The Northwestern College women’s basketball team resumes its season when they head to Sioux City Thursday night for a GPAC match-up against #14 Morningside. Tip-off in Sioux City is set for 6pm. Northwestern has won five straight games and is climbed up to fourth in the GPAC standings with a 5-3 record, 6-3 overall. Morningside is in first place in the GPAC with a 7-1 mark, 9-2 overall.
Northwestern is 33-49 all-time in the rivalry against the Mustangs, dating back to the 1976-77 season. The Raiders have dropped three straight and is 4-6 in the last 10 games against Morningside.
The Mustangs have won three straight and eight of their last nine games to move into first place in the current GPAC standings with a 7-1 record. They are the highest ranked GPAC team in the latest NAIA Coaches’ poll released prior to Christmas and own a 9-2 overall record. Last time out, they cruised to an 89-54 win over Hastings on Dec. 20. Morningside’s only two losses are to Benedictine (66-64) and Briar Cliff (80-78).
Longtime coach Jamie Sale is in his 20th season as the head of the Morningside women’s basketball program, guiding Mustang teams to 17 straight NAIA D-II National Tournaments. He owns a 77% win percentage and has led Morningside to a 507-153 overall record and four national championships during his tenure. Last year, Morningside finished with a 23-10 overall record and returns three starters and nine players from the 2019-20 squad.
The Raiders have won five straight games heading into Thursday night’s game against #14 Morningside. Last time out, Northwestern defeated Dordt 76-69 in Sioux Center on Dec.16 to improve to 5-3 in the GPAC, 5-6 overall.
