MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE GA M E DAY - D E C E M B E R 9 , 20 2 1
MUSTANG BASKETBALL The men, also holding a 12-2 overall record, won eight of 10 the first time around in loop action. Senior center Trey Brown’s 148 rebounds are fourth-highest nationally, while the team is sixth in the fewest boards allowed per game (28.571) and 10th in rebounding margin (plus 12).
Morningside College’s second time through the Great Plains Athletic Conference schedule in 2020-21 begins this afternoon. The Mustangs begin back-to-back home doubleheaders with Hastings College’s visit to Allee Gymnasium and the RosenVerdoorn Sports Center. Briar Cliff University follows the Broncos into the Maroon’s home Wednesday, Jan. 13, for another edition of the River City Rivals’ series.
THE MATCH- UP Head coach Jamie Sale’s women’s program stopped a five-game skid in the series versus HC with an 89-54 victory on the road early last month. Hastings has won seven of the previous nine all-time, but five of the outcomes have been decided by 11 points-or-less. Head coach Jim Sykes’ men’s program has captured five of the last six against the Broncos, including an 86-67 decision at Lynn Farrell Arena in December. Mside holds a 20-7 advantage all-time, although the visitors picked up a win on the Maroon’s home floor in the two sides’ meeting here last February. The Mustangs’ women’s team, winners of six in a row and harboring a 12-2 overall and 10-1 league record, are among a combined nine individual and group top 10 marks on the current National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ numbers. Three of the team’s marks are among the best five in regards to three-point baskets (140 – No. 4), steals (180 – No. 4), and total points (1118). Individually, senior guard Sierra Mitchell’s 53 three-point baskets top the nation, and her 244 points are sixth-best.
Morningside’s week started with a sweep of Doane University on the road on Jan. 6. The men cruised 96-73 as Brown and fellow Gretna native Zach Imig each produced double-doubles. In his first start, freshman guard Aidan Vanderloo tallied 12 points, as did sophomore guard Trey Powers. Their team totals brought history to mind on the court inside the George and Sally Haddix Recreation Center. The 96 points aggregated were the most since the 2019-20 group accumulated 99 against College of the Ozarks in the first round of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament. A whopping 53-29 rebounding advantage, which included 18 offensive caroms, marked the most boards they’ve pulled down in a game since Feb. 5 of last season, which they totaled the same against Midland University. The Mustangs’ 18 offensive rebounds were the most since they pulled down 19 in the first round of the 2018 NAIA tourney against Trinity International. The women’s squad upended the Tigers 72-49 to start the