The Pioneer basketball teams opened 2011 with a home sweep of Graceland on Thursday. In the women's game, Kiley Herold's 20 points and season-high 16 rebounds led MNU to a 67-60 victory. The Pioneers jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but Graceland responded with an 8-0 run to take the lead. For the rest of the first half, the Pioneers maintained a small lead as Rachel Boan led the way with 11 points.
In the second half, the Pioneers built an 11-point lead with 11 minutes remaining as Kiley Herold took over. Her 16 points and 8 rebounds in the period helped MNU maintain a 3-possession lead as Graceland tried to claw back into the game. The Yellowjackets were able to get within 3 in the closing minutes as guard Josilyn Wilkes put up 30 points, but Herold and CJ Wesemann made their clutch free throws down the stretch to move the Pioneers to 2-2 in the conference.
Herold had 20 points, 16 rebounds, and 2 blocks. And Rachel Boan had 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.
The Pioneers are 4-10 (2-2 HAAC). The next game is Saturday at Missouri Valley (4-12, 2-2) at 2:00.
In the men's game, MNU started the game with a 7-0 and never lost the lead. The lead was double digits for most of the first half as Lukas Weigel and Keith McCullough carried the offensive load. On a night where the nation's leading scorer, Rustin Dowd, struggled from the field, he was able to adjust his game and find his teammates to the tune of 8 assists. In the second half, MNU built a 15-point lead with 12 minutes remaining, but an injury and foul trouble led to a 29-11 Graceland run which tied the game late. Guard Barry Robinson left with an injury, Dowd had to sit with 4 fouls, and the Pioneers struggled to maintain their rhythm. In the closing minutes, Dowd made 5 straight free throws and assisted on a McCullough 3-pointer to finally finish off the Yellowjackets.
Lukas Weigel had 24 points and 9 rebounds. Keith McCullough had 23 points on 8-12 shooting (4-6 3FG). Rustin Dowd added 15 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals. Austin Hennings had 10 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. And Andrew Crotty had 8 points, a career-high 15 rebounds, and 3 assists.
The Pioneers are 7-7 (2-2 HAAC). The next game is Saturday at Missouri Valley (7-7, 1-3) at 4:00.
