Mustangs forge on in GPAC tournament, overcome Jamestown in quarterfinals

SIOUX CITY, IA – Five players finishing in double-figure scoring helped launch National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 7-ranked Morningside College to an 18th straight victory Wednesday, February 24.

Head coach Jamie Sale's Mustangs, moving to 24-2, received all they could handle and more as the top seed for the 2021 Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships. The eighth-seeded Jimmies of the University of Jamestown scored the first eight points and stayed as close as five with over three-and-a-half minutes to go before a six-of-six effort at the free-throw line from the home team sealed an 84-75 decision.

Senior guard Sierra Mitchell (SR/Pleasant Hill, Iowa) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) and freshman post player Chloe Lofstrom (FR/Armstrong, Iowa) (Armstrong, Iowa) proved an impactful inside-out punch for the Mustangs. Mitchell turned in a 27-point outing, hitting seven three-pointers in the process, to go along with five rebounds, three steals, and three assists. Lofstrom had a considerable evening, too, inside Allee Gymnasium of the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center. She went for 17 points, a personal single-game high, added to six rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Sophomore guard McKenna Sims (SO/South Sioux City, Neb.) (South Sioux City, Neb.) (12 points) and junior forwards Sophia Peppers (JR/Exira, Iowa) (Exira, Iowa) and Taylor Rodenburgh (JR/Hawarden, Iowa) (Hawarden, Iowa) (11 points apiece) chipped in their names to the double-digit parade.

Morningside welcomes crosstown league rival Briar Cliff University to its home floor in semifinal round action Saturday, February 27. Game time is 3 p.m.