[Women's Basketball] First Half Deficit Too Large for Mustangs to Overcome

ATCHISON, Kan. – On to the second half of the grueling Heart of America Conference schedule, the Mount Mercy Mustangs traveled to take on the (RV) Ravens of Benedictine College. During the first matchup between these teams, the Ravens, who were ranked No. 22 at the time, outlasted the Mustangs in the second half to snag the win. This time around the Ravens took control of the game early and went on to the win 85-60. The Mustangs now move to 5-15 overall and 1-13 in the conference.

After the opening tip, the Mustangs put the first six points on the board after back-to-back three pointers by Sara Blowers (SR/Iowa City, Iowa) and Lakin Goodman (SR/Morrison, Ill.). The Mustangs maintained the lead until there was 2:30 left in the first quarter before the Ravens went on a 17-0 run to close out the first and start the second quarter. The only two Mustang field goals in the second quarter were long balls by both Chelsey Lampe (SR/Riverside, Iowa) and Goodman. Going into the half, the Ravens lead 45-25. The Mustangs adjusted their game plan at the half and would hang with the Ravens throughout the remained of the game. Many points continued to come from the free throw line for the Mustangs, but Samantha Kitterman (JR/Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Goodman contributed successful three-point baskets in the third quarter. To start the fourth quarter, Paris Sheck (SO/Gold Coast Queensland, Australia) tried to give the Mustangs a last-minute push as she drained two three pointers within a few possessions of each other. The Mustangs put up a great fight in the second half, but it would not be enough to overcome the 20-point deficit created in the first half as the Ravens would go on to capture the win.

In Saturday's matchup, the Mustangs shot 34% from the field and 31% from beyond the three-point arc while shooting 67.9% from the line sinking 19 of 28. The Mustangs collected 34 rebounds with seven of those being offensive rebounds. Individual leaders were Goodman with a career-high 15 points with Sheck adding 11 and Blowers throwing in nine. Aaliyah Brown (JR/Crawfordsville, Iowa) collected nine rebounds. Kitterman dished out three assists with multiple players tallying two. Kitterman would also have three steals in the game.

Up next, the Mustangs will play one more game on the road before returning to the Hennessey Rec Center on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 2:00 P.M. for a conference matchup against No. 4 MidAmerica Nazarene University.