Dandy Dozen - Mside advances to GPAC tournament championship
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Briar Cliff (17-10) | 22 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 59 |
|
Morningside (25-2) | 23 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 72 |
SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A stingy defensive effort that limited fourth-seeded Briar Cliff University to 16-points-or-less in three quarters lifted National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 7-ranked Morningside College to its 19th straight victory Saturday, February 27.
The Mustangs, improving to 25-2, needed every bit of their relentless pressure to overcome a fast start by the crosstown rival Chargers. After head coach Jamie Sale's squad got the vocal home crowd behind them by scoring 17 of the first 24 points, BCU dug down and answered with a 25-12 stretch to hold a 32-29 advantage in the closing moments of the first half. However, the Maroon, as they've had a penchant for doing throughout the season, came right back by scoring the final eight points of the half.
That roll continued in the third period to the tune of 17-2 and turned out to be the game decider. The visitors didn't get closer than eight the rest of the way, as the Maroon punched a ticket to the program's 12th GPAC title tilt, the first since 2015-16, with a 72-59 victory that ensured Morningside would claim the River City Rivals season series.
A glance at the final numbers showed a balanced Mside attack. Senior guard Sierra Mitchell (SR/Pleasant Hill, Iowa) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa), climbing to fourth on the program's all-time scoring list, tallied 20 points to go with five assists and two steals. It was her 12th 20-or-more effort of the year. Junior forward Sophia Peppers (JR/Exira, Iowa) (Exira, Iowa) also reached a personal milestone, chartering a double-double of 16 points and ten rebounds which featured a team-high six assists. Peppers' point total lifted her onto the program's 1000-point club list, as she became the 31st member. Senior guard Faith Meyer (SR/Pomeroy, Iowa) (Pomeroy, Iowa) added her name to the double-figure registry, producing 15 points, including seven of the team's first 10.
Morningside faces off against second-seeded Concordia University Tuesday, March 2, to spotlight GPAC Championship Tuesday, presented by Cypress Risk Management.