Moving On - Mustangs edge past Saint Francis, set up clash with familiar foe

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Survive and advance was the clear message Morningside College head coach Jamie Sale sent to his No. 7-ranked and number-five seeded National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Championships squad Friday, March 19.

"It was a grinding out battle," he reflected after the Mustangs battled past No. 12 seeded University of Saint Francis of Illinois 53-42 at the Tyson Events Center. "We knew this would be a defensive game from the beginning, as they only allow 49 points per game. At the end of the night, it's a win and chance to play in the national quarterfinals --- it doesn't matter how you get there. It just matters that you can move on this time of year."

Having to look past a tepid night from the field overall (19 of 50 – 38 percent) and beyond the arc (five of 23), the Maroon managed to build a 9-0 run over a good share of the first period to turn back an early 4-0 deficit and didn't look back. USF crept back to within one in the first half at two stages but couldn't get the advantage back. Morningside's defense dug its heels in, too, especially to start the third quarter as the Fighting Saints didn't register on the scoreboard until the 5:58 mark, which helped send the partisan Mustangs crowd home happy.

Junior forward Sophia Peppers (JR/Exira, Iowa) (Exira, Iowa) guided two Mside players in double digits. She finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Senior guard Sierra Mitchell (SR/Pleasant Hill, Iowa) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) had a memorable evening, too, tallying 11 points to help her become the fourth player in program history to hit the 2000-mark. Junior forward Taylor Rodenburgh (JR/Hawarden, Iowa) (Hawarden, Iowa) wasn't far off double-digit territory, ending with eight points, two rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Freshman post player Chloe Lofstrom (FR/Armstrong, Iowa) (Armstrong, Iowa) was just off double-double pace with six points and eight rebounds.

Morningside (28-2) takes its 22-win streak into the program's first Elite Eight appearance since 2016 Saturday, March 20. They'll face a familiar foe in 13^th-seeded and fellow Great Plains Athletic Conference member Concordia University for the fourth time this year.

"I'm anticipating another close game," Sale admitted. "It'll be two great teams that know each other so well and could be another low-scoring finish because of that. Concordia is playing very well right now, so we'll need to be on point with our game plan."

Tip-off is 8 p.m. at the TSC. The winner advances to a national semifinal Monday, March 22, against either top-seeded Thomas More University of Kentucky or Dakota State University of South Dakota.