MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University women's basketball team defeated visiting Robert Morris University Peoria by a final score of 62-53. The win moves the Blue Angels to 4-7 on the 2016-17 season, 3-1 since the beginning of 2017, and moves the Eagles to 3-9.
The two schools shot extremely efficient during the first ten minutes of the contest. The Eagles finished the frame hitting 7-of-14 field goals, 1-of-2 3-point field goals, while MMU hit 8-of-17 from the field to open the game. The difference in the first quarter was the battle for the loose ball. MMU forced seven Eagle turnovers to begin things giving them a 16-15 lead at the end of one quarter.
The hot shooting continued for the Blue Angels into the second quarter as they knocked down 6-of-12 from the field. The accuracy of their shooting was second only to the defensive pressure forced by MMU. Holding RMU Peoria to hitting just 25 percent of their field goals, the Blue Angels took a 28-25 lead into halftime.
Junior Becky Onan (Grafton, Wis.) played the entirety of the third quarter, and broke out for seven of the Blue Angels 19 points in the third. Onan forced two steals and also added two assists in the frame to give her team a comfortable 47-36 lead to begin the final quarter.
The Eagles made a mad dash in the final ten minutes of the game. RMU Peoria cut the Blue Angels lead to four points with 3:22 left on the clock. Icing away the game late, the Blue Angels hit 7-of-10 free throws in those final three minutes.
"Today was a grinder. We learned some important lessons that we hope to carry over into this game heavy stretch we are now heading into," said Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf. "When you're off a little, you look to your upperclassmen to help get you through. Jess and Becky did that for us today."
Both Jess Runge (Sr./Shawano, Wis.) and Onan filled out their stat sheets in this game. Runge finished tying her NCAA high in points with 24 points as the senior hit 10-of-11 from the field. Runge also added four rebounds, three assists and three steals to get her Blue Angels the win.
Onan finished with 23 points, and a team high eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. It is the third straight game for Onan in which the forward scored 20 or more points.
The Blue Angels will now hit the road for three straight away games. The first of which will be against Dominican University (5-11) on Thur. Jan. 26 at 7:00 pm. The contest will have live stats and video that will be linked to the mtmaryathletics.com website. Stay tuned for updates.
