MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University basketball team finished the 2019 calendar year with a 70-55 victory over Alverno (2-7). After a close first quarter, the Blue Angels outscored their opponent 21-10 in the second quarter and never surrendered the lead again.
Four Blue Angels scored in double-digits in tonight's win over the longtime rival Inferno. Erica Williams (Jr./Bloomington, Ill.) led the night with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Williams' totals translated into her fifth double-double of the season.
The three starting guards for the Blue Angels all scored 10 or more points against Alverno. Rae Grubbs (Sr./Covington, Ind.) and Melissa Golo (So./Boise, Idaho) each scored 12 points: Grubbs went 4-pf-10 from outside the three-point line and Golo went a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
Megan Johnson (Jr./Waukesha, Wis.) added 10 points to MMU's offense and also mixed in four assists. Teammate Golo and Nyasia Hardy (Fr./Fort Wayne, Ind.) also dished out four assists on the evening.
"Tonight the team came together and played Blue Angel Basketball," said Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach John Baillie. "They started with tough defense and executed as a team on offense. We showed what we are capable of at both ends of the floor."
The Inferno went ahead 9-3 early on in Tuesday night's contest. MMU answered right back in the opening quarter with a 9-4 run to close out the frame.
Alverno led 13-12 to open up the second quarter, however, Grubbs started the MMU offense with back-to-back three pointers which put the Blue Angels ahead. After the quick swing, the Blue Angels would never surrender the lead throughout the contest. MMU hit 9-of-16 from the field and 3-of-4 from outside the arc while limiting the opposition to 36.4 percent from the field and eight second-quarter turnovers.
The Blue Angels kept their offense rolling in the third finishing the frame with a 7 to 1 assist to turnover ratio. Hitting 46.7 percent from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from the free throw line, MMU outscored the Inferno 19-16 as they added to their lead heading into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, the Blue Angels salted away the victory going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line down the stretch. Along with controlling the glass and outrebounding their opponent 11-7, the Blue Angels outscored Alverno 18-16 to take home MMU's fourth win of the season and second victory against their rival since joining the NCAA.
After a quick break for the holidays, the Blue Angels will return to the court Thu. Jan. 2 against Rockford University. The Blue Angels will begin their first of a six-game away trip against the Regents. Live stats and video for the game will be available at MtMaryAthletics.com.
Enjoy your holiday season!
