MANITOWOC, Wis. – The Mount Mary University basketball team finished up the 2013 calendar year with a game against Silver Lake College Monday night at the UW-Manitowoc Fieldhouse. Despite a valiant effort, the Blue Angels came up short against the host Lakers, falling 84-45.

Senior guard Emily Barker (Oconomowoc, Wis.) led the Blue Angels with 13 points and five steals, as well as six rebounds and a pair of assists. Senior Ashley Leverenz (Mauston, Wis.) tallied her third double-double of the year with 10 points and 12 rebounds to go with a team-high three blocks. Sophomore guard Yolanda Coleman (Wauwatosa, Wis.) recorded four assists to accompany five points on the night.

Silver Lake (5-4) sliced through the Mount Mary defense early, jumping out to an early 14-0 lead before a baseline pull-up jumper from freshman Phoenix Hulsey (Wauwatosa, Wis.) broke open the scoring for MMU. The Blue Angels cut the lead to single digits midway into the first half and maintained that deficit before the Lakers surged out to another 15-3 run to take a 36-15 lead at halftime.

The Blue Angels improved upon their 21 percent shooting in the first half by going 10-for-31 from the floor, including 4-for-8 from behind the arc in the second half. Yet MMU's 30-point stanza still wasn't enough as Silver Lake put up 48 to take the 39-point victory.

Mount Mary will head into the Christmas break with a 16-day layoff from intercollegiate competition. When the New Year rolls in, the Blue Angels will travel to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Thursday, January 2 before hosting Grace Bible College for a Saturday matinee on January 4.