MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE GAM E DAY - F E B R UA RY 6, 2 02 1
MUSTANG BASKETBALL Morningside College’s men’s and women’s basketball programs pay homage to their senior team members this afternoon before each contest’s start
She turned in 391 in her illustrious collegiate career.
The women’s squad, coached by Jamie Sale, recognizes guards Tayte Hansen, Faith and Grace Meyer, and Sierra Mitchell. The quartet has led the Mustangs to three 20-wins-or-more finishes. This year’s Great Plains Athletic Conference regular-season title, four league postseason tournament appearances, and three National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ championship berths are among that run. They’ve helped the program to an 8437 overall and 58-22 conference regular-season record.
Looking further at her numbers, she’s ranked in the top 10 of four national statistical categories. She leads the way in total threepoint baskets (90) and treys made per contest (4.091), while her 411 points and 59 steals are third and sixth, respectively. Mitchell’s just part of an equation that has seen Morningside piece together 14 successive victories. Junior forward Sophia Peppers is ninth in scoring (347 points) and 15th in steals (51). Faith Meyer also holds down a top 15 mark in steals, tallying the same number. On the ledger’s team side, the Mustangs’ 307 steals lead the nation, while they are second in scoring (1,768 points) and made three-pointers (232). Their 388 assists are fourth-best.
Mside’s men, coached by Jim Sykes, honor guard Zach Imig and center Trey Brown. The duo has helped deliver three successive GPAC regular-season championships to the campus along with the 2018 loop postseason tournament crown. They’ve been a part of three NAIA championship outings and have been part of ensuring three 20-plus-win seasons and a remarkable 103-17 overall and 6411 league regular season compilation.
THE MATCH- UP Sykes’ crew has reeled off 16 straight victories over the visiting Doane University Tigers. They lead the all-time series 20-6. Morningside’s women hold a 25-1 historical advantage on DU. They’ve won seven in a row, with Doane’s lone victory occurring in Sioux City by a 77-75 count during the 201617 campaign. Mitchell can continue to add to an alreadyfull cadre of career accomplishments this afternoon. She’s 11 points from becoming the sixth player in school history to reach the 1,900 mark. During a 73-68 midweek victory over Dakota Wesleyan University, she moved into second on the league’s all-time three-point basket list, surpassing former Tiger standout Amanda Hart.
A fast start in a historically tough place for opposing teams to gain success led the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ No. 9-ranked team at the World’s Famous Corn Palace on February 3. Mside led 28-11 at the end of the first 10 minutes mainly due to a 15-0 run that closed the frame. They wouldn’t relinquish their advantage despite the host Tigers staying close down to the final moments with a second-half surge. However, the visitors righted the ship as the hosts closed to within 69-65 with 3:04 remaining. Faith Meyer hit a pair of clutch free throws, and sophomore guard McKenna Sims connected on a lay-up, while the hosts were held to just one three-point bucket in the stretch. Morningside’s victory was its first in the Corn Palace since January 13, 2016 – something which Sale savored post-game along with the outright conference crown. “It’s nice to win the GPAC, but we want to do more than that,” he stated. “To do that, we need to stay sharp. I’m confident with this team. They work really hard.” Mside was led in scoring by Mitchell, who finished with 17 points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Sims poured in 13 on six for eight from the field. Junior forward Taylor Rodenburgh came off the bench to score 12 points and pull down six rebounds. The Mustangs were also able to capitalize on 15 DWU turnovers, tallying 22 points off of them.