Second-half surge propels Mside in NAIA opener

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A red-hot 60 percent field goal shooting outing proved the formula for Morningside University Friday, March 11. 

The Mustangs seeded second on the Naismith quadrant of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Championships, put four players in double figures in the friendly confines of Allee Gymnasium of the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center. The senior forward combination of Sophia Peppers (Exira, Iowa) and Taylor Rosenburgh (Hawarden, Iowa) helped pave the way. They each tallied 23 points as part of glowing statistical lines. Peppers added seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, and Rosenburgh hit the boards for seven caroms and picked off two steals. Senior guard Sierra Mitchell (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) (15 points) and sophomore post player Chloe Lofstrom (Armstrong, Iowa) (11 points) were in double-digit territory. 

Mside's impressive numbers were needed throughout. A gritty Iowa Wesleyan University squad kept their hosts within the 10-or-less range deficit-wise over most of the 40 minutes, including leading 8-2 early on due to 16 three-point buckets. A 16-2 stretch early in the final frame provided the knockout blow en route to a 94-71 final.

Head coach Jamie Sale's squad, improving to 28-5, advanced to the Round of 32 Saturday, March 12. Game time against No. 10-seeded University of Saint Francis of Illinois is 3 p.m. The Saints held off a furious late-game rally from seventh-seeded Texas Wesleyan University for an 82-75 decision in Friday's opener. 

NOTES: Morningside dished out 29 assists, the most in a game since 2019 … Rodenburgh's memorable night didn't end with her 23 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. She joined the program's 1000-point club in the first quarter … The Mustangs captured a first-round national tournament contest for the 16^th time in the last 18 attempts.