Mustang
BASKETBALL WEDNESDAY, NOV. 10
Morningside University embarks on the home portion of its 2021-22 season tonight with a Great Plains Athletic Conference – Heart of America Conference intersectional battle. MidAmerica Nazarene University of Olathe, Ks., concludes a brief two-day swing through the GPAC, which began at Northwestern College on Nov. 9. Head coach Jon Lewis’ squad started its year with a 60-57 loss to Haskell Indian Nations University on Nov. 2. Head coach Jamie Sale’s Mustangs look to bounce back from an 0-2 start. Mside was toppled by Saint Xavier University 77-63 and Olivet Nazarene University 106-97 as part of the GPAC-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Challenge Nov. 5 and 6.
THE SERIES Tonight’s meeting is the third all-time between the two programs. Morningside claimed the first two contests 63-50 in 2010 and 81-53 in 2020.
THE MATCH-UP Despite the tough-luck marks on the scoreboard at ONU’s McHie Arena in Bourbonnais, Ill., last weekend, the Mustangs did manage to get some National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ statistical billing. The 22.5 assists they averaged per game rank fifth nationally, while their 47.4 percent field goal accuracy is also among the best 25 (No. 23). Individual solid performances spotlighted the Chicago-area trip. In a wide-open, endtoend battle with host Olivet Nazarene, Sale’s squad received monstrous outputs from senior forwards Taylor Rodenburgh and Sophia Peppers, along with sophomore center Chloe Lofstrom. Rodenburgh put up 29 points, grabbed nine boards, and dished out an assist; Peppers was just three assists shy of ending with a triple-double, tallying 12 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, a steal, and blocked shot; and Lofstrom entered off the bench to contribute 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists. However, even with those numbers, the hosts used a 39-22 final period rally to win 106-97. Their two-day stay opened with a rematch of an NAIA sectional final from 2020-21. The Saint Xavier University of Illinois used a second-half surge to exact some measure of revenge, gaining a 77-63 victory. Peppers was a handful in the paint again with 17 points, six rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot, while senior guard Sierra Mitchell began a pair of back-to-back double-digit resumes with 16 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Lofstrom posted another considerable bench effort with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. A 35-22 second-half run by Haskell turned away the Pioneers in their home and season lidlifter. MNU controlled the first half and had a 15-point lead with one minute remaining in the second quarter. Haskell closed with a 5-0 run and opened the 3rd with a 7-0 run to get back into it. The Pioneers maintained a slight lead for most of the fourth period, but the visitors closed the game on a 6-0 run. The upperclasswoman duo of junior guard Jordynn Gonzalez and senior guard TrEl’Shawn Smith led the attack. Gonzalez tallied 13 points, with Smith adding 12. Senior center Megan Scott was just off double-double pace with eight points and six rebounds. Morningside tips off its 2021-22 GPAC slate Saturday, Nov. 13. Dakota Wesleyan University visits Allee Gymnasium of the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center for a men’s and women’s doubleheader. Game times are 2 p.m. for the women and 3:45 p.m. for the men.