SIOUX CITY, IA – This wasn’t how Jamestown wanted to leave GPAC basketball.
Both University of Jamestown teams were ousted in the GPAC Tournaments in the first round on Wednesday. The Jimmie women lost to Briar Cliff 85-73 and Morningside blitzed UJ in the second half for an 89-72 men’s win.
Women: (3)Briar Cliff 85, (6)Jamestown 73
At the Newman Flanagan Center, Jamestown had an early six-point lead before Rachel Langel and Konnor Sudman went to work for the Chargers, who had lost on the same floor to the Jimmies last month before winning at Harold Newman Arena last week.
Langel scored 19 points to lead all scorers and played frustrating defense on Jamestown’s post players. Sudman registered a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for Briar Cliff (21-8).
Audrey Rodakowski led Jamestown (17-12) with 18 points. Kia Tower scored 14 points and stands only 16 away from Jimmie Women’s Basketball’s all-time leading scorer, Keri Bakker. Samantha Paulsen contributed 11 off the bench.
Jamestown was down 25-23 to Briar Cliff after a fast-paced first quarter, but the Chargers extended their lead to 47-42 at halftime.
The Jimmies were then held to only four field goals in the third quarter and Briar Cliff led by 11 after the third, 66-55.
Men: (4)Morningside 89, (5)Jamestown 72
At Allie Gym in the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center, Morningside had a run of 10-2 to start the second half and an 18-6 run about midway through that half. Eli Doble scored 16 of 21 points in the second half for the Mustangs (20-8), who outscored Jamestown 53-32 in the second 20 minutes after the Jimmies led 40-36 at halftime.
Joey Skoff also scored 21 for Morningside. He and Doble were both 9-of-14 from the floor. Jack Dotzler scored 16 points and hit four three-pointers. Aidan Vanderloo notched 15 points.
Silas Bennion led Jamestown (17-12) with 19 points, five rebounds and five assists. 15 of Bennion’s points came in the first half. Cole Woodford hit four three-pointers and scored 14. Will Cordes talled 12.
Both Jamestown teams now must wait to see whether they will be granted at-large bids for the NAIA Tournaments. The tournament fields will be revealed by the NAIA on Thursday, March 7.