SIOUX CITY, Iowa (UJ)— The ninth-ranked Morningside College women’s basketball team lived up to the billing Wednesday night, defeating the University of Jamestown 99-53 in GPAC action.
The Mustangs (18-2 overall, 16-1 GPAC) scored on their first six possessions, starting off with back-to-back three-pointers by Sierra Mitchell and Sophia Peppers, to take a 14-0 lead.
Morningside led 29-13 after the first quarter and opened up a 28-point lead just past the midway point of the second. Jamestown went into halftime behind by 25 after making just 11 of 34 field goal attempts, including 1-of-16 three-point shots. Morningside finished 20-of-38 in the opening half, and were an even 50 percent (9-of-18) beyond the arc. Peppers had 20 points and nine rebounds in the first half.
An 18-8 run to start the second half gave the Mustangs a 35-point lead, and Morningside took a 29-point edge into the fourth. The Mustangs would lead by as many as 43 before back-to-back three-pointers made it a 46-point game.
Kia Tower (SO/Bigfork, MN) paced UJ with 17 points, nine of them coming in the second half. Hannah DeMars (SO/Grand Rapids, MN) ended with eight and the duo of Noelle Josephson (JR/Ramsey, MN) and Audrey Rodakowski (FR/Dickinson, ND) scored six each. Correy Hickman (SR/Morris, MN) tied a career high with nine rebounds.
Peppers led the Mustangs with a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds. Mitchell was the only other Morningside player in double figures with 23.
The Jimmies, now 12-7 overall and 9-7 in the conference, host Doane (Neb.) Sunday at 11 a.m.
Men…
SIOUX CITY, Iowa– (UJ) The University of Jamestown men’s basketball team defeated its second Top-11 ranked squad in the last week, taking a 76-67 decision over No. 9 Morningside College Wednesday night.
Jamestown (15-5, 11-4 GPAC) extended its winning streak, which began last Wednesday with a 74-66 defeat over then No. 11 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), to three games. UJ also won the season series against the conference-leading Mustangs.
Morningside (17-3 overall, 13-3 GPAC) had its seven-game winning streak come to a close, losing for just the second time since December 16.
Allante’ Pickens (SR/Chicago, IL) had a season-high 21 points off the bench, making five of nine three-point attempts, to lead the Jimmies. Cole Woodford (FR/Redwood Falls, MN) added 13 and four assists, while Marc Kjos (SO/Lake City, MN) was also in double figures with 12.
Mason Walters (SO/Jamestown, ND) pulled down 21 rebounds, the second 20+ rebound game for the sophomore. Jack Talley (SR/Sioux Falls, SD) also passed the 1,000 career point mark, becoming the 31st UJ player to do so.
The Mustangs led 14-7 at the 11:55 mark of the first half, but the Jimmies outscored Morningside 25-11 over the rest of the half to lead 32-25 at the break. Neither team shot particularly well in the opening 20 minutes, with UJ making 12-of-31 shots, 7-of-20 from three-point range, and the Mustangs making 12-of-39 attempts and missing all five tries beyond the arc.
Morningside came out hot in the second half, opening with a 14-6 run to take a one-point lead at the 14:17 mark. Six ties and five lead changes later, UJ took the lead for good on a Woodford three that broke a 52-all tie with 6:07 to play.
Jamestown would lead by as many six points only to see the Mustangs rally to cut the lead to one with 2:06 left. Kjos knocked down a three on the Jimmies’ next possession, starting a 10-2 run to finish the game.
Trey Brown had 21 points and 18 rebounds for Morningside. Zach Imig was also in double figures with 13 points, and added 11 rebounds and eight assists.
UJ had a 42-18 advantage in bench scoring and outrebounded Morningside 47-41.
The Jimmies return home to host Doane (Neb.) Sunday at 1 p.m.
