Third Quarter Surge by Doane Leads to Loss for Warriors

FREMONT, Neb. – Coming off a tough home loss on Saturday, Midland University returned to action on Wednesday night, hosting Doane University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) matchup. The Warriors trailed by five at halftime but ultimately fell to the Tigers, 94-78, following a strong third-quarter surge by the visitors.

Doane came out firing in the first quarter, shooting 13-for-19 (68.4%) from the field, including 1-for-2 from beyond the arc. Midland kept pace early, thanks to three-pointers from Zoey Sims, Ellie Bovaird, and Grace Holm, which gave the Warriors a brief 13-12 lead midway through the period. However, the Tigers closed the quarter with a 16-4 run, finishing the frame ahead 28-17.

Holm sparked the Warriors' second-quarter rally with back-to-back three-pointers, and Sarah Shepard added another triple with 6:08 remaining to trim the deficit to two points. Doane regained some momentum, but Jenna Weber's five straight points helped pull Midland within two once more. Erin Foxhall then sank two free throws to tie the game at 37-37 with under two minutes left in the half. However, five quick points from Doane's Mak Hatcliff gave the Tigers a 42-37 edge heading into the locker room.

The third quarter proved decisive. Midland managed just three points over the first five and a half minutes, allowing Doane to extend its lead to 20. Although the Warriors mounted a brief offensive flurry, scoring 20 points in a four-minute stretch, they couldn't make enough defensive stops to close the gap. The Tigers led 75-60 entering the fourth quarter.

Midland continued to find offensive success in the final period, scoring 18 points, including two more three-pointers by Holm. However, the Tigers maintained control, scoring 19 points in the frame to secure the 94-78 victory.

Five Warriors reached double figures in scoring. Weber led the team with 18 points, while Holm was close behind with 15, shooting 5-for-8 (62.5%) from three-point range. Shepard tallied a double-double with 14 points and a team-high 12 rebounds over 36 minutes.

As a team, Midland shot 29-for-64 (45.3%) from the field, compared to Doane's 37-for-70 (52.9%). The Tigers capitalized on 15 Midland turnovers, converting them into 19 points, and dominated inside with a 54-26 advantage in points in the paint. Despite the loss, the Warriors edged the Tigers in rebounding, 37-36.

Midland (1-9, 1-5 GPAC) will look to bounce back this Saturday, December 14, as it continues conference play on the road against Dakota Wesleyan (7-3, 4-2 GPAC). Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. in Mitchell, South Dakota.