MILWAUKEE – Today at the Bloechl Center, the visiting Cardinal Stritch University Wolves (16-7) defeated the Mount Mary University basketball team by a final score of 75-50. MMU hit 17-of-22 from the free throw line, but move to 8-7 on the season after the Wolves hit 47.8 percent from the field to grab the win.
The Wolves opened up the game on a 22-2 run. After falling behind, the Blue Angels began to see a big spark with one-minute left to go in the quarter. An energetic Erica Williams (So./Bloomington, Ill.) attacked the rim hard and was sent to the free throw line after being fouled. Williams hit both free throws, and helped the Blue Angels end the frame on a 5-2 run.
MMU settled into the game in the second quarter matching nearly every bucket from the opponent with one of their own. The Blue Angels were able to hit 9-of-10 free throws and commit only one team foul of their own in the entire second quarter.
MMU forced the Wolves into three team turnovers in the second and held CSU to 1-of-6 from outside the three-point line. The combination of defense and effective free throw shooting led to the Blue Angels outscoring their opponent 18-17 in the second.
The second half began with the Blue Angels going on a 6-2 run. After cutting down the lead to 14, the Wolves finished the quarter hitting 10-of-16 from the field and forced the opposition into five turnovers in the quarter. The effective shooting resulted in a 63-38 lead by CSU at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter saw the Blue Angels surge again on both ends of the court. MMU forced the Wolves into five turnovers in the final ten minutes while the Blue Angels hit 4-of-8 from the field. Along with MMU hitting 4-of-6, the Blue Angels held CSU to 27.8 percent from the field in the remainder of the game to make the final score 75-50.
Erica Williams led the Blue Angels with 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals. The sophomore forward was able to capitalize at the free throw line hitting 8-of-9 against CSU. Teammate Megan Johnson (Fr./Waukesha, Wis.) got her team's offense going with a team high three assists.
"We tried to prepare for the athleticism and strength we would be facing today but it is not something that is easy to simulate," commented Mount Mary University Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf.
"It took the full first quarter to make the adjustments that were needed. That's a good team and I think the fact that we did not back down gives us some things we can now build upon as we prepare for another tough match up on Wednesday."
Wednesday night, the Blue Angels will host Aurora University of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. The game on Wed. Jan. 30 is scheduled for a 7:00 pm start time. Live stats and video for the game will be made available at MtMaryAthletics.com.
