The Nebraska Wesleyan University women's basketball team led for the entire first half and nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in school history but they came up just short in the end as 5th-ranked Morningside College defeated NWU, 87-77, in GPAC women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

NWU led the fifth-ranked Mustangs into the second half as Morningside didn't take their first lead until the 17:41 mark of the second half as they led 53-52.

The Mustangs threatened to pull away as they led by 10 points with just under 10 minutes remaining. However, NWU continued to battle back and they pulled to within two points as Mallory Shanahan made two free throws to make the score 77-75 at the 4:36 mark. The Prairie Wolves were held to just two points the rest of the way as the Mustangs earned the hard fought 10-point victory.

Nebraska Wesleyan looked great in the first half as they scored 52 first half points on 66.7 percent shooting, hitting 8-10 from 3-point range. The Prairie Wolves led by as many as 10 points in the first half.

Senior Shea Rasmussen had the hot hand for NWU as she nailed eight 3-pointers for a game-high 28 points. Mallory Shanahan also had a solid day from the field hitting 8-12 from the floor for 21 points and eight rebounds.

As a team NWU was held to just 36.4 percent shooting in the second half after hitting 66.7 percent in the first half.

Morningside had five different players reach double figures as they were led by Shelby Beaudette with 18 points and five assists.

NWU will have their final home game of the season on Wednesday night (Feb. 8) when they host Hastings College.