SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- A slow start and Morningside’s second-half run doomed the Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball team on Wednesday.
The Mustangs cracked DWU’s defense in the second half, handing the Tigers their third consecutive Great Plains Athletic Conference loss. No. 14 Morningside took down the Tigers, 78-53.
Morningside took control of the game from the opening tipoff. After each team traded buckets, the Mustangs went on a 14-2 run to open up a double-digit lead. They led 25-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Led by a strong defensive performance that held Morningside to six points in the second quarter, DWU (3-4, 1-4 GPAC) cut into the deficit. It trailed 31-21 at halftime, but Morningside’s (8-2, 6-1) 38.7 percent shooting didn’t last.
It had four players score in double-figures, including Sierra Mitchell’s game-high 21 points that included five made 3-pointers. The Mustangs outscored DWU 31-16 in the third quarter, building an insurmountable 62-37 lead.
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Chloe Lofstrom added 13 points and nine rebounds, while Sophia Peppers stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in the win. Grace Meyer scored 10 points and Taylor Rodenburgh chipped in eight points and seven boards for the Mustangs. Morningside shot 48.4 percent from the field and sank 9 of 21 from deep.
Meanwhile, DWU was held to 31.3 percent shooting and 5-for-20 from 3-point range. Korynn Clason led the Tigers with nine points off the bench. Tripp native Matti Reiner and Alexandria native Jada Campbell each had seven points, as Campbell and Kaylee Kirk both grabbed six rebounds.
DWU hosts Midland (Neb.) at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Corn Palace.
No. 14 Morningside 78, Dakota Wesleyan University 53
Dakota Wesleyan (3-4, 1-4): Kaylee Kirk 2-6 0-0 4, Haidyn Pitsch 2-9 2-3 6, Haylee Mork 1-4 0-0 3, Matti Reiner 3-12 0-0 7, Jada Campbell 3-11 1-2 7, Aspen Hansen 0-0 0-0 0, Rynn Osthus 2-7 0-0 5, Grace Imbery 0-2 0-0 0, Mya Wilson 0-1 0-2 0, Korynn Clason 4-4 0-0 0, Isabel Ohnen 1-3 0-0 2, Sydnaya Dunn 1-3 3-4 5, Britney Lovre 1-4 0-0 3, Lavin Bendt 0-0 0-0 0, Natalie Gottlob 0-0 0-0 0, Abbigail Magnuson 1-1 0-0 2. Team totals: 21-67 6-11 53.
Morningside (8-2, 6-1): Sierra Mitchell 7-13 2-2 21, McKenna Sims 2-8 0-0 4, Faith Meyer 2-5 0-0 6, Sophia Peppers 5-12 0-0 10, Chloe Lofstrom 5-7 3-5 13, Olivia Boudreau 1-1 0-0 2, Grace Meyer 3-3 3-4 10, Madison Clayton 1-1 0-0 2, Tayte Hansen 1-1 0-0 2, Abbe Morten 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Hedlund 0-0 1-2 1, Taylor Rodenburgh 3-8 0-0 7, Sadie Roth 0-3 0-0 0. Team totals: 30-62 9-13 78.
DWU 9 21 37 53
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M 25 31 62 78
3-pointers: DWU 5-20 (Lovre 1-3, Clason 1-1, Osthus 1-3, Reiner 1-3, Mork 1-2, Pitsch -5, Imbery 0-1, Wilson 0-1, Ihnen 0-1); M 9-21 (Mitchell 5-8, F. Meyer 2-4, G. Meyer 1-1, Rodenburgh 1-3, Peppers 0-4, Sims 0-1). Rebounds: DWU 38 (Kirk 6, Campbell 6); M 44 (Peppers 14, Lofstrom 9, Rodenburgh 8). Assists: DWU 15 (Kirk 3, Mork 3); M 17 (Peppers 6). Blocked shots: DWU 2; M 3. Steals: DWU 10 (Kirk 4); M 11 (F. Meyer 4). Turnovers: DWU 14; M 14. Fouls: DWU 11; M 8.
