St. Olaf Gameday Preview

Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: December 10

Complete Game Program in Printable PDF

Game 7

St. Olaf College (2-4/0-2 MIAC)

Concordia College (4-2/2-1 MIAC)

December 10, 2005

Memorial Auditorium

Moorhead, Minn.

GAMEDAY BASICS

GAME TIME: 1:00PM
LAST YEAR: Concordia swept the series, winning 75-54 in Northfield and then claiming a 73-62 victory at home. In the first game, Annie Keely scored 15 of her game high 17 points in the second half to help Concordia win on the road. Holly Grimsrud and Christina Sampson both had 12 points to pace the Oles. In the second game, Jamie Visness finished with 21 points and Mandy Pearson had 20 leading the Cobbers to an 11-point home victory over the Oles. Leading 39-31, Concordia almost gave away the game with 13 turnovers, but came away victorious thanks in large part to holding St. Olaf to a 33% from the field down the stretch. The Oles went 0-of-7 from 3-point range in the second half.
SERIES: Cobbers lead 49-7
SERIES HISTORY: Concordia has controlled the series throughout its existence. Only once has St. Olaf won consecutive games against the Cobbers (1982-1984) and has not won in Moorhead since February 9, 1985.

GAMEDAY TIP-OFF
(What you need to know about today's Concordia-St. Olaf match-up)
The Lowdown
Concordia enters today’s game on their first multiple-game winning streak of the season. Before Wednesday’s game, the Cobbers had traded off wins and losses for the first five games. Concordia’s 53-47 defensive showcase win over St. Mary’s gave the Cobbers a two-game winning streak and pushed them to the top of the MIAC. After just four conference games, no team is undefeated. There are five teams with one loss in the league, which could be one of the most wide-open in recent memory.
POST-er Child
Concordia has been led in scoring in the last three games by sophomore post player Melanie Hageman. She is coming off back-to-back 14-point performances. Hageman is the only Cobber averaging in double figures this season. She is averaging 10.8 points per game this year and has scored in double figures in four of the team’s first six games this season.
Smoke and Mirrors
A quick trip inside the numbers proves that Concordia head coach Jessica Rahman must be related to magician David Copperfield. Rahman’s Cobbers are averaging less points than their opponents, have a lower field goal percentage and 3-point percentage, trail in average rebounds per game and have turned the ball over more often than their opponent. Despite all those numbers, Concordia is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in league play. It just goes to prove the old adage that the game is played on the court and not on paper.
Balanced Attack
Despite the lack of high-powered scoring threats, the Cobbers are using their depth and overall talent to win games in 2005. All five of Concordia’s starting players are averaging over six points per game. A sixth player, Sarah Krabbenhoft has been tremendous coming off the bench. She is averaging 5.5 points per game and is leading the team in 3-point field goal percentage.
Scouting the Oles
St. Olaf enters today’s game on a two-game losing streak and having lost four of their first six games this season. They are 0-2 in conference play with losses to St. Ben’s and Augsburg. The even tougher news for the Oles is that all four losses have come on the road. St. Olaf is on the opposite side of the spectrum from Concordia when it comes to offense and defense. The Oles are averaging a robust 67.0 points per game and have scored over 70 points in half their games this year. The problem comes on the other side of the ball where they have allowed opponents to score 73.8 points per game and have given up more than 80 points on three occasions this season.
Starts With “S”, As In Scoring or Your Name Has To Be Kristina, Christine or Christina to Score Points
St. Olaf is led by the super scintillating scoring sensation sisters of Kristina Stoermer, Christine Scwichtenberg and Christina Sampson. They have led the Oles in scoring in every game but one. Together they are averaging 32.7 points per game or almost half of the team’s total offensive production per game.
How About A Luden’s?
Besides their inability to stop opposing offenses, one of the big problems for the Oles in their first six games has been their propensity coughing the ball up. St. Olaf is averaging 25 turnovers per game this season, last in the MIAC.