Mside concludes GPAC first half on high note

HASTINGS, NEB. – When it was needed most, Morningside University had a pair of veterans step up Wednesday, Jan. 12.

The duo of senior forward Sophia Peppers (Exira, Iowa) and junior guard McKenna Sims (South Sioux City, Neb.) combined to form a formidable stat line against a hard-charging Hastings College unit. The pair wound up 18-of-23 from the field, posted 53 of the visitors' 82 points, grabbed ten rebounds, dished out five assists, and picked up two steals. Even more impressive was that they produced an eight-of-eight effort from outside the arc.

Individually, their numbers were just as impressive. Sims' personal single-game career-high 27 points to go with nine boards and a perfect seven-of-seven free throw line and four-for-four three-point performance topped the charts. Peppers, reaching 20-points-or-more for the third time in her last seven games played, finished with 26 points, dished out three assists to mark the sixth straight contest in which she's accumulated two-or-more, and was also perfect at the free-throw line (two-for-two) and from long range (four-for-four).

Even with those numbers in play, along with sophomore post player Chloe Lofstrom (Armstrong, Iowa) narrowly missing a double-double with 10 points and seven rebounds, Sale's team was pushed to the limit on the Lynn Farrell Arena floor. The host Broncos answered a 64-48 deficit with less than two minutes to go in the third period with a 26-14 stretch that brought to within 78-74 with 39 seconds remaining. Sims managed to stem the tide for good with four straight free throws to close out the 82-77 decision.

Morningside, ranked No. 8 on the latest National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' poll and holding a two-game lead on the loop standings, begins the second half of conference action Saturday, Jan. 15. Tip-off against Doane University is 2 p.m. at Allee Gymnasium of the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center.