[Women's Basketball] Mustang offense stifled again in second straight defeat

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Mount Mercy's home court funk continued on Saturday as Viterbo (Wis.) handed the eighth-ranked Mustangs their second straight Midwest Collegiate Conference defeat, 54-51, in another low-scoring women's basketball game at Hennessey Recreation Center.

Mount Mercy began the week looking forward to three home games in a row with an opportunity to distance themselves from the rest of the league. But two games into the homestand, the Mustangs now need a victory over 12th-ranked Grand View on Monday to move back into a tie atop the conference standings.

Mount Mercy struggled from the field again on Saturday, shooting just 32.7 percent for the game, which included a 3-for-20 performance from 3-point range. Senior guard Micha Mims hit all three of the Mustangs' treys, while the rest of the team went 0-for-11 beyond the arc. Mount Mercy outrebounded the V-Hawks (9-12, 7-2 MCC) and commited fewer turnovers, but just couldn't find the basket after the break, shooting 26.7 percent from the floor after halftime.

Mims finished with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds for the Mustangs (15-6, 7-2 MCC). Senior guard Emily Greiner led the team with 13 points, while junior guard Brooke Quigley and sophomore forward Amanda Frost added six points each. Senior guard Laura Lippert chipped in five boards and three assists, senior guard Ashley Koch six rebounds.

Paige Babiash scored a game-high 15 points and had three assists for the V-Hawks. She was joined in double figures by Brooke Anderson's 13 points. Laquita Becker hauled down eight rebounds and tallied three assists.

Mount Mercy and Grand View square off on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Hennessey. The Vikings (16-5, 8-1 MCC) bring a six-game winning streak to Cedar Rapids and look to avenge an 80-63 loss to the Mustangs on Dec. 3 in Des Moines.