Nebraska Wesleyan was within two points at 64-62 with 23 seconds to play, but top-ranked Morningside went 8-8 from the free throw line in the final 20 seconds to earn a 72-65 victory over NWU in GPAC women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 31) in Snyder Arena.

NWU, which lost by 55 points in the first meeting between the two teams, pulled within two points after Sadie Struebing got an offensive rebound and putback.

On the next trip down the floor, an intentional foul was called on the NWU player and Kayla Weerheim went 2-2 from the foul line. As the Mustangs kept the ball, Leslie Foral then hit her two free throws to extend the lead to six points and help seal the win.

Morningside, the #1 ranked team in the NAIA II poll, kept its perfect season alive as they improve to 25-0 overall and 13-0 in the GPAC.

The Mustangs held a commanding 40-23 lead at halftime after forcing NWU into 20 first half turnovers.

The Prairie Wolves came out strong in the second half as they went on a 22-6 run to open the second half. After a Katy Golden 3-pointer at the 13:27 mark, and a Maggie Packard layup at the 10:53 mark, the Priarie Wolves were within one point at 46-45.

Morningside responded with a 14-6 run of their own to build the lead back up to nine points.

For Nebraska Wesleyan, Katy Golden scored a career-high 25 points. She was 5-6 from 3-point range to set a career-high. Enter Saturday's game, Golden had made just three 3-pointers on the season.

Sadie Struebing added 10 points and led the way with eight rebounds. Ashley Bordovsky had six assists and four steals.

Autumn Bartel led Morningside with 18 points, Brittany Williamson had 11 points and eight rebounds and Kayla Weerheim scored 10.