PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Mount Mary University women's basketball team lost to Dubuque University today at the Lakeland Tip-Off Tournament by a score of 83-40. The second consecutive loss for the Blue Angels puts them at a record of 1-2 to begin the 2016-17 season.
From both sides of the court, the defensive pressure was on full blast nearly the entire game. Each team forced the other to multiple first quarter turnovers: DU had seven and MMU had nine team first quarter turnovers.
Hitting 3-of-9 from the 3-point line and corralling three offensive rebounds in the quarter, the Spartans were able to get the lead to 20-12 to end the first period.
With the teams both continuing the pressure defense, each defense forced six turnovers from the opposition in the next ten minutes. As the Blue Angels matched the defensive pressure, Becky Onan (Jr./Grafton, Wis.) got hit with her third foul just 50 seconds into the second period forcing her to sit for the rest of the half.
The Blue Angels then shot 4-of-9 from the field in the second quarter and had a higher efficiency in both field goal percentage and 3-point percentage, but the Spartans reeled in 10 second quarter offensive rebounds and stretched the lead out to 45-25 at half.
The deep bench of the Spartans held onto the lead throughout the second half and continued to apply the full court press defense. With 21 different players coming to trap and run for the Spartans, they forced 19 second half turnovers and held the Blue Angels to no field goals in the third quarter. The Blue Angels hit 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the third to keep pace with their opposition.
MMU was led offensively by Rae Grubbs (Fr./Covington, Ind.) who shot 5-of-6 from the free throw line and 2-of-3 from 3-point territory on her way to a team high 13 points.
Junior Becky Onan led the glass cleaning for the Blue Angels with seven rebounds. Teammate Ariel Oviedo (Sr./Shawano, Wis.) led the defensive charge with two steals.
Now the Blue Angels will prepare for Rockford University (1-1). Picked to finish to spots below Marian University this season, the Regents are fresh of their first victory of the season in an overtime shootout with Eureka College. The Regents and their high paced offense come to the Bloechl Center Wed. Nov. 23. Tipoff is set for 1:00 pm. Live stats and video will be available at mtmaryathletics.com.
