MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University basketball team closed out their regular season today with a win over Andrews University (10-12) at the Bloechl Center. On Senior Day, the Blue Angels (6-17) held their opponents to just two points in the second quarter on their way to a 56-48 victory on Sunday. Seniors Lucy Pavelko (Muskego, Wis.), Rae Grubbs and Brianna Valdez (Thornton, Colo. were honored for today's festivities.
Erica Williams (Jr./Bloomington, Ill.) set her season-record for rebounds in Sunday's win against the Cardinals. Williams pulled in 16 rebounds and scored 22 points in her 10th double-double of the regular season; Williams pulled in 11 double-doubles in 2018-19. The juior forward also led MMU on defense with a team high three steals.
Senior Rae Grubbs (Covington, Ind.) added to her single-season program record for made three-pointers. Grubbs went 1-of-4 from outside the 3-point line tonight and ends the regular season with 51 made three-pointers. Grubbs finished the contest with 11 points to help the Blue Angels grab their sixth victory of the season.
The bench combined for 21 points today against Andrews. Transfer Deovian Young (Jr./Milwaukee, Wis.) led the bench in scoring today with eight points. Young went 3-of-3 from the free throw line against AU. Nyasia Hardy (Fr./Fort Wayne, Ind.) led MMU with two assists. The young guard went 3-of-8 from the field for six points.
In the first quarter, the two teams traded baskets in nearly ever other possession. The Blue Angels took an early 11-6 lead, but back-to-back buckets by the Cardinals shrunk the MMU lead to just one. With the score 16-15, the Cardinals launched a deep last-second three-pointer that gave them an 18-16 lead going into the second.
In the second quarter, the Blue Angels held their opponent to two points. Limiting the Cardinals to just 1-of-10 from the field, gave the Blue Angels a 26-20 lead going into the locker rooms at half. Along with their persistence on offense, MMU also forced eight AU turnovers in the second that helped bolster their lead.
In the third quarter, the Cardinals nipped away at the lead. Nearly nine minutes into the third, AU tied the game at 33-33with a three-pointer by Nadria Cousins. In the remaining minute, field goals by Lucy Pavelko and Nyasia Hardy helped bolster MMU's lead back up to 37-33.
The two teams continued to trade buckets against each other until late in the fourth. With three minutes left to go in the game, the Cardinals were able to cut the deficit to two. But four points from Erica Williams and five from Megan Johnson (Jr./Waukesha, Wis.) help solidify the 56-48 victory.
The Blue Angels will return to action for their conference tournament on Sat. Feb. 29. MMU will host the 2020 American Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Basketball Tournament at the Bloechl Center. Live stats and video will be available for the whole tournament here.
