MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University basketball team played some stifling defense in the first half of Tuesday's matchup with Dominican University (Ill.), but the Stars used a fourth quarter burst to eventually put the game away as MMU fell, 65-43, at the Bloechl Center.
The loss drops MMU to 0-4 overall, while Dominican earned its first win of the year and improved to 1-2. The victory also ups Dominican's all-time series record against Mount Mary to 5-0.
Mount Mary held the Stars to just 17.6 percent shooting (3-for-17) in the first quarter, drawing even at 9-9 on a triple from senior Brianna Jashinsky (Butler, Wis./Hamilton). The stalemate ensued as either team scored over the final 3:36 of the opening quarter.
Trailing 24-16 at the half, MMU scored first off a free throw by sophomore Brianna Duke (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King). However, Dominican erupted for 15 straight points before a layup from freshman Lisette Rodriguez (Bensenville, Ill./Fenton) ended the run. Duke converted on an and-one to end the third quarter on a high note, cutting the deficit to 10, 42-32.
The Stars simply outlasted Mount Mary in the fourth quarter, as the Blue Angels' six-active-player rotation began to run out of gas. DU stretched its advantage to 53-34, forcing an MMU timeout just two minutes in, and eventually outscored the hosts 23-11 over the final 10 minutes to claim its first win of the year.
Sophomore Talesa Campbell (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson) tallied 19 points to lead MMU, also adding a team-best five steals and three assists. Duke added nine points, four rebounds, four steals, and three assists, with Jashinsky adding a team-high eight boards.
Junior Sarah Shaffer (Webster, Wis./Siren) added six points and seven rebounds, while Rodriguez's six points and six rebounds accompanied a career-high five blocks. Sophomore Ashton Longazel (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) also added a pair of rebounds and a steal.
Alisha Markley and Kamryn Woods led Dominican with 21 and 19 points, respectively. Woods also notched a double-double with a game-high 15 rebounds.
Next Up for MMU
Mount Mary will continue its busy week of action, traveling to Marian University (Wis.) Thursday evening for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Sabres in Fond du Lac. The Blue Angels will then welcome Crown College (Minn.) Saturday afternoon in a 1 p.m. tip.
