Morningside rides hot shooting to conclude pre-Christmas home slate on strong note

by Daniel VerSteeg, Morningside College sports information intern

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 14-ranked Morningside College team never relinquished the lead Wednesday, December 16, en route to a 78-53 victory of Dakota Wesleyan.

The victory improved the top of the table Great Plains Athletic Conference Mustangs' record to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the league.

The hosts started off the contest by shooting 58.8% in the first quarter to lead 25-9 after 10 minutes of basketball. They continued that shooting later on in the third quarter when the Mustangs shot 11-18 from the field to outscore DWU 31-16 in that frame.

Senior guard Sierra Mitchell (SR/Pleasant Hill, Iowa) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) led the way offensively for the Mustangs with 21 points, good for her seventh successive double-figure outing and fourth straight 20-points-or-more effort, on seven-of-13 shooting from the field overall and five for eight from three-point range. While Mitchell had a big night offensively, it was junior forward Sophia Peppers (JR/Exira, Iowa) (Exira, Iowa) that caught the eye of head coach Jamie Sale after the game. Peppers finished the game with the first double-double of the season for the Maroon. She finished with 10 points, a career-high 14 rebounds, and also added six assists, two blocks, and two steals, all part of her ninth successive double-digit outing.

"Sophia (Peppers) has turned into one of the better players in the conference," said Sale. "She can score, she's an excellent passer, she can rebound, she gives us a lot of mismatches, and she has become more aggressive, more confident, and has ended up being a great player."

Mside finished the contest shooting 48.4% from the field and nine-of-21 from three-point range. Senior guard Grace Meyer (SR/Pomeroy, Iowa) (Pomeroy, Iowa) and freshman post player Chloe Lofstrom (FR/Armstrong, Iowa) (Armstrong, Iowa) also tallied double-digit scoring nights. Meyer tallied with 10 points off the bench, and Lofstrom added 13 and came one rebound shy of a double-double.

"She (Lofstrom) is coachable," said Sale. "She has been a boost to us."

Morningside's defense held DWU to its fewest points scored of the season and the fewest points scored against the Mustangs since January 13, 2016, when they held the Tigers to just 48.

Sale's squad takes to the road Sunday, December 20, for their final pre-Christmas contest. Game time is 2 p.m. at Hastings College's Lynn Farrell Arena.