MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University basketball team never trailed during their 54-31 victory over the visiting Crown College Storm. MMU's win at the Bloechl Center moves the Blue Angels to 5-3 on the season while the Storm move to 2-7 before their respective conference play starts.

After Crown missed their first two shots on the opening possession of the game, Erica Williams (So./Bloomington, Ill.) grabbed her first rebound of the night to stop the little momentum the Storm gained. Brooke Uebersetzig (Jr./Greenwood, Ind.) then knocked down her first three-point field goal of the game to give MMU a 3-0 lead, which they would never surrender thereafter.

Williams led the charge in the opening quarter hitting 2-of-4 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line. The Blue Angels spread out the baskets throughout the frame and were able to use their 12-7 rebounding advantage over Crown to take the quarter 12-8.

The Storm were able to improve on their shooting percentage in the second quarter of tonight's game. Although hitting 37.5 percent in the second, the Blue Angels forced their opposition into making nine team turnovers that included two steals from Williams.

Along with the defense, the Blue Angels hit 6-of-15 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free throw line during the quarter. While newcomer Brianna Valdez (So./Thornton, Colo.) led the charge with four points in the frame, MMU was able to outscore their opponent 17-8 to make the score 29-16 at halftime.

Crown was able to chip into the lead slightly over the next ten minutes of game time. The Storm were able to hit 5-of-13 from the field and 2-of-2 from outside the 3-point line to outscore MMU 12-11 in the third.

One minute into the fourth quarter, the Storm set Marissa Ruf up for a layup in the paint which made the score 40-30 with the Blue Angels up. That would be the only made field goal of the quarter for Crown, as the Blue Angels forced seven more turnovers and clamped down on defense. After adding 14 points of their own, the Blue Angels finished with the 54-31 victory.

"I am so proud of our crew and the toughness they showed this week," replied Mount Mary Head Basketball Coach Marc Heidorf. "We were down some players and have finals week hanging over our heads, but kept focus and earned two quality wins."

Williams finished the game with her fifth double-double of the season. Properly known as "E-Dub", the sophomore forward accumulated 18 points and 16 rebounds as she continues to average a double-double for 2018-19.

Melissa Golo (Fr./Boise, Idaho) went for 16 points with seven rebounds on the evening, which included a 10-point fourth quarter. Teammate Lucy Pavelko (Jr./Muskego, Wis.) kept the offense going with a team leading five assists and three steals.

After today's contest, the Blue Angels will return to the Bloechl Center on Mon. Dec. 17. Blackburn College will take on MMU for the 6:00 pm game. Live stats and streaming for that contest will be available at MtMaryAthletics.com.