MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University basketball team came from behind to defeat the visiting Holy Family College Lakers (3-19) tonight at the Bloechl Center. In a game of eight lead changes, the Blue Angels (5-13) took a lead with just under seven minutes left in the game and never surrendered it again on their way to a 67-51 victory.
"The team showed true character tonight," said Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach John Baillie. "Withstanding a great run from Holy Family in the third and closing as a team in the fourth."
Rae Grubbs (Sr./Covington, Ind.) led the Blue Angels offense as she set the program's single-season record for made three-point field goals against the Lakers. Grubbs went 3-of-11 from outside on her way to a team high 15 points.
Erica Williams came off the bench for the first time this year and went on to tally her eighth double-double of the season. Williams pulled in a team high 13 rebounds and scored 14 points. Williams got her offense going multiple times and shared a team lead in assists for the game with four; teammate Lucy Pavelko (Sr./Muskego, Wis.) also added four assists.
In her first start of the season, Brianna Valdez (Sr./Thronton, Colo.) pulled in seven rebounds, two steals and a pair of assists. Guard Nyasia Hardy (Fort Wayne, Ind.) led the guards again on the boards with 11 rebounds against the Lakers.
After taking an early 7-6 lead over Holy Family, the Blue Angels hit a scoring-drought where they went without a bucket for four minutes of game time. The Lakers edged out a 11-9 lead after one quarter when they hit 2-of-5 from outside the three-point line and held the Blue Angels to 21.1 percent from the field in the quarter.
MMU came out aggressive in the second quarter and were able to grab the lead. The Blue Angels went on a 15-0 run that held the Lakers scoreless for nearly five minutes. MMU hit 7-of-15 from the field and 6-of-10 from the line on their way to a 31-23 halftime lead.
After scoring just two points in the first three minutes of the third quarter, the Blue Angels saw their eight point lead cut to just one. The Lakers forced MMU into seven turnovers in the frame and hit a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. The Blue Angels hit just 3-of-13 from the field and gave up a late lead.
Valdez stole the ball away from the Lakers in the opening possesion of the fourth quarter. Down by three, Rae Grubbs launched a three-pointer that tied the game at 44. MMU went on a 13-3 run that propelled them to a 67-51 win.
The Blue Angels return to action Fri., Jan. 31 when they head to University of Wisconsin River Falls to take on the Falcons. Live stats and video will be available for Friday's contest, check back to MtMaryAthletics.com for details and links.
