[Women's Basketball] Mustangs drop V-Hawks, keep pace in MCC race

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Mount Mercy's defense shut down Viterbo (Wis.) in the second half as the Mustangs kept pace in the Midwest Collegiate Conference women's basketball standings with a 67-57 win over the V-Hawks on Saturday at R.W. Beggs Senior Gymnasium.

The game was tied at intermission, then Mount Mercy (12-10, 6-2 MCC) held Viterbo (6-14, 1-6 MCC) to just 6-of-26 shooting from the field after the break to get their fifth straight victory over the V-Hawks. The Mustangs have defeated Viterbo by an average of 21 points over those five games.

Junior guard Emily Greiner had her sixth 20-point effort of the season, pouring in 22 points off the bench for Mount Mercy. Junior guard Micha Mims added 19 points, nine rebounds, and four steals. Freshman forward Amanda Frost had eight points, junior guard Ashley Koch seven points and eight boards.

Dani Templin, Viterbo's leading scorer this year, had a team-high 13 points on Saturday. She also grabbed five rebounds and four steals. Sally Colby chipped in 12 points and five boards. Haylea Halverson tallied nine points, Paige Babiash and Emily Larson seven apiece.

Mount Mercy remains a game back of league-leading St. Ambrose (17-3, 7-1 MCC) and William Penn (16-6, 7-1 MCC). The Mustangs, who are in the midst of their busiest week of the season, travel to Des Moines on Monday to face Grand View (8-13, 4-4 MCC) at 5:30 p.m. at Sisam Arena. Mount Mercy defeated Grand View, 72-59, in their conference opener on Dec. 1 in Cedar Rapids.