Trekkin’ to Tyson – Mustangs extend national tournament stay

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A battle to go four more miles.

Naismith bracket second-seeded Morningside University and 10^th-seeded University of Saint Francis of Illinois had the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national tournament Round of 16 on their pre-game calendars. At afternoon's end inside Allee Gymnasium of the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center, the 2022 GPAC regular-season champions and postseason tournament runners-up booked their spot across town behind a solid defensive effort.

USF held early advantages of 9-5 and 15-14, but with that defensive element in place, Morningside took off on a 12-4 run midway through the second period and didn't look back. Head coach Jamie Sale's Mustangs used stifling pressure to contribute to 21 Fighting Saints turnovers. Sale's crew got the margin out to as much as 17 in the second half and managed to turn back a few Fighting Saints rallies to gain an 85-72 decision. 

Mside's offense was guided by senior guard Sierra Mitchell (Pleasant Hill, Iowa). Stepping on the home floor for the final time in a Mustangs uniform, she left the host fans with memories galore. Mitchell scored 35 points, primarily due to seven made three-pointers, and grabbed four rebounds. The law firm of Lofstrom, Peppers and Rodenburgh pitched in their scoreboard influences, too. Senior forward Sophia Peppers (Exira, Iowa) scored 17 points while grabbing six rebounds, dishing out five assists, and blocking a shot. Fellow senior forward Taylor Rodenburgh (Hawarden, Iowa), less than 24 hours removed from joining the program's 1,000-point club, hit four treys as part of a 14-point afternoon. Sophomore post player Chloe Lofstrom (Armstrong, Iowa) rounded out the double-figure scoring with 10 points to add to six rebounds. 

The Mustangs, improving to 29-5, moved into a third-round national tourney match-up with Carroll College of Montana. Game time is 3 p.m. Thursday, March 17.