Northwestern turns away Mustangs’ comeback

ORANGE CITY, IOWA – For the second time in as many games, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' top-10 ranked Morningside University nearly overcame a double-digit road deficit Saturday, Dec. 11.

Seeking to add another victory to a lengthy Great Plains Athletic Conference regular-season streak, the Mustangs battled back from a 10-point deficit at Northwestern College's Bultman Center. Head coach Jamie Sale's squad overtook the host Red Raiders and led by five with less than seven minutes left.

From that point, the visitors hit a dry spell from the field, going three for 11 down the stretch. NWC ranked No. 12 on the latest national poll, responded with a 13-7 run to eke out a 78-77 decision. Despite the late-game offensive struggles, Mside (8-3, 6-1 GPAC) managed to stay within a possession until senior guard Devyn Kimble drilled a trey from the corner to give the hosts a four-point advantage they wouldn't surrender with seven seconds left. 

Senior forward Sophia Peppers (Exira, Iowa) guided the Mustangs. She drained a personal single-game career-best seven three-point buckets behind a career personal best 12 attempts en route to 27 points, marking her second 20-point-plus outing in the past three contests. Fellow senior forward Taylor Rodenburgh (Hawarden, Iowa) compiled a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard McKenna Sims (South Sioux City, Neb.) rounded out the double-digit marks with 11 points to go with four assists.

Morningside travels to Puerto Rico for a pair of non-conference clashes with the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamon Friday and Saturday, Dec. 17 and 18. Tip-off times are noon each day.

NOTES: Peppers' strong Saturday resume moved her to No. 23 on the all-time scoring list (1,224 points) … Rodenburgh closed within 23 points of 900 with a second double-double in the last four outings.