Game Recap: Lancers' Late Rally Falls Short in Tight Battle at Doane

Date: January 21, 2026 Final Score: Doane 67, Mount Marty 63

In a game that came down to the final possessions, the Mount Marty Lancers (11-9, 6-8 GPAC) nearly erased a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter but ultimately fell to the Doane Tigers (8-10, 6-8 GPAC). Despite a cold shooting night from the floor, Mount Marty's grit and elite free-throw shooting kept them within striking distance until the final buzzer.

How It Happened: The Fourth Quarter Surge

For the first three quarters, Mount Marty struggled to find their offensive rhythm, scoring only 12 points in each of the first two periods. Heading into the final frame trailing 50-40, the Lancers finally found their spark.

Mount Marty exploded for 23 points in the fourth quarter, fueled by aggressive drives to the basket and a lockdown defensive effort that forced Doane into difficult shots. However, the Tigers proved to be clinical from the charity stripe, refusing to give the Lancers the opening they needed to take the lead.

Mount Marty Standouts

• Lacey Sprakel: Led the Lancers with 13 points and 7 rebounds, acting as the primary interior threat throughout the night.

• Lennix DuPris: Provided a massive spark off the bench, scoring 10 points on a highly efficient 4-of-5 shooting, including a perfect 2-of-2 from three-point range.

• Leah Williams: Reached double figures with 10 points, playing a disciplined 27 minutes.

• Alexus Motley: Dominated the offensive glass, pulling down 5 offensive rebounds (8 total) to go along with 8 points.

The Deciding Factors

• A Masterclass at the Line: This game featured some of the best free-throw shooting of the season. Mount Marty was excellent, hitting 21-of-25 (84%), but Doane was nearly perfect, shooting a staggering 96.4% (27-of-28). In a four-point game, Doane's inability to miss from the line was the difference.

• Shooting Slump: The Lancers struggled with their field goal percentage, finishing at 31.1% for the game and 18.2% from beyond the arc. While the volume of shots was there (61 attempts to Doane's 47), the ball wouldn't drop consistently.

• The Rebound Gap: Doane controlled the boards, out-rebounding Mount Marty 43 to 30. This limited the Lancers' transition opportunities and forced them to play against a set Tiger defense for most of the night.

Up Next

Mount Marty will finally return to action on Saturday when they host Waldorf. Women's Tipoff at 2 PM with Men to follow around 3:45 PM.