MILWAUKEE – Tonight at the Bloechl Center, visiting Northland College (2-18) defeated the Mount Mary University women's basketball team by a final score of 62-52. The Blue Angels (5-10) led at the end of the first and third quarters, but the Lumberjills took a late lead to grab the win.
Although the Lumberjills jumped out ahead to a quick 4-0 lead, the Blue Angels quickly turned up the defensive pressure and only allowed three more points over the remaining eight minutes. MMU attacked the basket and was able to finish that stretch on a 12-3 run giving them a five-point lead going into the second quarter.
NC received a surge from freshman center Autumn Wormet who scored seven of her team's 22 second quarter points. The Lumberjills continued to get the ball into the post and as a result shot an effective 10-of-17 from the field.
The Blue Angels hit 5-of-13 in the second. Sophomore guard Lucy Pavelko (So./Muskego, Wis.) kept her team going with a quarter-high five points, including a made 3-point field goal and a pair of steals on the defensive side. The extra field goals for the Lumberjills gave NC a 29-26 lead at halftime.
MMU then jumped back in front in at the end of third quarter with some timely and efficient shooting. The Blue Angels hit 6-of-11 from the field including 2-of-3 from outside the 3-point line and an effective 6-of-8 from the free throw line. Forcing six Lumberjill turnovers, the Blue Angels were able to take the 46-45 lead at the end of the third.
Following a pair of made free throws from Wormet, NC grabbed the narrow lead and would not surrender it thereafter. Hitting 5-of-11 from the field and icing the game with 6-of-7 from the free throw line in the final quarter, the Lumberjills were able to grab their second win of the season.
"Their size and aggressiveness on ball caused us to be disjointed on offense," said Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf. "I felt like we figured some things out in the 3rd but just ran out of gas late."
Erica Williams (Fr./Bloomington, Ill.) led the Blue Angels in scoring with 15 points and was able to record her fifth double-double of the season ripping down 10 rebounds. Teammates Rae Grubbs (So./Covington, Ind.) and Brooke Uebersetzig (So./Greenwood, Ind.) chipped in on offense scoring 12 and 11 points respectively.
Senior Becky Onan (Grafton, Wis.) filled out the stat-sheet with seven points, eight rebounds, six assists, five steals and one block.
"This is a good lesson for us," add coach Heidorf. "We were able to hang in the game without having our best stuff. We will take the lessons and turn our attention to Thursday."
Following tonight's contest, the Blue Angels will turn around and get ready for a Thursday night showdown against Robert Morris University Springfield (2-13). MMU will host the Eagles Thu. Feb. 1 at the Bloechl Center. The game begins at 7:30 pm with live stats and video available at mtmaryathletics.com.
