Close-knit finish eludes Maroon

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Sophomore guard Sierra Mitchell's (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) fourth 20-points-plus-contest coupled with a fourth straight double-figure points and ninth five-or-more rebounds effort from junior forward/center Sydney Hupp (O'Neill, Neb.) guided Morningside College Wednesday, Dec. 5.

Mitchell tossed in 20, draining six three-pointers in the process, and Hupp tallied a near double-double of 16 points and eight rebounds as part of a big night that included four blocked shots in a narrow 63-58 defeat the hands of Midland University. The 25^th-ranked team on the current National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' poll overcame a 49-46 deficit with 5:53 go inside Allee Gymnasium at the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center, taking off on a 9-0 run that gave them the lead for good. Head coach Jamie Sale's Mustangs, ranked No. 8 on the Division II listing, attempted to avert a second consecutive loss, closing to 61-58 with 15 seconds but a three-ball try from the right side just fell off the front of the rim, and the Warriors hit back-to-back free throws with six seconds remaining to confirm the outcome.

Junior guard Jordyn Moser (Harlan, Iowa) also wound up in scoring double figures with 10. She also dished out eight assists. Beyond her totals, the rest of the Mustang line-up was quieted by a tough luck shooting night in which the home team hit at only 39.7 percent from the field overall, 50 percent at the charity stripe and 33.3 percent from outside the arc.

The Mustangs (7-3 overall, 5-3 Great Plains Athletic Conference) resume a rugged stretch of four straight matchups against ranked opponents Saturday, Dec. 8. No. 20 Jamestown College of North Dakota visits for a 2 p.m. tip-off.