Graceland Women's Basketball Falls to Concordia in Season Opener

LAMONI, Iowa — The Graceland University Yellowjackets opened their 2025–26 women's basketball season with an 80-59 home loss to Concordia University (Neb.) on Tuesday night at the Morden Center.

Graceland (0-1, 0-0 Heart of America Athletic Conference) started fast, trading baskets with Concordia (1-0, 0-0 Great Plains Athletic Conference) in a high-tempo first quarter. The Yellowjackets shot 56.3 percent from the field in the opening period, including 66.7 percent from beyond the arc, and trailed by just three points after one, 25-22.

The Bulldogs tightened their defensive pressure in the second and third quarters, holding Graceland to a combined 22 points in that stretch. Concordia deployed a consistent full-court press, which forced 28 turnovers, resulting in 30 points off takeaways. The Bulldogs also used their size advantage to dominate the boards, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds and posting a 15-3 margin in second-chance points.

"We wanted to play a good team that's a mixture of Benedictine and Park," said head coach Willie Scott. "We need to handle pressure, traps, and size much better. Unfortunately, our two best guards — Kymani Freeman was out with a knee injury, and Nateonia Russell was suspended for the game. We need help from the bench players so when the first five starts to get tired we can give them a break."

Senior Ianara Morbidoni led the Yellowjackets in scoring with 15 points, all from three-point range. The forward connected on 5-of-11 attempts from deep, helping keep Graceland competitive early. Junior Oliviya Tinoco added 12 points, and sophomore Maxine Ampofo recorded 9 points and 9 rebounds in 29 minutes of action. Despite the final score, Graceland finished the night shooting 58.8 percent from three.

Concordia had four players score in double figures, led by Kristin Vieselmeyer, who notched a game-high 19 points and 8 rebounds. Guard Bree Bunting contributed 15 points, while the Bulldogs controlled the interior, outscoring Graceland 46-14 in the paint.

Graceland struggled to maintain offensive rhythm in the middle quarters. The Yellowjackets managed just 12 points in the second quarter and 10 in the third, as Concordia's pressure disrupted ball movement and limited second-chance opportunities. Graceland had only five offensive rebounds on the night.

Still, there were bright spots in the season debut, especially in the team's perimeter shooting and moments of crisp execution against the press. Scott said the team will continue to emphasize conditioning, decision-making under pressure, and depth heading into the rest of non-conference play.

"Games like this are about learning," Scott said. "We want to test ourselves early so we're ready once conference starts. We have to get more consistent, especially when teams push tempo and trap us full court."

With Freeman and Russell both unavailable, the Yellowjackets were forced to lean on younger guards for extended minutes. Freshman Kayla Smolley and sophomore Sariah Bradley combined for 46 minutes but committed nine turnovers under heavy pressure. Scott emphasized that bench production and composure will be critical moving forward.

Graceland finished the night 21-for-42 (50.0 percent) from the field, 10-of-17 from three, and 7-of-13 at the free throw line. Concordia attempted 30 more field goals than the Yellowjackets, due largely to their offensive rebounding and turnover differential.

The Bulldogs tallied 21 assists on 32 made field goals and scored 21 fast-break points, frequently converting after steals or defensive rebounds.

Despite the result, Graceland remains optimistic about its core rotation and upcoming schedule. With Freeman expected to return soon and Russell eligible to rejoin the lineup, the Yellowjackets will look to sharpen their execution in the weeks ahead.

Graceland returns to action Saturday, Nov. 1, at Columbia College (Mo.). Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT at Francis S. Levien Gymnasium in Columbia, Missouri.

For more information on Graceland women's basketball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.