MILWAUKEE – Tonight at the Bloechl Center, the visiting Red Lions of Lincoln Christian University (3-10) defeated the Mount Mary University basketball team in a close 52-50 game. The Blue Angels outscored their opponent 13-5 in the final 10 minutes, but the Red Lions hung on for the win and move MMU to 2-8 on the season.
The Blue Angels jumped out to an early lead in this one, and held onto that lead for a majority of the opening quarter. In fact, MMU led until a 3-point shot from Mikayla Smith gave the Red Lions a 15-14 lead. The barn-burning opening frame finished 20-16 in favor of LCU.
Much of that output for the Blue Angels came from beyond the arc as MMU hit 4-of-7 from 3-point territory in the first quarter. The Red Lions 3-of-8 from outside helped, but their 53 percent overall from the field and three team steals gave them the lead.
MMU forced five Red Lion turnovers in the second quarter as they tried to nip away at the lead. The Blue Angels hit 4-of-4 from the free throw line in the second, but their 2-of-13 from the field allowed the opposition to pull ahead for a 32-24 lead at halftime.
To open the second half, the Blue Angels came out aggressively on both sides of the court. MMU cut the Red Lions lead to just one when Lucy Pavelko (So./Muskego, Wis.) hit a clutch-jumper with 5:42 left to go in the third quarter. LCU then went on a 13-4 run to close out the frame.
Down ten, the Blue Angels battled and held the Red Lions to a 2-of-15 performance from the field in the final frame. MMU turned the 3-point shot back on in the final stretch and hit 3-of-7 from out side in the quarter, but LCU held on to escape with the 52-50 victory.
"Two straight two-point losses are tough to swallow for any team," said Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf. "As we said to the kids, we did many good things, but we also hit some lulls."
"I was happy with our fight, coming back from eight and 10-point deficits in the second half. The key now is figuring out how not to fall into those holes in the first place."
Becky Onan (Sr./Grafton, Wis.) and Erica Williams (Fr./Bloomington, Ill.) pulled down 12 rebounds each leading MMU on the glass.
Teammate Brooke Uebersetzig (So./Greenwood, Ind.) led the offense with 13 points including a 3-of-7 performance from outside. Fellow Blue Angel Rae Grubbs (So./Covington, Ind.) scored 11 points for her squad, also hitting 3-of-7 from 3-point range.
The Blue Angels will have a quick turnaround as they host North Central University (Minn.) on Mon. Jan. 15. Live video and stats will be available for the 4:00 pm contest on Martin Luther King Junior Day 2018. Follow mtmaryathletics.com for links and info.
