Carlinville, IL- The Mount Mary Basketball team was looking to complete a three win week and win their fourth straight game when they took on the hosting Beavers of Blackburn College on Saturday. Much like their last outing against Illinois Tech, Mount Mary erased a first half double digit deficit and had a late lead. Unfortunately for the Blue Angels, Blackburn would have the last comeback of the day. The Beavers scored the game's final ten points to halt Mount Mary's winning streak and defeat MMU by a score a 77-68.
Blackburn used hot shooting all day and in the first half led MMU by 10 with 5 minutes to play in the second quarter. The Blue Angels would chip away at the lead and go into the intermission trailing by just one point, 30-29.
Mount Mary continued the momentum into the third quarter, leading by five heading into the fourth. The Blue Angels would stretch the lead to as much as nine, but Blackburn's offense would not be denied in the fourth, shooting 47 percent in the quarter and hitting four of eight threes to ice the game.
With the game tied at 68 and under 2 minutes to play, Mount Mary had a close range attempt that did not fall. On the ensuing possession Blackburn missed a jump shot, but an offensive rebound and basket put the Beavers ahead for good at 70-68. The Blue Angels had another quality look to tie the game at 70, but it was not to be on this day, following the miss, Blackburn's Miley Kwiatkowski would knock down her fifth three of the day (on eight attempts) to essentialy end the game. Mount Mary was forced to foul, leading to the 77-68 final score.
Deja Rivers was the leading scorer for the Blue Angels with 22 points, 15 in the second half. Vanessa Diaz added 14 points, India Lucas had 8, Sanai Ballard 7, and Alyssen Noriega played her best game as a Blue Angel with 8 points. Rivers, Diaz, Lucas, and Joselyn Gonzales each had 6 rebounds. Diaz also had 7 assists.
The Blue Angels (3-2) will not have long to bounce back from the narrow defeat. They will hit the road again on Tuesday, November 21st, for a much shorter trip to local rival Alverno College. The game is scheduled to tip at 7 pm and all coverage can be found here on www.mtmaryathletics.com
