Peppers gets spicy in double overtime win

HASTINGS, NEB. – It took two overtime periods, but the Mustangs came away with a crucial conference win at Hastings College's Lynn Farrell Arena this evening, besting the Broncos 87-79 as the second OT ended. 

Morningside took a five-point lead into the locker room at halftime, but the home team was able to erase that in the third and fourth quarters of play. Both teams' offense fell quiet during the first five-minute overtime period, scoring a combined 16 points in the period. 

The Mustangs stepped up their offense again in what was eventually the final frame, posting the first stats of the second overtime period as Olivia Larsen netted a layup after Morningside pulled down a pair of offensive rebounds. 

Larsen would also put up the next points for the Mustangs, sneaking in another layup. More than a scoreless minute later, Larsen would find Sophia Peppers for a three-pointer, giving the visitors a 75-68 advantage. 

Hastings responded with its own three, with 2:10 to play, which Alexis Spier answered 20 seconds later. A pair of Bronco free throws were answered by Ella Wragge with 1:21 to go. 

The Broncos put up a pair of layups, forcing a turnover in between, sending Peppers to the free throw line with less than 30 seconds on the clock. She would go on to sink both, giving Morningside an 83-77 lead with 24 seconds to go. 

Seven seconds later Peppers pulled down a rebound, getting fouled to send her to the line with 12 seconds left where she would net both again. 

Hastings would make another layup, and send Peppers to the line again. The Exira, Iowa native repeated her previous two trips, walking away with a pair of makes, and pulling down a rebound as the buzzer sounded with Morningside leading 87-79.

It comes as no surprise that Peppers led Morningside in scoring, netting 31 points in the extended contest after catching fire in the third quarter. Spier followed with 19, still checking in ahead of Hastings' leading scorer, and McKenna Sims netted 13. 

Peppers also led all players in rebounding, with 17 total boards and 13 on defense. Larsen followed with eight, and Sims had six. 

Spier had a game-high five assists, followed by Peppers, Larsen, and Sims, with three each. 

Morningside takes the court again on Saturday as it starts the second half of its schedule, welcoming Doane to Allee Gym for a 2 p.m. contest.