Mustang
BASKETBALL SATURDAY, NOV. 20
This evening, Morningside University concludes a four-game home set with a Great Plains Athletic Conference – North Star Athletic Association battle. Head coach Jamie Sale’s Mustangs, ranked No. 12 on the Week One National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ poll, have enjoyed the view of their Allee Gymnasium inside the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center. They’ve reeled off three successive victories to move over the .500 mark for the first time this season and stay unbeaten early in the loop campaign (3-2, 2-0). Head coach Dave Denly’s Bellevue University Bruins are 3-5 and have played around half of the GPAC member roster to date. Through four such opportunities, they stand 1-3. Their win was against Midland University while they were felled by Concordia University, Dordt University, and the College of Saint Mary. BU has meetings against Mside, Hastings College, and Dakota Wesleyan University left on its non-conference slate.
THE SERIES The two Missouri River connected programs have met only three times previously (2017, 2018, 2020). Morningside has claimed wins in each instance, as 10-points-orless decided two outcomes.
THE MATCH-UP Morningside continued to work through its home schedule on Nov. 17 with another league win, this time coming over the Defenders of Dordt University. The home team set the pace early in the 83-64 victory, running to a 10-2 lead in the first minute and a half. Morningside helped its case, going 15 for 15 at the charity stripe, taking advantage of Dordt’s 13 fouls while only committing 11. The Mustangs shot 43.3% from the field, connecting for 29 field goals in 67 attempts. Beyond the arc, moved back for the 2021-22 season, the home team went 10 of 29, good for 34.5%. Senior forward Taylor Rodenburgh was the Mustangs’ top scorer, putting up 19 points in 32 minutes of play. Senior guard Sierra Mitchell knocked down 17, going four-of-four at the line. Sophomore center Chloe Lofstrom was perfect beyond the arc, going two-of-two on her way to 15 points. Lofstrom, recording a double-double, grabbed 11 rebounds in the contest. At the same time, junior guard McKenna Sims had nine, and sophomore guard Alexis Spier led the rebounding efforts off the bench with five. The Mustangs had 43 rebounds in the contest, with 29 on defense. Peppers is closing in on a spot in the program’s career scoring top 25. She needs 11 points today to surpass Tanaeya Worden (2009-11). A upperclasswoman tandem of senior guard Elexis Martinez and junior guard Faith Ross top the Bruins in scoring. Ross (12.3 ppg) has been strong from beyond the arc, hitting just over two per appearance at a sky-rocketing 43.2 percent clip. Martinez (14.1 points per game) is also the squad’s glass cleaning specialist garnering eight rebounds per contest. Ross is one of three dishing off better than two assists per contest.