MILWAUKEE – It took more than an 18 months hiatus, but the Mount Mary University basketball team finally hit the hardwood once again Wednesday evening at the Bloechl Center, welcoming Illinois Institute of Technology for the 2021-22 season opener. Despite a nearly clawing their way back into the game midway through the fourth quarter, a hot start by the visiting Scarlet Hawks proved too much for the Blue Angels, who fell 74-55.
Sophomore guard Talesa Campbell (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson) headlined the MMU offense with a team-high 28 points on 10-for-24 shooting, adding a pair of rebounds, pair of assists, and pair of steals for a very strong showing.
No other Blue Angel reached double-figure scoring, but rookies Natalie McDermott (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) chipped in nine points and eight boards. Sophomore Brianna Duke (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King) scored just six points on a tough shooting night, but impacted the MMU effort with a team-high 10 rebounds, five assists, and six steals.
Freshman Lisette Rodriguez (Bensenville, Ill./Fenton) added six steals of her own to go with four points and eight rebounds. Senior Brianna Jashinsky (Butler, Wis./Hamilton) scored five—including one of Mount Mary's four three-pointers—and added three rebounds, while junior Sarah Shaffer (Webster, Wis./Siren) added three free throws, a rebound, and an assist in their first games back with the program.
IIT's Julia Bucci led all scorers with 39 points, adding 12 rebounds and three steals.
After a single Shaffer free throw broke open the scoring, IIT used a 12-0 run to take early control as MMU searched for its shooting touch. The Scarlet Hawks quickly inflated a 14-6 lead at the quarter into what would be insurmountable leads of 29-14 and eventually a 20-point separation right before the half.
A pair of Campbell free throws cut that lead to 39-21 at the break, and MMU came out of the locker room with some fight. Getting its transition game into gear, layups from Campbell and Duke closed to within 12.
A pair of threes midway through the fourth by Jashinsky and McDermott cut the lead to 10 with just under five minutes remaining, but the Scarlet Hawks' Bucci scored six unanswered to put the game away.
Mount Mary (0-1 overall) drops its second straight season-opener, and just its second ever matchup with IIT (1-1). The Blue Angels still lead the all-time series 9-2.
MMU has a quick turnaround and will look to get back on track this weekend in Minneapolis. The Blue Angels will play two games as part of the North Central University (Minn.) Classic, taking on Waldorf Friday at 6:00 p.m., then the host Rams Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
