Milwaukee, WI- In Saturday's regular season finale, a great deal was on the line for the Blue Angel basketball team. The Crusaders of Great Lakes Christian came into the game on an eight game win streak, including a January win in Michigan over Mount Mary. Thankfully for the home crowd of Blue Angel faithful, Mount Mary rose to the occasion and knocked off Great Lakes by a 72-59 final. The win was the 12th of the season for MMU, building on the season single victory record they achieved on Thursday, and also clinching the first Blue Angel basketball season of .500 or better in program history.
The game was tight throughout, MMU took a four point lead into halftime and the game was still tied after three quarters. MMU dominated the fourth quarter for the 13 point victory. The 27 point fourth quarter was one of the finest on the season for the Blue Angels and clinched the victory much to the delight of the large crowd assembled on the program's annual Play4Kay day.
Mount Mary played nine players in the contest, and remarkably all nine scored and grabbed a rebound in the true team effort. Three Mount Mary players scored in double digits, led by India Lucas. Lucas played perhaps her finest game as a Blue Angel, she recorded a double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. She shot fifty perfect from the floor and recorded four assists and no turnovers.
Sanai Ballard and Brianna Mendez each scored 13 on the game, Ballard had four rebounds and three assists, while Mendez recorded three steals. The Blue Angel bench outscored the Crusader bench 24-0. Alexus Hatcher scored eight off of the bench and Ta'Miah Jamison 7. Joselyn Gonzales came up big off the bench as well, with 5 points, 8 rebounds and 3 Blocks.
The Blue Angels (12-11) have now recorded the first winning regular season in program history. In addition to that accolade, the 23-24 team has now set program high marks in total wins, home wins and road wins. Up next for the squad is the Coast 2 Coast Conference Tournament held at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. The six team event will begin on Thursday, February 22nd, with the tournament's champion receiving an automatic bid to the 2024 Division 3 NCAA tournament. All coverage of the tournament and Blue Angel Basketball can be found here on www.mtmaryathletics.com
