SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Three often uttered words rang true Thursday, March 17.
Survive and advance.
Morningside University, battling a lockdown defensive squad from Carroll College of Montana, found itself trailing 50-40 late in the third quarter. From that point, veteran members of the 2021-22 Mustangs stepped to the forefront.
Led by senior guard Sierra Mitchell (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) and senior forward Taylor Rodenburgh (Hawarden, Iowa), Mside chipped away in the final 4:49 of the frame and went on a game-changing run. Scoring 15 of the following 19 points on the Tyson Events Center scoreboard, head coach Jamie Sale’s team led 55-54. The Mustangs, moving to 30-5, trailed only twice in the fourth period and used another roll of an 8-2 variety to take the lead for good over the last five minutes towards a hard-earned 71-67 win.
The newest minted member of the program’s 1000-point club topped Morningside’s scoring column with 23 to go with four rebounds. Rodenburgh, adding to her super-sub mystique, was a perfect two-for-two from outside the arc and converted on traditional three-point plays on back-to-back possessions in the second half to help stem the tide.
Mitchell tallied 19 points, highlighted by a clutch five-of-six effort at the charity stripe, and dished out six assists. Senior forward Sophia Peppers (Exira, Iowa) added her name to the headliners. She finished only a point and two rebounds from a double-double, going for nine points and eight boards. She also picked up a steal and blocked a Carroll shot attempt.
Naismith section second-seeded Morningside, advancing to the national tournament quarterfinals for a second successive season and eighth time overall, faces top-seeded Southeastern University of Florida in the finale of their section of the national tournament bracket Saturday, March 19. Game time is 1 p.m.
NOTE: Sale’s program reached the 30-win mark for the eighth time in school history.
