Mustangs Fall on the Road to the Pioneers

OLATHE, Kan. - Mount Mercy's womens basketball team faced a challenging Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup against top-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University on Saturday. Despite their efforts, the Mustangs fell 79-53 to the Pioneers at Bell Family Arena.

Mount Mercy (11-7, 9-6 Heart) struggled to find an offensive rhythm early, trailing 24-12 after the first quarter. MidAmerica Nazarene (17-2, 15-0 Heart) capitalized on efficient shooting and defensive pressure, extending their lead to 53-28 by halftime.

Malie Marfil led the Mustangs with 17 points, shooting 5-of-11 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. Madison Skelton contributed nine points, including two three-pointers, while Annika Headington grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

The Mustangs shot 31.7% (19-of-60) from the floor, including 27.3% (6-of-22) from beyond the arc, and converted 69.2% (9-of-13) at the charity stripe. Turnovers plagued Mount Mercy throughout the contest, with 15 miscues leading to 18 points for the Pioneers.

MidAmerica Nazarene's Zaylee Werth was dominant, recording a double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Mackenzie Manthe added 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including 8-of-9 from the line. The Pioneers shot 42.0% (29-of-69) from the field and controlled the glass with a 55-30 rebounding advantage.

The Mustangs return to action on Saturday, January 25, hosting Missouri Valley at the Hennessey Recreation Center. Tipoff is set for 12:00 p.m.