Quiet quarter leads to Mustang loss

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A cold second quarter for the Mustangs was what set Morningside and Briar Cliff apart when the final horn sounded in the Newman Flanagan Center following Great Plains Athletic Conference women's basketball action. The host Chargers came away with a 76-54 victory, while Morningside could only find some satisfaction in knowing that it had narrowed the gap from the game's largest margin of 32 points.

It was a game that, statistically, was far less one-sided than it seemed, with Morningside shooting higher field goal, three-point, and free-throw percentages, but Briar Cliff's additional six buckets over the course of 18 attempts, 26 points off of turnovers, and 14 second chance points added up in the loss. 

Morningside, who shot 39.6 percent in the contest, had 24 turnovers to the Chargers' 14, and recorded just seven points off turnovers and two second chance points. The Mustangs had 24 points in the paint and 29 bench points, besting BCU in both categories.

Morningside's scoring was led by Chloe Lofstrom, with 13 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Lily Vollertsen followed with 10 points, coming off the bench. Sophia Peppers had six points, while Lauren Hedlund and Olivia Larsen each had five. Jillian Shanks tied her career-high with four in the contest.

Peppers was the rebounding leader for the visiting team, with six boards in the contest. Vollertsen had four, while Lofstrom, Alexis Spier, Ella Wragge, and Hedlund all pulled down three.

The Mustangs look to bounce back on Saturday, traveling to Orange City, Iowa to play Northwestern in a 2 p.m. contest.