Basketball

APPLETON, Wis. – After a torrid pace to kick off the season, the Mount Mary University women's basketball team was looking forward to a nine-day break over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Unfortunately, the Blue Angels' offense seemed still on vacation Thursday night as MMU fell to the host Vikings 80-29 at Lawrence's Alexander Gymnasium.

Senior guard Emily Barker (Oconomowoc, Wis.) recorded a game-high 13 points while adding team-highs with three assists and three steals, as well as five rebounds for the Blue Angels.

MMU's leading scorers in freshman Taylor Baumgart (Burlington, Wis.) and senior Ashley Leverenz (Mauston, Wis.)  were held to three and six points respectively—well below their season averages. However, Leverenz did tally a game-high nine rebounds and two blocks for Mount Mary.

The Blue Angels kept the game close with some solid defensive play early on, staying within single-digits through the first 10 minutes of the game. LU promptly answered with a huge 19-0 run over the greater part of seven minutes, taking complete control with a 39-11 lead into halftime.

The Vikings used a 13-point run out of the break to surge to a 52-11 lead at the 16-minute mark before a Leverenz layup put the Angels on the board in the second half.

Mount Mary was able to get to the free throw line in the second half, going 6-for-11 from the line in the second stanza and 11-for-17 overall. But Lawrence's balanced scoring—all nine players who saw the floor scored at least four points—proved insurmountable.

Lawrence shot 47 percent (35-for-74) from the field, compared to just 21 percent (9-for-44) for Mount Mary.

The Blue Angels will be back in action Saturday afternoon, hosting Northland College in a 2:00 p.m. matchup. The Lumberjills (0-4) are also searching for their first victory of the season, most recently dropping a tight 47-46 decision at Northland International University last week.