GPAC, NAIA powers collide in Mustang loss

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – The Great Plains Athletic Conference has long been known for being the home of women's basketball powerhouses. That proved true on Nov. 17 as Jamie Sale's Mustangs collided with the Red Raiders of Northwestern College, to the tune of a 91-66 loss.

"We didn't shoot the ball great. We played hard, we just didn't play well," described Sale after the game. "They really beat us on the boards, bad, out-rebounding us by 19. You play a team like that and give up that many extra shots, you're not going to have much success."

Morningside was led offensively by Jordyn Moser (JR/Harlan, IA) with 14 points and two assists. Sierra Mitchell (SO/Pleasant Hill, IA), who was kept relatively quiet, tallied 11 and Sydney Hupp (JR/O'Neill, NE) chipped in nine. The Mustangs shot 42% from the floor and 68% from the free throw line.

"They really did a good job of taking Sierra away, and so far this year, when she gets taken away, we have a hard time scoring."

Hupp led the Mustangs in rebounds, with 10 of the team's 24, putting her just one point shy of a double-double.

On the defensive side of the ball, Morningside collected a pair of blocks, one each from Hupp and Skyler Snider (JR/Kearney, NE). The Mustangs were able to steal the ball 11 times in the contest, led by Mitchell with three and Haleigh Melstad (FR/Vermillion, SD) with two.

Morningside is back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 20, hosting a doubleheader against Doane. The women will tip off at 6:00 in the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center.

"A game like this, you really figure out a lot of things that you're not doing well," concluded Sale. "We'll have a lot to work on and that's all we can do, you know, put this game out of our heads, but learn from it and hope we play better next time."