Successful Rebound - Mustangs roll past Mt. Marty

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Four players finishing in double figures coupled with stifling defensive pressure were a recipe for victory for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Division II No. 8-ranked Morningside College Saturday, Jan. 5.

Head coach Jamie Sale's squad, wishing to conclude the first half of the 2018-19 Great Plains Athletic Conference, got just what the doctor ordered in front of a happy home crowd at the Allee Gymnasium inside the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center. The Mustangs, moving to 14-4 overall and 7-4 in the conference, scored 28 of the first 35 points and didn't look back, romping past visiting Mount Marty 89-63.

At the forefront of the Maroon roll was a bench that tallied 50 points compared to the Lancer reserves compiling 23. Freshman guard Taylor Rodenburgh (FR/Hawarden, IA) (Hawarden, Iowa) sparked the attack with 11 points which featured three three-point baskets, while fellow freshman Sophia Peppers (FR/Exira, IA) (Exira, Iowa) knocking down two treys as part of a 10-point afternoon from a guard slot.

"We feel like we can go 10-to-12 deep in games," Sale pointed out. "There are many people we can count on, so it's good to be able to use that depth. Our second five and beyond have been able to give us a lift when we needed it."

Twenty turnovers that led to 23 points coupled with a large 46-26 advantage on the glass added to the game's storyline. Junior forward/center Sydney Hupp (JR/O'Neill, NE) (O'Neill, Neb.) used those positives towards a 14-point, five-rebound outing, and sophomore guard Sierra Mitchell (SO/Pleasant Hill, IA) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) tallied 11 points to go with a team-best three assists.

"Hey, we're 7-4 through the first half but you're going to have some losses (in a conference as tough as this)," Sale commented. "We're going to get some chances at home against some teams that we lost to early on, so we need to make the most of that. It's all about being better (the second time around)."

The Mustangs step out of league play to resume a three-game homestand Wednesday, Jan. 9. Dakota State University of the North Star Conference comes to town for a 7 p.m. game.

NOTES: A special moment occurred in the second half as junior guard Abby Drieling (JR/Emerson, NE) (Emerson, Neb.) appeared in a nine-minute span. It was her first opportunity since the 2017 national tournament. "It was great to be able to get Abby back playing again," Sale said. "We knew she would be an important part of the program when she arrived, and she played during her freshman season. An injury has sidelined her since, but now we're able to utilize her skills."