Mustang women unable to hold early lead in top-10 shootout

MITCHELL, S.D. – Keeping Dakota Wesleyan in check for the first quarter of play was not enough to help Morningside edge past the defending national champions Wednesday, Jan. 2. The Mustangs fell to the No. 1 team in the nation, 91-67.

Morningside drew first blood, playing in the World's Only Corn Palace, and jockeyed back and forth with DWU for the lead until the final minute of the first quarter. The Tigers wouldn't look back from there, extending the lead to as many as 14 before halftime on the way to their largest lead, by 24 points, at the end of the game.

Sierra Mitchell (SO/Pleasant Hill, IA) led all scorers with 20 points, sharing the title with Rylie Osthus and Kynedi Cheeseman of Dakota Wesleyan. Mitchell was followed by Kailey Burke (SO/Hinton, IA) with a career-high 14 points and Sydney Hupp (JR/O'Neill, NE) with 12 for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs shot 34.4% from the field, compared to a blistering 56.7% for DWU. Hupp led Morningside in rebounds, with five on the offensive side of the ball and four on defense for her total of nine of the team's 29.

The Mustangs take to the hardwood again on Saturday, January 5, squaring off with the Lancers from Mount Marty College in a 2:00 p.m. contest in Allee Gym.