Blue Angels Ready To Begin 2015
Young MMU squad ready for trip to the north.
The Blue Angels are starting the 2015 portion of the season in a weekend doubleheader this weekend. The first of the two contests is against Finlandia University (5-8) in Hancock, Mich. Jan. 3rd at 12:00 pm. In game two of the weekend, MMU will face Northland College in Ashland, Wis. for this season's rematch between the schools Sunday Jan. 4th at 1:00 pm.
To finish 2014, the Blue Angels came away with their first win of the season. While MMU is packed with underclassmen, it seems the youthful squad is starting to figure out how to have success at the NCAA level.
In the first of the two games this weekend, the Blue Angels will face Finlandia University. Last year, MMU lost to an active three-point assault from the Lions. Finlandia dropped 13 three-pointers in the contest, and now senior Marissa Burke had a double-double with 11 rebounds and 32 points. The Blue Angels have nearly a completely different roster from the last time the schools met, and newcomers Becky Onan (Fr./Grafton, Wis.) and Chrisandra Freeman (Fr./Cedar Rapids, Iowa) are fresh off 20 plus point performances against Emmaus Bible College.
On Sunday, Mount Mary University will face Northland College for the second time this year. The first game, MMU lost 73-61 in a game that was only separated by NC hitting a few more three-pointers and the Blue Angels leaving seven opportunities at the free-throw line.
Since that game, NC is on a five game losing streak. In fact, the only game the 1-6 Lumberjills have won was the 12 point win against MMU.
Both Onan and Freeman had double-doubles against the Lumberjills this season. As the standout performances seem to be a recurrent theme for the two freshmen, MMU has been seeing a rise player performances across the board. MMU is routinely having multiple players with big time scoring nights, and the players off the bench are taking up more and more minutes with quality play on the court. Meanwhile, with fewer and fewer turnovers each game, the Blue Angels will see more and more success.
After the trip to the north, the Blue Angels will have a quick turnaround as they host Grinnell College Tuesday Jan. 6th. The game at the Bloechl Center will begin at 5:00 pm.