Mount Mercy University - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mustangs tame 2018 NAIA champs

The Mount Mercy Mustangs will be piling on a bus at 10 o'clock Friday morning for a long ride to Kansas, but they'll climb aboard with big smiles and a ton of confidence.

The Mustangs whipped the 2018 NAIA national champions Thursday night with an 85-77 victory over Graceland in a Heart of America Conference game at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

Last year, the Mustangs found a way to lose close games against quality opponents. This time, they found a way to prevail with some cold-blooded 3-pointers in the final minutes.

"It means everything," said Michael Brawner-Henley, who hit a triple with 48 seconds left for an 81-75 advantage. "This Mount Mercy team is under-rated. We come in as underdogs every season, so we just come in here and fight 24/7 in practice.

"We came in here tonight with a chip on shoulders."

Mount Mercy took a 70-59 lead with 7:25 remaining on a pair of free throws by Bailey Basala, but Graceland pulled within 72-71 with three minutes left with a 12-2 spurt.

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Howell returns and tops Mims

Micha Mims enjoyed playing for Frank Howell during her prep career at Cedar Rapids Washington, but now they've become friendly opponents as college head coaches in the Heart of America Conference.

Howell enjoyed the upper hand Thursday night as Graceland topped Mount Mercy, 93-81, at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

Howell and Mims are both in their third year as college head coaches and Howell holds a 4-1 lead in five meetings.

The Mustangs gave the Yellowjackets a good ballgame, but the visitors got 62 points from three players to head back to Lamoni with a victory.

Sarai Rodriguez led Graceland with 22 points while Christacia Dawkins and Caitlin Sudduth netted 20 apiece.

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Sharp Mustangs roll up 115 points

When the Mount Mercy Mustangs are cooking, you need a tote machine to  keep track of all the points.

They were cooking Monday night.

The Mustangs scored their most points in five years with a 115-91  verdict over Culver-Stockton in a Heart of America ballgame at the  Hennessey Recreation Center.

Michael Brawner-Henley led seven Mustangs into double figures with 23  points as the home team scored early and often.

Mount Mercy averaged only 70.7 points during a three-game losing  streak prior to Thanksgiving, but the Mustangs revved up the attack  against Culver-Stockton.

"I thought we got back to playing the way we want to play," said Coach  Aaron Jennings. "I thought Benedictine and Clarke, and even St.  Ambrose, did a good job of dictating tempo and kind of bullying us,  pushing us around (in the setbacks).

"And today we played very free. We were playing fast, but under  control. And when you do those things I think we're a dangerous team.  And you saw that tonight."

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Mount Mercy women drop 4th straight

Mount Mercy fell behind by 19 points at halftime Monday night and lost  to Culver-Stockton, 73-58, in a Heart of America women's basketball  game at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

The Mustangs pulled within 10 points in the second half before falling  back again.

Mount Mercy lost its fourth straight game and fell to 3-4 overall and  0-3 in the conference.

Audrey Mulumba led the Mustangs with 19 points and seven rebounds.  Aurianna Hampton scored 12 points. Paris Sheck grabbed eight rebounds.

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