Mustang Weekly Recap (November 18-24)
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: The Mustangs finished the 2024 cross country campaign with a top-35 finish in the NAIA, placing 33rd at the National Championship. Out of nearly 350 runners, Ryan Clancy would finish first on the team in 116th, good for 94 countable points with a time of 25:15. Lukas Lamparek would finish second on the team at 25:56, while Ryan Mitchell and Dylan Bledsoe would finish just 17 places between each other at 26:23 and 26:33.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: The Mustangs wrapped up a strong cross country season with a 27th place finish at the NAIA National Championship. Kalin Rotzoll took home the top spot on the team with a 6k time of 23:00, while Abby Knepper would finish just 14 seconds behind her.Emma Althoff, Kayla Overton, and Kendall Orozco rounded out the top five, as all three would finish within 20 seconds of each other.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: The Mustangs only competed in one matchup last week, falling to MidAmerica Nazarene at home, 68-66. Despite the Mustangs having a nearly 20 point lead in the first half, the Pioneers of MNU were able to cut into the deficit, making it a two possession game at the half. The Mustangs also held a 13 point lead with just over nine minutes to play. Timely baskets by the Pioneers were able to cut into the lead before eventually taking the lead themselves.
Despite the loss, the Mustangs tallied their third highest field goal percentage of the season, and highest since November 9. They also recorded their most made free throws of the season, shooting 19-23 from the charity stripe. Jaxson Fried would lead all scorers with 22, shooting 7-13 from the field and a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. Aidan Yamilkoski added another 14 points on 4-12 shooting, including a pair of made threes. The Mustang defense was able to force 15 turnovers in the game, as Yamilkoski and Elijah Ward each recorded three steals.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Despite three Mustangs in double figures, the Mustangs would fall to MidAmerica Nazarene at home, 61-54. Claudia Vanzant poured in a game high 16 points on 6-10 shooting, including a perfect 4-4 from the line. Annika Headington was second in the team in scoring with 13 on an impressive 6-7 clip, including one made three. Sam Kiel was impressive behind the arc, with 4 made threes on seven attempts, good for 12 points.
The story of Saturday's matchup was the rebounding battle, in which the Pioneers held Vanzant to her lowest rebounding total of the season with five, marking the only game in which Vanzant recorded less than eight rebounds. The Pioneers recorded 20 offensive rebounds, which was the difference in the game, as the Pioneers had a pair of players with at least eight rebounds.
Both Mustang basketball teams will return to the court in the lone matchup of Thanksgiving week, facing off against Grand View on Tuesday night inside the Hennessey Rec Center.