MILWAUKEE – The visiting Milwaukee School of Engineering defeated the Mount Mary University basketball team tonight at the Bloechl Center. The Raiders and Blue Angels (2-6) were neck and neck until a Raider scoring surge in the third quarter pushed MSOE to grab the 64-43 win and move to 5-4 on the season.
In the first quarter, the teams traded the lead back and forth, but the continued attack to the basket by MMU may have been the difference. As each team shot under 30 percent from the field in the opening frame, the Blue Angels took advantage of their opportunities going 3-of-5 at the free throw line while their opponent did not attempt a single one.
The Blue Angels earned a 12-11 lead going into the second quarter. When the Raiders took a 16-14 lead early on, MMU came back with a quick bucket from Lucy Pavelko (So./Muskego, Wis.), a steal and fast break layup from senior Becky Onan (Grafton, Wis.) for the lead, then a timely pass from Pavelko to Onan for an open jumper to make things 20-16 MMU.
The Raiders whittled away that lead, and with one-minute remaining in the half a Raider steal turned into a quick layup on the other end and gave MSOE a 25-24 lead. The Raiders added a layup in the final minute to make things 27-24 as the teams went into their locker rooms.
In the third, the Raiders seemed almost like a new team. Shooting 9-of-17 from the field, 4-of-4 from beyond the 3-point line, limiting themselves to three team turnovers and forcing five steals, MSOE pushed their lead up to 18 throughout the third quarter.
The Blue Angels held their opponent to 13 points in the final quarter, but could not regain the lead scoring 10 of their own. Kaylie Cook (Fr./Fairborn, Ohio) pushed her team in that final frame hitting 2-of-4 from the field on her way to five points in the quarter.
"That first half was a lot of fun and the kind of back and forth action I believe we will see more of in the second half of the season," said Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf. "Tonight, MSOE remained disciplined and outlasted us in the second half. They deserve credit for that."
Onan led the Blue Angels with her in the senior's second double-double of the season. Onan scored 10 points, while coming away with 10 rebounds and four steals.
Freshmen Erica Williams (Bloomington, Ill.) and Kaylie Cook each chipped in with nine points of their own.
The Blue Angels will have a few weeks to prepare for their next contest on Sun. Jan. 7. MMU will travel to Springfield, Ill. to take on Robert Morris University-Springfield as they open up their 2018 portion of the season against the Eagles. Stay tuned to mtaryathletics.com for updates.
