Mustang Weekly Recap (November 11-17)
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: The Mustang women's basketball team enjoyed two wins to tip off Heart of America conference play. The team cruised to a conference opening win on Wednesday against William Penn in Oskaloosa, 66-47. Four Mustangs would score in double figures in a balanced offensive performance, led by Claudia Vanzant with 12 points. She would be joined in double figures by Annika Headington (11), Sam Kiel (10), and Isabel Wallschlaeger (10). Vanzant was also a force on the boards with eight rebounds, while Kiel would orchestrate the Mustang offense, adding six assists.
Against Park, the Mustangs would also cruise to another win, taking down the Pirates 71-53. Vanzant poured in yet another dominating performance, nearly shooting perfect from the field, adding 15 points on 7-8 shooting. Vanzant would nearly record a double-double, adding nine rebounds, including eight on the defensive end. She would be joined in double figures by Sadie Struchen (12), Isabel Wallschlaeger (11), and Sam Kiel (10). Struchen was on fire from three especially in the third quarter, shooting 2-3 from beyond the arc. Despite losing the rebounding battle, the Mustangs would capitalize on 14 Pirate turnovers to go perfect on the week.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: The Mustangs competed in three contests on the week, starting the week off with a loss against St. Ambrose in Davenport, 78-63. Despite the matchup being a one point contest at the halftime break, the Bees of SAU were able to catch fire in the second half to earn the win. Jaxson Fried would have another stellar performance in the young season, pouring in a game high 17 points. He would be joined in double figures by Cameron Williams (10) and Aidan Yamilkoski (10). Jackson Tegeler would add in a team high six rebounds, while Dimitrije Nikolic added a team high three assists.
In the conference opener against William Penn, the team fell 70-52. As was a similar story in their first game of the week, the matchup was back-and-forth in the first half, as the first half would end in a 32-32 tie, before the Statesmen caught fire in the second half to pull away. Ahmad Ingram would lead all scorers in the game with 19 points on an even 50% shooting day, going 8-16 from the field, including 3-3 from the charity stripe. Ingram would be the only Mustang in double figures. Despite not scoring in double figures, Jaxson Fried would add 10 rebounds in the contest.
In the weekend finale against Park, the game was unlike the prior two contests, as it was back-and-forth throughout the game, with neither team able to pull away. Three Mustangs excelled on the offensive end, as Cameron Williams scored a team high 16 points. He was joined in double figures by Jaxson Fried and Aidan Yamilkoski, each adding in 14 points. Williams would score all of his points in the first half. Fried was once again a force on the boards, adding a team high seven rebounds, with six of them coming on the defensive end. He also contributed a team high five assists in the game.
COMING UP: Both the Mustang basketball programs will face off Saturday at home against MidAmerica Nazarene, with the women scheduled to tipoff at noon, while the men will follow at 2 p.m. The Mustang cross country teams will also travel to Columbia, Missouri in pursuit of the red banner at the NAIA National Championships.