SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A recent run by junior guard Zac Imig shows no signs of slowing down.
Morningside College head coach Jim Sykes, his staff and his Mustangs teammates couldnt be happier. The Gretna, Neb., native, averaging 14 points, two and a half steals, just under four assists and better than four and a half rebounds per appearance over his last four opportunities, posted 16 points, grabbed three boards, dished out two assists and picked off a steal to help lead the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II top-ranked team to a 68-41 Great Plains Athletic Conference win over Doane University Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The road to 19-0 overall and 11-0 in the league didnt end with Imig, though. Senior center Tyler Borchers (LeMars, Iowa) added 12 points and five rebounds and junior Trey Brown (Gretna, Neb.), another Maroon post standout, turned in 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal off the bench.
Msides defense played a big role, too. They shutout the visiting Tigers until the 12:00 mark of the opening stanza to gain a 12-0 lead and built the margin to 32-9 with less than three minutes remaining in the frame. Doane was limited to an icy 15 of 56 effort from the field overall (26.8 percent) and converted on only three of 17 three-point attempts (17.6 percent).
Morningside begins two in a row on the road Saturday, Jan. 18. They tip-off at 6 p.m. at Dordt Universitys DeWitt Gymnasium in Sioux Center.
SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Morningside College used an early 25-9 run and didnt look back in Great Plains Athletic Conference action Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II No. 7-ranked team received a strong scoring presence from the trio of senior forward/center Sydney Hupp (SR/ONeill, NE) (ONeill, Neb.), sophomore forward Sophia Peppers (SO/Exira, IA) (Exira, Iowa) and junior guard Sierra Mitchell (JR/Pleasant Hill, IA) (Pleasant Hill, Iowa). Peppers, highlighting her 12th double-figure scoring finish in her last appearances, posted her second 20-point-plus effort of the year with 24 which included four three-pointers. Hupp had a strong evening with 15 points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocked shots while nailing three treys, and Mitchell, running an impressive streak of games in which shes made multiple three-pointers to 17 in a row, finished with 13. Freshman guard Olivia Larsen (FR/Fonda, Iowa) (Newell, Iowa) topped the bench performance with eight points, five steals, five assists, and two rebounds.
The Mustangs, opening the second half of the 2019-20 league slate on the right foot, had to repel a pesky Doane University crew over a good share of the first half. DU responded to their hosts hot start with 10 straight points to cut the margin to six and stayed within 10 or less until a 17-5 stretch over the final 5:28 of the opening half put the contest out of question.
Morningsides 87-53 victory, running their series win streak versus the Tigers to six, also made it a memorable night for head coach Jamie Sale. It was his 500th victory at the school and 579th win all-time.
The Maroon (16-4 overall, 10-2 GPAC) take to the road for a tough test at fellow top 10 NAIA D2 foe Dordt University Saturday, Jan. 18. Game time is 4 p.m. at DUs DeWitt Gymnasium.
