The defending national champions are 1-0 after an 83-69 victory at Mt. Mercy on Saturday. The Pioneers managed a small lead for most of the first half, but blew it open in the middle of the third quarter. MNU turned a 5-point lead into a 20-point lead with an 18-3 run over 4 minutes, and the Pioneers cruised to the finish.
Ashley Gibson led all scorers with 25 points, and she stuffed the rest of the stat sheet with 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 6 steals in her first game as a Pioneer. Another newcomer,
Jayden Oliver, added 21 points and 2 steals.
Jovana Jovovic was 7-8 from the floor for 15 points and 6 rebounds. And
Bailey Rinehart had 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.
#1 MNU is 1-0 (1-0 Heart). The next game is the home opener on Saturday vs. Peru State (2-2, 0-1) at 2:00.
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