York Uses Late Surge to Top Warriors on New Year’s Eve

YORK, Neb. — Midland University closed the 2025 calendar year on Wednesday with a non-conference matchup at York University. The Warriors and Panthers battled in a tightly contested game that was won by the home squad, 80-72, in York, Nebraska. The game featured six ties and 13 lead changes before the Panthers pulled away late to secure the victory.

A quick layup followed by a free throw from Jenna Weber gave the Warriors an early 3-0 lead. York answered with a 4-0 run to take the lead, prompting an early Midland timeout. Two more free throws from Weber allowed Midland to briefly regain the advantage, but a 3-pointer from Monique Contreras put York back in front, 7-5, with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter. Both offenses slowed midway through the period, though two free throws from Destiny Shepard extended the Panthers' lead to four. Ellie Bovaird ended Midland's two-and-a-half-minute scoring drought with a free throw, trimming the deficit to 9-6. The teams traded free throws before York went on another 4-0 run to build a 15-8 advantage. Midland responded late, but the Panthers carried a 19-12 lead into the second quarter.

The teams exchanged baskets to open the second quarter before a 3-pointer from Allie Hakimzadeh cut Midland's deficit to four. Hakimzadeh connected from deep again to make it a one-point game with eight minutes left in the half. Defense tightened on both ends, resulting in a brief scoring drought before Weber tied the game at 22-22 with 6:30 remaining. York reclaimed the lead on a jumper by Olivia Adams, and the two teams continued to trade baskets and leads. A free throw from Alliyana Page gave York a 30-27 edge with under a minute to play, but Midland closed the half on a 5-0 run. A Weber 3-pointer and a jumper from Cierra Barbary sent the Warriors into halftime with a 32-30 lead.

York opened the second half with a 3-pointer from Contreras, but Midland quickly answered with a triple from Ciera Jorge. A layup and free throw by Jorge pushed the Warriors' lead to 38-33 midway through the third quarter. York responded with a 3-pointer from Shepard, though two more free throws by Jorge helped Midland maintain the advantage. A steal by Alesia Rand led to a Contreras 3-pointer, followed by a Rand jumper, giving the Panthers a 41-40 lead with 5:30 remaining. Midland regained momentum behind a layup from Armanii Brazile and a 3-pointer by Zoey Sims to take a four-point lead. York battled back, tying the game at 45-45 on two free throws from Shepard with just under 3:30 left. The teams traded baskets late in the quarter, but two more free throws from Shepard gave York a 52-50 edge entering the fourth.

The Panthers extended their lead early in the final period with a 3-pointer from Lawson Hiltl. Midland responded with a jumper from Barbary to pull within one, but Hiltl answered again from beyond the arc. A layup and free throw by Shepard stretched York's lead to 64-59, forcing a Midland timeout. York continued to build its advantage before Bovaird scored inside to cut the deficit to six with under five minutes remaining. After trading baskets, Weber converted a layup and free throw to make it 73-68 with two minutes to play. Midland stayed within reach behind free throws from Weber, but Shepard and Yareli Gomez combined for key scores down the stretch to secure the 80-72 win.

Weber led Midland with 21 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double. Bovaird added 14 points, while Hakimzadeh chipped in 12.

The Warriors shot 22-of-52 (42.3%) from the field, while the Panthers finished 24-of-62 (38.7%). York held a 41-36 rebounding advantage.

Midland (2-12, 1-7 GPAC) will open the new year at home on Saturday, Jan. 3, as it hosts Dakota Wesleyan (10-4, 6-2) in a Great Plains Athletic Conference game. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside the Wikert Event Center in Fremont, Neb.