MILWAUKEE – Tonight at the Bloechl Center, the Mount Mary University women's basketball team defeated Silver Lake College (9-6) by a final score of 77-54. The win moves the Blue Angels to 3-7 on the season right before the student-athletes return to class next week.
The Blue Angels jumped out to an early lead against the Lakers. SLC trimmed the quick MMU lead to two points three minutes into the contest. MMU erupted for a 14-0 run in the next four minutes with eight of those points coming from Becky Onan (Jr./Grafton, Wis.) in the junior forward's second game in a row with 20 or more points.
Winning the first ten minutes 24-13, the Blue Angels parlayed their steady offense into a 37-22 lead going into the locker room at halftime. MMU pressed the opposition defensively in the second frame forcing the Lakers to shot 21.4 percent from the field in the second quarter.
"The kids played with focus and determination tonight," said Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf.
Continuing the pressure in the second half, the Blue Angels forced seven turnovers in the half while surrendering only four of their own. The defensive pressure led to MMU outscoring the Lakers 19-12 in the third quarter.
Blue Angel Lucy Pavelko (Fr./Muskego, Wis.) ripped down two offensive rebounds in the third quarter while putting up six points as the rookie crashed the glass and energized her team.
"Everyone did their job tonight. We had a plan coming in and I thought we executed it to a tee. Even in game adjustments." Coach Heidorf added, "At one point I talked to Lucy and said 'I got six points for you here in the second half. I want you to crash the offensive boards. I think you can get in there.'"
Onan led the Blue Angels with 21 points, 12 blocks, six assists, two steals and one block. It is also the second game in a row that Onan finished with a double-double.
Teammate Jess Runge (Sr./Freedom, Wis.) finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists as the senior guard begins her final collegiate stretch with another productive game.
Ariel Oviedo (Sr./Shawano, Wis.) finished with 17 points and two steals to add to the Blue Angels offense. Rae Grubbs (Fr./Covington, Ind.) also added to MMU's scoring output with 15 points after going 6-of-8 from the free throw line.
After tomorrow's postponement of the Moody Bible/Mount Mary showdown, the Blue Angels will have eight days to rest up before their next game against Robert Morris University Peoria (1-8). The Eagles come into the game on an eight game losing streak with their previous win coming against sister-school Robert Morris University Springfield (0-11).
Watch MMU take on RMU Peoria for the first time in school history on mtmaryathletics.com. The teams will begin their Sun. Jan. 22 game at 2:00 pm. Live stats and live video will be available with coverage starting at 1:45 pm.
