[Women's Basketball] Mustang Comeback Falls Short
BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - On the road this weekend, the Mount Mercy Women's Basketball Team competed in a Heart of America Conference contest at Baker University. The Mustangs looked to break a five-game skid fell just short despite outscoring the Wildcats 34-19 in the second half. The Wildcats came out on top 77-72. As a result, the Mustangs move to 0-5 in conference play and 3-6 overall.
To start the game, the Wildcats would jump out to go on a quick run leading by 13 to end the first quarter. Extending their lead through the second quarter, the Mustang failed to fall in a groove as a team. However, Sharice Kawakami (SR/Honolulu, Hawaii) went on a solo 9-0 run after three consecutive three-point baskets. Despite the hot shooting, the Mustangs still trailed by 20 at the half. Coming out of the half with some fight, the Mustangs were able to slowly close the gap. With the third quarter winding down, the score read 64-54 after a huge 14-0 run by the Mustangs thanks to efforts from Kawakami, Brianna Thomas (JR/Mesquite, Texas), and Audrey Mulumba (JR/Vantaa, Finland). The Mustangs would start the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to close in on the Wildcat lead. To end the game, the Wildcats regained control and came away with the Mustang defeat.
In this weekend's matchup, the Mustangs shot 37.9% from both the field and beyond the three-point arc while shooting 73.3% from the line converting 11 of 15 free throws. The Mustangs collected 35 rebounds with nine of those being offensive rebounds. Individual leaders on the weekend were Kawakami with a career-high 28 points after a 6-for-10 day shooting from beyond the arc. Thomas followed with 15 and Mulumba with 10. Moffett led the team dishing out four assists. On the boards, Paris Sheck (SO/Gold Coast Queensland, Australia) grabbed eight rebounds. Thomas also added two steals and one block in the game.
Up next, the Mustangs will play another Heart of America Conference game on the road at MidAmerica Nazarene University on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 2:00 P.M.