Graceland Women’s Basketball Shows Fight in Fourth-Quarter Against MNU
OLATHE, Kan. — Despite facing a 23-point halftime deficit, the Graceland University Yellowjackets women's basketball team mounted a spirited second-half surge before falling just short in an 81-41 road loss to MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) on Saturday evening at the Cook Center.
The Yellowjackets, who had recently snapped a 13-game losing streak with back-to-back wins, demonstrated continued growth and resilience, cutting into what was once a lopsided game and showing no signs of backing down late.
Graceland drops to 3-18 overall and 2-11 in Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) play, while the Pioneers improve to 15-3 overall and 11-1 in the conference, maintaining their spot near the top of the HAAC standings.
The Yellowjackets were outscored 45-22 in the first half, but outperformed MNU in the final two quarters, outscoring the hosts 19-16 in the fourth. A late 13-6 run capped by a pair of baskets from senior guard Sariah Bradley helped Graceland finish strong, closing the margin to 40 by the final horn.
"We preach toughness and heart every single day in practice, and tonight, even though the score didn't go our way, our players showed that," said Head Coach Willie Scott. "We fought back, we didn't fold, and that's what I'm most proud of. This team is growing."
Aniah Smith led the Yellowjackets with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers. She added four assists, tying for the team high. Kayloni Smolley followed with nine points, hitting 4-of-7 from the field, while Ianara Morbidoni contributed seven points and a team-best eight rebounds.
While Graceland struggled from the floor, shooting just 28.8% (17-of-59) overall and 25.0% (3-of-12) from the free-throw line, their defensive effort showed in second-chance opportunities and rebounding battles. Maxine Ampofo grabbed nine boards, including four offensive, while Graceland pulled down 13 offensive rebounds as a team.
MNU, meanwhile, capitalized on early momentum with a 27-point opening quarter and 55.9% shooting from the floor for the game. The Pioneers were led by Kameron Green, who scored a game-high 24 points and collected nine rebounds. Aubrey Rogers added 17 points and five assists for the home team.
Points in the paint were a key difference, with MNU outscoring Graceland 59-21 in that category. The Pioneers also held advantages in bench points (28-2) and fast break points (13-2).
Despite the final score, the Yellowjackets made a statement with their effort in the final quarter. They forced several turnovers down the stretch, converted key shots in transition, and outscored MNU 13-5 in the final three minutes. Bradley scored six of her eight points in the closing stretch, including a contested jumper off a feed from Smolley.
"Basketball is about how you respond — and our ladies responded tonight," Coach Scott added. "We'll build on this and get back to work for Wednesday."
Graceland returns home to Morden Center in Lamoni, Iowa, for a conference matchup against William Penn University on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CST.
For more information on Graceland women's basketball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.