Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Midland University traveled up to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Briar Cliff University in a Great Athletic Plains Conference (GPAC) matchup on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors battled hard but took a tough loss on the road, 59-91, to the Chargers. The loss drops Midland to 0-7 in the GPAC and 2-9 overall. The Chargers improve their record to 5-2 GPAC and 8-3 overall.
The Chargers took the early advantage against the Warriors as they were the first to put points on the board, leading 5-0. Kennedy Darner got Midland started with a jumper as they started to work their way back into the game. BCU kept them at bay, pulling away with multiple baskets, and took 24-10 at the end of the first.
Sam Shepard started the momentum for the Warriors in the second with a jump shot. The teams traded points through the early stages of the second before things began to snowball in favor of the Chargers. Briar Cliff was able to maintain their double-digit lead throughout the quarter with the Warriors trailing 30-46 at halftime.
After the intermission, the Warriors’ shooting slowed as the Chargers kept theirs at a steady pace. The Warriors were only able to put 12 points on the board as the Chargers doubled up, scoring 28 points and held a 32-point lead of 74-42 into the final quarter to play.
Despite their ability to keep up with the Chargers in the fourth, as both teams put up 17 points, the damage was already done in the previous quarter. Briar Cliff picked up the conference win, shooting 52% from the field in its 91-59 home victory.
For the game, Midland shot 20-for-48 (41.7%). The Chargers took advantage of second-chance baskets, outscoring the Warriors 13-6, and added 21 points off 22 turnovers.
Rubie Klausen led the way offensively with 10 points, followed by Sarah Shepard and Kennedy Darner with 7 points each. Klausen also added a team-high four steals. Leading the way in rebounding were Sarah Shepard and Darner with three each.
Midland (2-9, 0-7 GPAC) will be back in action on Wednesday night with a road game at the College of Saint Mary (3-8, 1-6 GPAC). Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. at the Lied Fitness Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
