Home finale outcome eludes Morningside

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Sophomore guard Sierra Mitchell (SO/Pleasant Hill, IA) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) and junior forward/center Sydney Hupp (JR/O'Neill, NE) (O'Neill, Neb.) each finished in double figures, leading National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Division II No. 14-ranked Morningside College Saturday, Feb. 9.

Mitchell hit three three-pointers in route to an 11-point afternoon inside Allee Gymnasium and the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center. Hupp, a game removed from joining the Mustangs' 1,000-point club, added 13. Their combination wasn't enough to offset a determined Briar Cliff University squad, as the visitors scored 14 of the first 21 points and didn't look back. The Chargers built as large as a 21-point advantage before turning in a 78-61 decision.

Other positive numbers for the Maroon came from junior guard Jordyn Moser (JR/Harlan, IA) (Harlan, Iowa) with eight points, three assists and two steals; freshman forward Haleigh Melstad (FR/Vermillion, SD) (Vermillion, S.D.) with seven points behind two three-pointers; and sophomore forward Kailey Burke (SO/Hinton, IA) (Hinton, Iowa) with seven points, two rebounds and a blocked shot. Melstad and Burke were the leading contributors from the Maroon bench.

Morningside (18-10 overall, 10-10 GPAC) take to the road to conclude the regular season. Their two-game stretch starts at Doane College in Crete, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 13, with a 6 p.m. start.