(Seward, NE) - The Concordia Invitational Tournament (CIT) has returned! One of the longest annual basketball tournament's in the country is back this weekend for it's 70th edition. The tournament features four teams including CUAA as Concordians from Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Chicago will meet up this weekend for the first title since 2020. 

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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

The last 8 out of 9 women's basketball championships have gone to Nebraska as Ann Arbor was the winner in 2013 and in 2011. All-time, Nebraska has won 30 championships, Chicago has 4, Wisconsin with 3, and Ann Arbor with 2. Former member of the tournament Concordia St. Paul has 8 titles. 

CUAA WBB Overview

The Cardinals enter the tournament with a 12-8 overall record and a 9-5 record in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC). CUAA averages 63.8 points per game, while only allowing 60.5 per game. They are led by Taylor Leatherman with 14.8 points per game (ppg) and 7.8 rebounds, while Samantha Dorn is averaging 13.3 ppg and 3.5 rebounds. 

Their last CIT championship came in 2013 with former Head Coach Andrea Gorski as Hannah Sabol was named the tournament's MVP. Current Head Coach Elyse Schlump was a graduate assistant on that team and was a member of the 2011 championship team as well. 

CUC WBB Overview

The Cougars enter the tournament with an 8-8 overall record while maintaining a 7-4 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) record. Offensively they average 70.6 ppg, while allowing 71.3 ppg. They are led by Katherine Benes and Alisyn MacGregor, as Barnes averages 26.5 ppg, while MacGregor brings in 10.4 rebounds a game. 

Their last CIT title came in 1986 as Head Coach Al Hermann led the Cougars to a win with Tammie Dunker taking home MVP. 

CUNE WBB Overview

The Bulldogs come into the tournament with an overall record of 12-7 and a 10-5 record in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). They currently average 70.7 ppg, while allowing opponents to score 63.9 points. They are led by Taysha Rushton and Sadie Powell. Rushton averages 13.6 ppg, while Powell brings in 5 rebounds a game. 

In 2020 Nebraska claimed their 7th-straight CIT title with a 102-47 win over Wisconsin as Head Coach Drew Olsen won his 11th championship, with Grace Berry earning MVP. 

CUW WBB Overview

The Falcons head into the tournament with a 8-8 overall record, while maintaining a 7-4 NACC record. The Falcons average 60.4 points a game offensively while allowing 60.6 a game. They are led by Emily Hafemann and Erin Viergutz as Hafemann averages 14.1 points a game and Viergutz brings down 5.9 rebounds a game. 

The last time that they brought home a CIT title was in 2007 as Head Coach Stacey Brunner and MVP Kristen Ruppe upended Nebraska in the title game. 

MEN'S BASKETBALL

The last men's basketball CIT Championship went to Nebraska as well as they would complete the sweep in 2020. All-Time, Nebraska has won 28 times, with Chicago winning 14, Ann Arbor and Wisconsin both with 4. 

CUAA MBB Overview

The Cardinals come into the tournament with a 7-13 record overall and a 7-7 record in WHAC play. Offensively they are averaging 67.5 ppg and allowing 71.6 ppg. Leading the team are Matt Lockhart and Kip French who average 10.8 and 10.7 ppg. Lockhart averages 6.2 rebounds a game, while French totals 4.2 assists a game. 

Their last CIT Championship was 5 years ago as Head Coach Rocky Yahn led the Cardinals to the win as Jalen Thompson would take home CIT MVP.

CUW MBB Overview

The Falcons men's basketball team enters the tournament with a 4-12 records overall while having a 2-8 NACC record. Overall they average 76.3 points per game while allowing opponents to tally 79.7 a game. They are led by Freeman Jackson and Gabe Pruss. Jackson totals 18.4 ppg and Pruss totals 7.3 rebounds a game. 

In 2019 CUW defeated the hosting CUAA for the championship title. They were led by Head Coach Shawn Cassidy with his fourth championship and tournament MVP Jordan Johnson. 

CUNE MBB Overview

The Nebraska men's team enters CIT with a 12-7 overall record while maintaining a 7-7 GPAC record. They average 75.9 points, while only allowing opponents to total of 69.6 points a game. They are led by Noah Schutte and Gage Smith. Schutte averages 17.8 points a game, while Smith brings down 9.4 rebounds a game. 

2020 was the last time that they took home the title as they complete the sweep with women's basketball. Head Coach Ben Limback won his 6th CIT championship, which was his fourth at Nebraska, and Tanner Schuck took home the tournament MVP. 

CUC MBB Overview

The Cougars come into the tournament with an 8-2 overall and a 5-0 NACC record. Offensively they average 81.7 ppg, while only giving up 75.2 ppg. They are led by Jordan Matthews and Justin Greenlee, with Matthews averaging 16.8 ppg while Greenlee averages 4.5 assists.

Their most recent CIT title came in 2011 when they took down CUAA in the championship. Head Coach Tyler Jones and CIT MVP Deontay Young led the team.  

DANCE

Dance was added to the schedule in 2018 with Wisconsin winning the inaugural championship, while also taking home the most recent one as well. Ann Arbor won the only other tournament when the event was held in Michigan in 2019. 

CUAA Dance Overview

The Cardinals dance team saw success in their first meet of the 2023 season as they took home a second-place finish after tallying 73.6 points. The Cardinals will be competing on Thursday when they travel to Doane for a dual match. 

CUAA took home the CIT championship when hosting in 2019 with a score of 81.08, which was nearly five points more than second place Chicago. 

CUW Dance Overview

This is the second event of the season for the Falcons dance team as they competed at the Sheboygan Falls Dance Invite back in November. The team finished 1st in the Hip Hop section while taking 3rd in Pom. 

2020 was the last time that they won the CIT tournament as they won the event with a score of 58.83 points, which was just over 3 points better than Chicago. 

CUNE Dance Overview

The Bulldog dance team has participated in two dual meets so far this season and has come away with two wins over College of Saint Mary and Morningside. They have an average of 82 points a meet. At the 2020 CIT, the dance team finished in 4th place with a 51.33 score. 

CUC Dance Overview

Saturday will be the opening meet of the season for the Cougars Dance team. At the 2020 CIT, the team took second place with a score of 55.67. 

CHEER

The cheer competition has been dominated by Ann Arbor winning all three championships dating back to 2018 when the event was added to the CIT weekend. 

CUAA Cheer Overview

The Cardinals cheer team has seen much success this season as they have taken first place in both events so far as they have averaged 86.49 points in their matches (2nd highest in the NAIA). They will compete in a dual match on Thursday against Done to prep for CIT. 

At the previous CIT in 2020 the Cardinals cheer team won with a score of 96 points, which was over 13 points better than second place. 

CUW Cheer Overview

This is the final event of the season for Falcons cheer after competing earlier this month at the UCA National Championships and taking home a 16th-place finish with a score of 79.67. Back in 2020, they took fourth place with a score of 62.67.

CUNE Cheer Overview

This will be the third event of the cheer season for the Bulldogs as they fell by 6 points to Morningside early in the month and will host a tri-meet on Wednesday. The currently have an average score of 77.2, which is 9th in the NAIA. Back in 2020, the cheer team placed third at CIT with a score of 74.32. 

CUC Cheer Overview

For the Cougar Cheer team, this too will be their first event of the season. Back in 2020 at the last CIT, the cheer team finished in second place with a score of 82.67. 

*All stats and records are as of 1/24/23*