MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University basketball team lost to visiting Maranatha Baptist University (9-13) tonight at the Bloechl Center by a score of 63-52. Those in attendance witnessed the last collegiate game in the career of Becky Onan (Sr./Grafton, Wis.) who dazzled with a double-double in her basketball finale.
As they have in the last two contest, the Blue Angels (8-13) came out hitting their shots and stifling their opposition. MMU went up 9-0 with 6:25 left to go in the first quarter following a well-executed pass from Erica Williams (Fr./Bloomington, Ill.) that led to an Onan layup.
Following a timeout, the Sabercats generated a 9-0 run of their own. The two teams traded baskets for the final minute of the first quarter, then the Sabercats grabbed the 14-11 lead to close out the frame.
In a contrast from the first, the Sabercats opened with a run that held the opposition scoreless for the first three minutes. The Blue Angels came right back with an Onan 3-point field goal and Rae Grubbs hitting from the free throw line. Following more trading baskets, the teams then entered the locker rooms tied 28-28 at halftime.
The Sabercats grabbed the lead in the third quarter and shot an effective 8-of-16 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. The 22 points scored by MBU in the third pushed things to a 50-40 lead for the Sabercats heading into the fourth.
The Blue Angels cut the deficit to four points in the final quarter when Brooke Uebersetzig (So./Greenwood, Ind.) hit her second clutch 3-point field goal of the night, but MBU withstood the final surge and held on for the 63-52 win.
Becky Onan finished her final game on top of a majority of career categories for the Blue Angels. Not surprisingly, Onan filled the stat sheet with 17 points, six assists, 10 rebounds, two steals and five blocks. Onan played all 40 minutes in tonight's game and led the Blue Angels in every major statistical category except free throws made.
Rae Grubbs (So./Covington, Ind.) scored 16 points in the contest and hit 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Grubbs also went 2-of-6 from 3-point territory which ties her with Jordan Osley ('11) for the single-season record for 3-point field goals made (37).
"The third quarter was pivotal," said Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf. "We wanted to attack coming out of halftime, but we settled for too many jumpers after a while."
"Becky [Onan] filled the stat sheet which she can do. Her length creates issues because she can block you from behind and she can disrupt and offense when we put her on top. After you pencil someone in night in, night out for four years, it will definitely be different next season not seeing her in that lineup."
The Blue Angels will now have months to prepare for the 2018-19 basketball season. The team will also say "good-bye" to Becky Onan, a long time pedestal for her team and now one of the most decorated Blue Angels in history. As the offseason goes on, stay up-to-date at mtmaryathletics.com for all the info on your favorite Blue Angels.
