Strong start continues

CHICAGO, ILL. – Morningside College head coach Jamie Sale and his staff couldn't have asked for much more out of a season-opening weekend Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3.

Knocking off No. 18-ranked Olivet Nazarene University in a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' top 20 match-up Friday and then coming back less than 24 hours later to upend preseason No. 4-ranked St. Xavier University of Illinois 78-56 Saturday on SXU's home Shannon Center court spotlighted a 2-0 run in the Great Plains Athletic Conference-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Challenge. The Mustangs proved their No. 11 national ranking with the Windy City results, too.

Saturday's clash with the host Cougars, a rematch of a March 2018 meeting that ended with St. Xavier knocking the Maroon out of the national tournament, saw a 14-0 Mside run in the closing stages of the first half give them a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Mustangs opened the advantage to double digits in the third quarter and were off the races.

Sophomore guard Sierra Mitchell (SO/Pleasant Hill, IA) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) wrapped up a 48-point weekend with 17 points to go with four steals and a pair of assists. Two other numbers showed large on the final boxscore, as fellow sophomore guard Tayte Hansen (SO/York, NE) (York, Neb.) turned in 14 points, and senior forward Alexandra Gill (SR/Omaha, NE) (Omaha, Neb.) ripped down 15 rebounds to go with 10 points for a double-double and as part of a large 56-36 margin for Morningside College on the boards.

Mside opens its home and GPAC schedule Wednesday, Nov. 7, hosting the College of Saint Mary at Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center/Allee Gymnasium for a 6 p.m. start.