Basketball

MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary basketball team returned to the Bloechl Center for a Saturday afternoon matinee against Northland College, and despite a career day from one of its Blue Angels, fell to the Lumberjills 66-51.

Senior center Ashley Leverenz (Mauston, Wis.) tallied 21 points and 14 rebounds—both game-highs—to lead the Blue Angels. Leverenz's final line included a block, steal and assist while going 7-for-15 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the line.

"I thought Ashley did a fantastic job playing in the second half with three fouls," head coach Marc Heidorf said. "She has been providing that senior leadership on the floor that we need in these past few games."

Freshman forward Taylor Baumgart (Burlington, Wis.) added 10 points and a game-high four assists in the loss, while senior guard Emily Barker (Oconomowoc, Wis.) recorded nine points and seven rebounds.

Sophomore forward LaDonna Honey (Milwaukee, Wis.) recorded one of her best games of the year so far, making a pair of lay-ins to go with four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 18 minutes of time on the floor.

Statistically, and despite the 15 point differential, the two teams finished with similar team totals. Mount Mary tallied just one more rebound (43 to 42) and three more turnovers (19 to 16) than the Lumberjills. The most glaring difference occurred in the shooting percentage realm where the 'Jills went 26-for-64 (41 percent) from the field—including hitting seven of 24 threes—while the Angels managed just 19-for-56 shooting (32 percent).

"At the end of the day we just have to hit shots," head coach Marc Heidorf said. "And while we may be tired of hearing it, we're making progress."

Northland (1-4) methodically pushed to an early seven-point lead at the 14-minute mark before the Blue Angels would close to within 15-14 after alternating baskets by Barker and Leverenz. A pair of consecutive Lumberjill 3-pointers created enough space for Northland to grind out the road victory—its first of the year.

The home game was the fifth for Mount Mary (0-7) which has left the city of Milwaukee for just one game so far this season. That home-cooking will change over the holiday break, as the Blue Angels will play just one of its next five on campus.

MMU will take to the road on Monday, December 16 traveling to Silver Lake College for a 7:00 p.m. matchup before taking two weeks off from game play. The game a week from Monday against the Lakers will be played at the UW-Manitowoc Fieldhouse (705 Viebahn Street) in Manitowoc, Wis.