Orange City, Iowa — (RV) The Northwestern College women’s basketball team is set to host No.7 Morningside this weekend in the final game of the regular season for both teams. Tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 20 is set for 2pm. Both teams are recognized in the most recent NAIA Coaches’ poll and are on impressive win streaks. Northwestern has won 11 straight games and is tied with Concordia for second place in the GPAC standings with a 16-5 record, 16-8 overall. Morningside brings a 16-game win streak into Saturday’s contest and has already clinched the GPAC regular season title with a 20-1 record, 22-2 overall.
Saturday’s game is also senior and parent’s day where the Raiders two seniors, Sammy Blum and Erika Sage, and the parents of all the players on this year’s roster will be recognized prior to the game.
Earlier This Season, Northwestern was outscored 46-24 during the final two quarters in losing to Morningside 75-62 in the first match-up between the teams played on Dec. 31 in Sioux City.
Up 38-29 at halftime, a three-pointer by Devyn Kemble extended the Northwestern lead to 12 (41-29) at the beginning of the third quarter. Morningside rallied behind the perimeter shooting of Sierra Mitchell and Sophia Peppers, who combined to make seven three-pointers during the final 20 minutes. The Mustangs led 56-50 by the end of the third quarter and outscored Northwestern 19-12 in the final period.
Molly Schany led Northwestern with 21 points, making 10-of-12 field goal attempts, and nine rebounds. Sammy Blum contributed 12 points.
Peppers (26pts) and Mitchell (23pts) led the Mustangs, who shot 46% from beyond the arc.
Morningside has already clinched the GPAC regular season title, its 10th under head coach Jamie Sale. They are currently 20-1 in the GPAC, owning a four-game lead over both Northwestern and Concordia, with its only GPAC loss to Briar Cliff. They are 22-2 overall, also losing to Benedictine, and have won 16 straight.
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.
Northwestern has won 11 straight games, its longest win streak since the 2018-19 season (12 consecutive). They have received votes in the last two coaches polls and are tied with Concordia for second in the GPAC standings with a 16-5 record.
This is the final regular season game for the two seniors, Sammy Blum and Erika Sage.
