MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University basketball team won tonight on their home court against Grace Bible College (3-6). In a 58-52 victory for the Blue Angels (2-4), MMU was given a breakout performance from rookie Erica Williams (Fr./Bloomington, Ill.) as she records her first double-double of her collegiate career.
As the teams traded position and baskets early on, the Blue Angels attacked the hoop and senior Becky Onan (Grafton, Wis.) was able to keep her team within range of their opponent with her 5-of-5 shooting at the free throw line in that opening quarter.
While the Blue Angels trailed for most of the first quarter, the tenacity of Williams and Onan on the glass gave way to the two forwards pulling down three rebounds each and never giving the Tigers room to expand their lead.
With 28 seconds to go in the first quarter Williams cut the GBC lead to just one point with a layup underneath the hoop. Following a defensive trap by the Blue Angels, Williams stole the ball away from the opposition and launched a long distance 3-point shot and knocked it down as time expired in the first.
The Tigers held the Blue Angels to eight points in the second quarter, as they tied the game at 22 before the end of the half. Although losing the lead, the Blue Angels kept the momentum as Williams scored all eight points for MMU in the quarter and pulled down five rebounds as well.
Williams continued to lift the team's offense in the third quarter. The rookie pulled down seven more rebounds in the frame along with scoring 12 of the Blue Angels 18 points. The Tigers kept pace with the Blue Angels spreading the scoring around and shooting 7-of-16 from the field on their way to 15 points in the frame.
In the fourth quarter, senior Becky Onan helped alleviate the pressure of keeping the lead as she scored seven of the teams final 18 points.
When the Tigers cut the Blue Angels lead down to just three with 20 seconds remaining in the game, Onan iced the game away hitting 3-of-4 from the free throw line in two separate trips. The senior finished the game hitting 9-of-11 from the free throw line and ended with 15 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
"Our first two games we gave up an average of nearly 80 points and that did not sit well with anyone," said Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf. "So we chose to make that a focal point. Our last four games, we have not given up more than 54. That speaks to the determination and guts on this team. I am very proud of that stat and very proud of them."
Williams set her personal collegiate records for points and rebounds. Williams scored 30 of MMU's 58 points, 15 of the team's 36 rebounds and shot 14-of-16 from the floor.
"That has to be one of the best individual performances in Blue Angels history, noted Heidorf on William's performance. "Certainly in the time I've been here. Her offensive rebounding almost single-handedly kept us in the first half and even early in the second."
The Blue Angels will return to action Thu. Dec. 7 when they travel to Manitowoc, Wis. to take on Silver Lake College (3-3). Live video for next Thursday's game will be made available at mtmaryathletics.com.
