 2007-08; led the team in assists (93); third in the MIAC in assist to turnover ratio (1.32) and fifth in assists per game; three-year starter.

Sara Sorbo (G, Jr., 5-8, Adams, N.D.)

2007-08 All-MIAC Honorable; 2006-07 MIAC All-First Year Team; led the team in steals in 2007-08 (2.23/game); third on the team in scoring (8.5 ppg); fifth in the MIAC in steals per game.

Annamaria Matetich (G, Jr. 5-10, Hibbing, Minn.)

Fifth on the team in scoring in 2007-08 (6.8 ppg); fifth on the team in rebounds (78); fourth on the team in 3-pt field goals made.

Maggie Bauernfiend (G, So., 5-7, Rosemount)

second on the team in 3-point field goals made (28); second on the team in 3-pt field goal percentage (.394).
Erica Nord (G, So., 5-7) third on the team in steals (33); third in assists per game (1.8).

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Key Losses:
Melanie Hageman (P, Sr., 5-11)

2007-08 NABC All-American Honorable Mention; 2007-08, 2006-07 and 2005-06 D3hoops.com All-Region Second Team; 2007-08, 2006-07 and 2005-06 All-MIAC First Team, led the team in scoring the past three seasons; 1,000-point scorer

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2008-09 Season Preview

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/14/08)-- The Concordia women’s basketball team will spend the 2008-09 season proving that the power of many is stronger than the power of one. The Cobbers will have to use a more balanced attack and creative scoring ways to replace All-American, and three-time All-Region performer, Melanie Hageman ’08, who led the team in scoring the past three seasons. Hageman led the team in scoring in all but six games last year and was also the team’s leading rebounder for the year.

Hageman’s departure will mean that head coach Jessica Rahman will have to rely on a squad that is Bill Gates-rich in guard talent. Of the 14 players listed on the 2008-09 roster, 10 are guards and seven of those saw extended playing time during last season. The two leaders for the Cobbers will be the senior guard tandem of Jenna Freudenberg (Parkers Prairie, Minn.) and Ashley King (Arthur, N.D./Northern Cass HS). Freudenberg was second on the team in scoring last year with a 10.1 points per game average while King’s energy and athleticism make her a factor on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. Their ability to help CC through a tough early-season schedule will be one of the key factor’s as to whether or not Concordia can make a run at the top of the conference standings.

Freudenberg will be called upon to assume the role as the team’s top scorer in 2008-09. She is a solid shooting guard that can knock down the outside jumper as well as put the ball on the floor and beat defenders to the basket. She also led the team in assists (93) last year and does a great job at finding the open person after the defense collapses to stop her path to the hoop.

A pair of junior guards will be counted on to step up their point production from last season. Sara Sorbo (Adams, N,.D./Adams-Edmore HS) and Annamaria Matetich (Hibbing, Minn.) were both in the top five in team scoring last season. Sorbo was third on the squad in scoring with an 8.5 points per game average. Her physical style of play and aggressive nature when going to the basket give’s opposing defenses fits when trying to stop her attack. She is also a fierce defender that can lock down any opposing guard and has led the team in steals in each of her first two seasons in maroon and gold. Matetich is a streaky shooter that has shown the ability to score from the outside. She had a 6.8 points per game average last season and scored in double figures on five occasions during the year.

Sophomores Maggie Bauernfiend (Rosemount, Minn,) Lindsey Schultz (Hitterdal, Minn./Ulen-Hitterdal HS), Erica Nord (Wolverton, Minn./Barnesville HS) and Brittany Jossart (Bismarck, N.D./Century HS) all made significant strides last season and all four could be big factors in 2008-08. The top scorer of the quartet was Bauernfiend who averaged 6.8 points per game and was second on the team in 3-point field goals made and 3-point field goals attempted. She is a spot-up shooter who can change the game in a hurry with her ability to hit shots from behind the arc. Schulz and Nord are two tough defenders that will help CC limit opposing team’s point production. Schultz led the team in charges taken last year while Nord was third in steals and is a quick defender usually assigned to guard the other team’s point guard.

The biggest question mark for the Cobbers will be at post where CC will be without Hageman for the first time in four seasons. Two sophomores look to be the leading candidates to fill the inside role. Ashley Grabowski (Farmington, Minn.) and Ali Demmer (Albert Lea, Minn.) will be called upon to make big strides in their play under the basket. Grabowski is the more experienced of the two having seen action in 20 games as a freshman. She has the raw talent to provide CC with a presence inside, both in rebounding and defense. Neither player will be asked to due a large part of the scoring but will be needed to give the Cobbers a tough player on the interior that can stop some of the best players in the MIAC under the basket.

The “pack” principle will be put to the test in a very tough early-season schedule. Concordia opens the year against perennial national power Hope College (Mich.) who is ranked eighth in the D3hoops.com preseason national poll. From there they will host DII stalwart MSU Moorhead before opening conference play against St. Thomas, Gustavus and Carleton – all three of which made the MIAC playoffs last year.

If Rahman and her powerful “many” can survive the first part of the year, then they will have a chance to showcase their team mentality in the final part of the season and on into the conference playoffs.

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