MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia University Wisconsin women's basketball team wrapped up a resilient and rewarding 2024–25 campaign with a 13-13 overall record and a 12-4 mark in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play, finishing third in the standings despite being picked sixth in the preseason coaches' poll. Fueled by a fearless non-conference schedule, a dominant stretch through January and February, and the leadership of a decorated senior class, the Falcons exceeded expectations and returned to the upper tier of the NACC.
CUW opened the season against a daunting lineup of nationally ranked and traditional powerhouse opponents, including UW-Stevens Point, No. 3 UW-Whitewater, Wheaton, North Central, and Williams College. Despite the early setbacks, the Falcons showed glimpses of promise, highlighted by breakout scoring efforts from junior Ava Booth (Plymouth, Wis.), sophomore Gracie McNabb (Grafton, Wis.), and senior Aubrey DeBauch (Gillett, Wis.).
The team earned its first win in convincing fashion at Illinois Tech, where DeBauch, Booth, and freshman Andrea Butterbrodt (Green Bay, Wis.) powered CUW to a 68-37 victory. Just 10 days later, the Falcons delivered head coach Stacey Brunner-Jones her 350th career win with a dominant 70-42 victory over Concordia Chicago.
CUW built momentum heading into the holiday break with competitive showings at the Cruzin' Classic in Florida, including a wire-to-wire battle with Emerson that went to overtime. DeBauch recorded a double-double in the loss, one of her conference-leading seven on the season.
Returning to the Midwest, the Falcons launched into a torrid run through NACC play. After tough road losses to Dubuque and St. Norbert, CUW responded with back-to-back wins over Marian and Benedictine. DeBauch's 25-point, 12-rebound effort at Marian was followed by another double-double against Benedictine. McNabb and Butterbrodt added balanced scoring support as the Falcons started 4-1 in conference play.
CUW reeled off four straight wins in mid-January, including a 70-51 triumph over Dominican and a 58-43 road victory at MSOE. The team then notched its 700th program win with a 64-46 decision over Concordia Chicago at the Concordia Invitational Tournament, a historic moment punctuated by DeBauch's All-Tournament Team selection.
Back-to-back home wins over Illinois Tech and Alverno showcased CUW's improved depth, with 14 players scoring in the Alverno blowout. The Falcons followed that with a thrilling 64-62 win at Aurora, where McNabb and Booth hit clutch baskets down the stretch to preserve the road victory.
CUW closed out the regular season with Senior Day redemption against Edgewood, a 56-48 win that sealed the No. 3 seed in the NACC Tournament. In the postseason opener, the Falcons battled MSOE in a high-paced quarterfinal that saw five players score in double figures. Despite a furious fourth-quarter rally, the Falcons fell 78-73 to conclude their season.
Senior forward Aubrey DeBauch capped off her remarkable career with a second straight selection to the All-NACC First Team. She ranked in the top five in the conference in scoring (15.4 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg), and assists (2.8 apg), while also leading CUW in field goal percentage, free throws made, and blocks. DeBauch posted seven double-doubles, including a career-high 30-point performance against Rockford and an eight-assist night versus Wisconsin Lutheran. She was later named to the CSC Academic All-District Team for the second straight year and advanced to the Academic All-America ballot.
Joining DeBauch with Academic All-District recognition were senior Abby Hafemann (Hales Corners, Wis.), senior Lindsey Lonigro (Deerfield, Wis.), and sophomore Andrea Butterbrodt (Green Bay, Wis.), marking a program-best four CSC selections in a single season.
The Falcons graduate a talented senior class that helped the program return to the top three of the NACC standings. With a strong foundation in place and a rising core led by Booth, McNabb, Butterbrodt, and Ross, CUW is well-positioned to continue its upward trajectory in 2025–26.
