MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University basketball team defeated visiting Robert Morris University-Springfield 73-64. In addition to the Blue Angels (9-7) setting the program's single-season record for wins, Erica Williams (So./Bloomington, Ill.) set her collegiate record for points in a game at 33 and record her tenth double-double of the season.
Although the game consisted of only one lead change, the momentum of the game shifted between the two teams throughout the 40 minutes of play. After the Eagles took a 2-0 lead, the Blue Angels began a 12-2 run which gave MMU a lead they would never surrender.
The Blue Angels held their opponent to 29.4 percent from the field in the first quarter, and conversely hit 8-of-15 to take an early 19-10 lead after one frame. Williams hit 3-of-5 from the field and pulled down five rebounds to open up the game.
The Eagles chipped away at MMU's lead slowly in the second quarter. RMU was able to outscore their opponent by a slim 19-17 margin, but were never able to reduce the deficit by more than five points throughout the frame. MMU continued to hit effectively going 8-of-17 as a team in the second while forcing the opposition into five team turnovers.
After receiving eight points of their bench and an additional seven points from their point guard Deianira Stoudamire, the Eagles were able to make the score 36-29 at halftime.
The Eagles came out of halftime focusing on pressing after their made baskets. The adjustment resulted in the RMU cutting the lead to three points with seven minutes left to go in the third quarter. The Blue Angels, however, hit 10-of-12 from the free throw line in the quarter and were able to keep their opponent at a distance. Williams hit 5-of-6 while teammate Megan Johnson (Fr./Waukesha, Wis.) hit a perfect 4-of-4.
Starting the fourth quarter down 54-48, the Eagles scored the first four points of the frame and quickly made it a one possession game. After Lucy Pavelko (Jr./Muskego, Wis.) hit a free throw to push the lead back out to three, the Blue Angels pushed right back to come away with their ninth win of the season.
That ninth victory represents the highest ever win total for the program and the Blue Angels still have five official games left to go on the schedule. The record-setting win also showcased Williams' highest ever offensive output in her collegiate career. The forward went 12-of-20 from the field and 9-12 from the free throw line on her way to 33 points. Williams was also able to rip down 15 rebounds for her tenth double-double of the season.
"When we played them last year I didn't play like I should have," commented Williams. "So this year I had to show up and show out [sic] with the help of my teammates giving me the ball and making sure I kept my head the whole time."
"The dub [win] felt so good because we worked together," exclaimed Williams.
Rae Grubbs (Jr./Covington, Ind.) hit 4-of-6 from outside as she continued her outside shooting. Grubbs finished the contest second on the team in scoring with 15 points as well as five rebounds.
"We did a great job of attacking the basket," said Mount Mary University Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf on their record-setting win. "We talk about 'feeding the beast' when E [Williams] is hot. We did that tremendously tonight."
The Blue Angels next contest is this Sat. Feb. 09 in Wyoming, Mich. at 2:00 pm CST. Live streaming for the contest between MMU and Grace Christian will be available. Links can be found at MtMaryAthletics.com.