Slow start sidelines Mustangs

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A difficult three-of-16 shooting performance in the opening frame was a harbinger of things to come for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II No. 7-ranked Morningside College Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Try as they might, the Mustangs, looking to continue the momentum towards a strong regular-season-ending stretch run, never could find their groove during a 78-73 loss at the hands of Midland University. The Warriors scored the first nine points and managed to overcome a 42-34 run for the home-standing Mustangs over the second and third quarters with a nine-of-12 effort at the charity stripe in the last minute.

Sophomore forward Sophia Peppers (SO/Exira, IA) (Exira, Iowa) led the way for head coach Jamie Sale's squad with 23 points to go with four rebounds, four assists, a blocked shot, and a steal. Fellow sophomore forward Taylor Rodenburgh (SO/Hawarden, IA) (Hawarden, Iowa) turned in 14 points, nine rebounds and a steal and assist off the bench, and junior guard Sierra Mitchell (JR/Pleasant Hill, IA) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 points.

Mside (19-7 overall, 13-5 Great Plains Athletic Conference) kept its hold on the league's third-place slot due to Northwestern College upending Dordt University in Orange City. The Mustangs are back in action at the World's Only and Famous Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D., against Dakota Wesleyan University Saturday, Feb. 8. Game time is 4 p.m.

NOTES: Mitchell added a 23^rd straight outing with multiple made three-pointers, hitting four during the evening … Rodenburgh reeled off her fifth-straight double-figure scoring game.