Mustangs topple North Star foe

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A 14-0 spark to begin the final frame proved pivotal for Morningside College Wednesday, Jan. 9.

The Mustangs, seeking a 15^th victory of the 2018-19 season, received a battle from a visiting Dakota State University side out of the North Star Conference. The Lady T's proved tough from the start, keeping the deficit within arm's length over the entire first 10 minutes and into the beginning of the second quarter. Head coach Jamie Sale's crew opened the margin up to 18 at the break (48-30) but the visitors responded with a 23-15 run in the third period to trail just 63-53.

From that point, the trio of junior forward/center Sydney Hupp (JR/O'Neill, NE) (O'Neill, Neb.), junior guard Skyler Snider (JR/Kearney, NE) (Kearney, Neb.) and sophomore guard Sierra Mitchell (SO/Pleasant Hill, IA) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) combined for the roll that lasted just about three minutes into the fourth stanza. The Maroon continued to increase the margin in route to an 89-65 decision.

Hupp, landing just a point shy of 900 for her career, compiled her sixth straight double-digit effort with 20 to go with five rebounds and two assists. She was joined in double figures by Mitchell (12 points) among the starters with sophomore guard Faith Meyer (SO/Pomeroy, IA ) (Pomeroy, Iowa) finishing with 17 that was good for a personal single-game career high to lead another impressive bench performance. Snider brought the home crowd to its feet with eight points, five rebounds and three blocked shots in 13 minutes of play.

Mside, ranked No. 9 on the current National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Division II poll, moved to 15-4 with their eighth triumph in the last nine outings. They continue Great Plains Athletic Conference competition Saturday, Jan. 12, with a critical second-half opener against No. 12 Dordt. Game time is 2 p.m. at Allee Gymnasium.