MILWAUKEE – Tonight at the Bloechl Center, North Central University defeated the Mount Mary University Blue Angels 67-61. The win for the Rams ends their two game losing streak and gives them a record of 2-8 this season while making MMU 1-7.
Right after the tipoff, the teams traded field goals back and forth never giving one team the advantage. A 6-6 tie midway through the first quarter was broken up after NCU Ram Annabel Morrisroe ripped down one of her 10 offensive rebounds in the game and put the loose ball back in the bucket to make the score 8-6. NCU rallied for a 13-3 run to finish the quarter with a 21-9 lead.
The Blue Angels crept back into the game in the second half scoring 12 points in the frame to the Rams 16. The Blue Angels took advantage of the free throw line going 4-of-6 while also hitting 4-of-12 field goals. Maintaining control with only two MMU turnovers in the quarter kept the Rams within striking range at half, 37-21.
MMU flipped the tables in the second half out scoring their opponent 40-30 in the final twenty minutes. The third quarter scoring was again guided by the Blue Angels work at the charity stripe making 9-of-12 free throws in the quarter while also hitting 45.5 percent from the field.
The final frame saw another big push from the Blue Angels. MMU outshot their opponent hitting 8-of-15 field goals and outscoring the Rams 19-14.
Although the scoring was spread out by the Blue Angels, Rae Grubbs (Fr./Covington, Ind.) led MMU with 16 points shooting 4-of-6 from the field and 7-of-12 from the free throw line. Jess Runge (Sr./Freedom, Wis.) chipped in scoring 15 points and shooting 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
NCU's Annabel Morrisroe led the game with 26 points and controlled the glass with 19 total rebounds on the night.
"The focus and resiliency shown tonight was what we are going to build off of," said Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf. "We cut a 19 point deficit to 5 late by working together and working smart."
Following tonight's game, the Blue Angels will head to Robert Morris Springfield on Fri. Jan. 6. The teams will begin play at 6:00 pm. Box scores and player updates will be made available following the contest on mtmaryathletics.com.
