Mustang
BASKETBALL SATURDAY, FEB. 26, 2022
A spot in the 2022 Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships finale is on the line this afternoon inside Allee Gymnasium of the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center. Top-seeded Morningside University faces off against fourth-seeded Northwestern College. The other side of the bracket sees third-seeded Dakota Wesleyan University at second-seeded Dordt University.
THE SERIES/GPAC TOURNEY HISTORY The two sides split the regular season series with each winning on their home floor. Morningside has claimed eight of the last 13 and leads 52-35-3 all-time. Dating back through 2016-17, the Mustangs are 6-4 in league tourney action, including four straight victories and the 2021 title. They have a 32-13 all-time conference tournament mark with championships in 2021, 2016, 2013, 2009, 2006, and 2004.
THE MATCH-UP Head coach Jamie Sale’s Mustangs used a late first quarter/early second quarter run to take the lead for good from eighth-seeded Hastings College Feb. 23. Senior guard Sierra Mitchell went for 30-points-or-more for a second successive outing to guide National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics No. 6-ranked Misde to a 98-84 win over eighth-seeded Hastings College. From that beginning, behind the senior standout’s 11-of-19 overall and six-of-12 three-point field goal shooting performance, Morningside found the way to win No. 26, increasing the lead to as much as 20 before settling for the 14-point decision. Mitchell’s ninth consecutive double-digit outing was just part of the story, though. Sophomore center Chloe Lofstrom tied a personal single-game season-high, notching 25 points to go with nine rebounds. The duo was part of five Mustangs in double digits, as senior forward Taylor Rodenburgh came off the bench for a 12-point, seven-rebound effort, and senior guard Aspen Jansa and senior forward Sophia Peppers tallied 10 points each. Head coach Kristin Rotert’s Northwestern crew improved to 24-7 after a 72-60 Siouxland showdown victory over fifth-seeded Briar Cliff University. A hotshooting first quarter and a quick 24-9 lead propelled the Red Raiders to their second successive GPAC tourney semifinal round berth. Northwestern was able to keep the Chargers at arm’s length, after their start, and keep the lead around 20 for most of the final frame until BCU made a late push. Senior guard Devyn Kemble led the home team with 15, nailing three from beyond the arc. Junior guard Emilie Danner was very efficient going six for eight and also scoring 15 points, she pulled down six rebounds, and had two steals. Junior guard Maddie Jones finished with 14 and led the Raiders with three steals. Sophomore forward Molly Schany finished in double figures with 11, she pulled down five rebounds as well. Senior guard Jada Cunningham rounded out the double figure scorers with 10.