GPAC top 20 battle goes to wire

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Fans in attendance at a clash between a pair of top 20-ranked National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Division II conference foes received their money's worth and more Saturday, Nov. 23.

No. 16-ranked Hastings College, entering unbeaten overall and in conference action, left Allee Gymnasium and the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center in similar standing but not after a white-knuckle 40-minute ride. Head coach Jamie Sale's No. 19-ranked Mustangs, looking to move to 4-0 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play, turned up its defensive pressure in the final quarter and nearly overcame what had been a 17-point third-period deficit.

After senior forward/center Sydney Hupp (SR/O'Neill, NE) (O'Neill, Neb.) brought the crowd to fever pitch on a successful three-point play conversion to make the count 64-63 with 2:21 left, Hastings answered back with a three-point basket, a stop and a basket in the paint to extend the margin back to six. Hupp drained a late trey to keep the Maroon within four with 27 seconds left but the visitors went seven-for-seven at the free-throw line to ice the 76-69 decision.

Hupp's afternoon was a masterful one. She scored 26 points on red-hot 11 of 14 field goal shooting to go with 13 rebounds for a fourth double-double while adding in a blocked shot, two steals, and an assist. Sophomore guard Taylor Rodenburgh (SO/Hawarden, IA) (Hawarden, Iowa) had another big bench effort with 12 points, seven rebounds, two steals, two assists, and a blocked shot. Junior guard Sierra Mitchell (JR/Pleasant Hill, IA) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) and sophomore forward Sophia Peppers (SO/Exira, IA) (Exira, Iowa) tallied 10 points each, while Peppers dished out a team-high six assists and picked up a squad-leading three steals.

Morningside (6-3 overall, 3-1 GPAC) faces another ranked league opponent Tuesday, Nov. 26, when top-ranked defending national champion Concordia University visits Allee Gymnasium for a 6 p.m. tip-off.