In a defensive battle characterized by cold shooting and physical play, the Mount Marty Lancers fell 64-52 to Briar Cliff. Despite a strong defensive third quarter that brought them back within striking distance, the Lancers were ultimately undone by a high turnover count and a slow start in the first half.

The Story of the Game

The Lancers struggled to find their offensive rhythm early in Sioux City. Briar Cliff jumped out to a 15-point lead by halftime (39-24), as Mount Marty's offense was hampered by 25 total turnovers throughout the contest.

However, Mount Marty showed incredible resilience in the third quarter. They completely locked down the Chargers, holding them to just 8 points in the period. This defensive stand allowed the Lancers to chip away at the lead, but Briar Cliff regained their composure in the fourth, hitting their free throws (80% as a team) to keep the Lancers at bay.

Mount Marty Standouts

• Kaela Martinez: Was the bright spot for the Lancers' perimeter game, scoring a team-high 15 points. She accounted for nearly all of the team's outside scoring, knocking down four triples.

• Alexis Folkers: Battled inside for 11 points and 6 rebounds, effectively drawing fouls to reach the free-throw line nine times.

• Lacey Sprakel: Narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with 10 points and a team-high 9 rebounds.

• Leah Williams: Contributed 7 points and 6 rebounds, playing a heavy 33 minutes in a physical backcourt battle.

Key Tactical Factors

• The Turnover Bug: The 25 turnovers committed by Mount Marty proved to be the biggest hurdle. These lost possessions prevented the Lancers from sustaining the momentum they built during their third-quarter defensive surge.

• Cold Shooting from the Field: The Lancers were held to 31.5% shooting for the game. While they actually shot better from three-point range (29.4%) than Briar Cliff (an ice-cold 9.1%), they couldn't find enough easy looks inside to close the gap.

• Defensive Resilience: A major takeaway for the Lancers was their defensive effort in the second half. Holding a GPAC opponent to 8 points in a quarter is a testament to their potential when they are locked in on that end of the floor.