By Doreen Mshana – Head Coach Jamie Sale tipped off his 26th season at the helm of Morningside Women’s Basketball with a fresh look on the court. Featuring a youthful roster where seven of the top ten players are freshmen and sophomores, the Mustangs entered the season embraced by underdog expectations, picked seventh in the GPAC preseason poll, the same ranking they held before their historic national championship run in 2015.
Th team’s relentless energy was on full display in the season opener against Culver-Stockton. After a slow start left the Mustangs trailing by seven at halftime, Morningside rallied in the second half to secure a dominant 80-60 victory.
Freshman Zoe Allen delivered an unforgettable debut performance, leading all scorers with a game-high 28 points. Allen completely took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting display to put the game out of reach.
Allen was supported by strong contributions across the board from her fellow newcomers and veterans alike. Freshmen Taziah Hawkins and Annie Harms added 12 and 11 points respectively, while senior Jaeden Webb orchestrated the offense with a team-high six assists.
Morningside’s defense proved to be the ultimate game-changer down the stretch. The Mustangs blew the contest open with a blistering 32-13 fourth-quarter run, forcing nine turnovers in the final ten minutes and converting 25 total game turnovers into 23 points to seal an emphatic opening night triumph.
“I was a little concerned because I was going to be playing three freshmen, but they all did a great job,” Coach Sale said following the win. “They give us enthusiasm, love to play, and work hard at it.”
If opening night was any indication, this young Mustang squad isn’t just rebuilding, they’re ready to make noise and make another statement in the GPAC.
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