Mustangs extend regular-season league win streak in crosstown thriller

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Sierra Mitchell understands big game stages.

It was no different for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 10-ranked Mustangs' senior guard at Briar Cliff University's Newman Flanagan Center Wednesday, Dec. 8. The Pleasant Hill, Iowa, native, channeling her inner Michael Jordan from the 1997 National Basketball Association finals, may have brought back memories of the legendary Chicago Bulls' star going for 38 points on a night when he felt less than 100 percent.

Mitchell, battling illness during the first edition of the 2021-22 River City Rivalry, tossed in a game-high 22 points for her second 20-point-plus effort during the last three games to guide head coach Jamie Sale's squad to their eighth straight win of the season and 23^rd successive Great Plains Athletic Conference regular-season triumph during a 71-68 final. She also made some program history, passing former standout Megan Cloud for second place on the all-time scoring list by sending her career points total to 2,225 while becoming only the second player in league history to hit 450-or-more three-point baskets (454). 

"I didn't want to let my teammates down tonight," Mitchell said. "I made sure to get as much rest and hydration as I could before the game to have some energy." 

"I've got to give Briar Cliff a lot of credit," she added. "They didn't give us good looks in the first half. However, we finally managed to have some opportunities in the second half and took advantage of them. Once the first few shots fell, I felt like I got into a rhythm."

Mitchell wasn't the only Mustang aiding in a comeback from an eight-point deficit with less than eight minutes to play. Senior guard/forward Taylor Rodenburgh (Hawarden, Iowa) tallied 14 points, seven rebounds, and two steals despite fouling out. At the same time, sophomore center Chloe Lofstrom (Armstrong, Iowa) continued to be a challenging opposition task in the paint with 14 points, seven boards, a blocked shot, two steals, and an assist. Those ingredients helped spark a 17-6 run down the stretch that led to a 71-68 victory.

"We just had to stick with it down the stretch," Sale said. "Our defense finally started to click in the second half, and some shots fell at that point, too. We knew if we want to win the conference championship, we had to get games like this. Briar Cliff is a good program and always a tough place to play. This was a big victory, but we have work to do moving forward." 

Morningside (7-2 overall, 6-0 GPAC) wrangles with another top 20 foe Saturday, Dec. 11. They travel to Northwestern College's Bultman Center for a 2 p.m. tip-off against the No. 12-ranked Red Raiders.