MILWAUKEE – For the first time since joining the NCAA the Mount Mary University Blue Angels won their first basketball game of the season. After losing to Marian by 31 points in 2015-16, the Blue Angels completely turned the tables this year as they defeated the visiting Sabres 75-61.
In a preseason preview Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf stated, "We are a better shooting team. I don't think there is any question about that. Especially at long range shooting."
After game one, the Blue Angels have lived up to that statement. Shooting 28.8 percent from the field in 2015-16, in the first game of 2016-17 MMU shot 53.3 percent from the floor. Along with 4-of-11 from beyond the 3-point line, the 75 points is the most points scored by the Blue Angels since December of 2014 when MMU scored 77 points against Emmaus Bible College.
A career night for Becky Onan (Jr./Grafton, Wis.) as the forward shot a devastating 3-of-3 from 3-point territory on her way to her NCAA best 28 points. Onan also pulled down nine rebounds and matched Jess Runge's game high five steals.
Runge (Freedom, Wis.) effectively got the Blue Angels going nearly all over the court. The senior went 4-of-6 from the field with eight rebounds and six steals.
Fellow senior Ariel Oviedo (Shawano, Wis.) dropped 14 points while dishing out four assists.
Of the new comers, Brooke Uebersetzig (Fr./Greenwood, Ind.) made her Blue Angels debut with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block.
The win makes a few different marks in the Blue Angels annals. With a win over Marian, it is the first time MMU has defeated a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference; known by the Northern Athletics Conference until 2013. The win makes the Blue Angels now 1-28 against NACC opponents since MMU's entrance to the NCAA in 2009.
It also marks the first time in program history that the Blue Angels began the season with a victory. It is the second time that MMU won their home opener, they accomplished that first last season against Emmaus Bible College.
Following today's win over the Sabres, the Blue Angels will get ready to head to Plymouth, Wis. to participate in the Lakeland Tip-Off Tournament. The Blue Angels first game is set for Fri. Nov. 18 at 6:00 pm against host Lakeland. The Blue Angels will then play Saturday at either 2:00 pm or 4:00 pm depending on the outcomes of Friday's games. Stay tuned to mtmaryathletics.com for all news, stats and updates.
