The Mount Mary University Blue Angels (5-17) are getting ready to complete their 2014-15 campaign. Last on the schedule will be a rematch against Finlandia University (12-10) in the Bloechl. The game is set for Saturday Feb. 21st with a 3:00 pm tip-off.
In the previous matchup, the Blue Angels were fresh off nearly a month break and their first victory of the season. A stark contrast, the Lions were coming in on a three game losing streak, and only had two weeks between contests. The Lions came out firing on all cylinders racking up a 52-18 halftime lead.
The second half let the Blue Angels demonstrate what they can do best, when all else fails, clamp down on defense. MMU slowed down the deadly 3-point assault from the Lions, holding them to just 23 percent from outside. That last effort was good enough to limit the hot Finlandia offense to just 35 points in the second.
Since then, the Blue Angels have turned things around. MMU has four more wins, and has had to play tough stretches with little rest. Most recently, the team had to play five games in a week, and came away with a gutsy victory in which each active player put in at least 27 minutes.
Chrisandra Freeman (Fr./Cedar Rapids, Iowa) is playing her best basketball as of late, having four of her last five double-doubles in the final six weeks of the season. Along with a team leading 14.4 points per game, the rookie is in the top 10 in the Association of Division III Independents in points per game, assists per game (2.1), and rebounds per game (7.9).
As the resilience shows through in this young lineup, the season's finale could provide some sparks. A great match-up to test the Blue Angels in this year's concluding battle at the Bloechl Center.
