[Women's Basketball] Mustangs stay perfect in league play

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Senior guard Micha Mims was nearly flawless on Saturday, pouring in a game-high 23 points to lead the 11th-ranked Mount Mercy women's basketball team to an 86-70 victory over Clarke in Midwest Collegiate Conference action at Hennessey Recreation Center.

Mims, who was a point shy of her season high, knocked down all four of her 3-point attempts and was 8-of-9 from the floor overall. She also went 3-for-3 at the free throw line for the Mustangs (8-4, 3-0 MCC), who are one of two undefeated teams in the MCC. Viterbo (Wis.) also moved to 3-0 with a 55-43 win at Waldorf on Saturday.

Both teams shot the ball well, with Mount Mercy connecting on 58.9 percent of its shots and Clarke (0-11, 0-3 MCC) knocking down 51.1 percent of its field goal attempts. The Mustangs hit seven triples compared to five for the Crusaders, but Clarke held a 17-13 advantage at the foul line and outrebounded Mount Mercy, 29-24. For the second straight game, though, the Mustangs took care of the basketball. They committed only 12 turnovers while forcing 19 by the Crusaders.

Senior guard Emily Greiner scored 14 points, while sophomore forward Amanda Frost and senior guard Ashley Koch added 12 points apiece. Senior guard Mackenzie Skay chipped in a season-high 10 points off the bench. Frost and junior guard Brooke Quigley grabbed six rebounds each and Greiner finished with four assists.

Clarke was led in scoring by Cassie Carlson with 16 points, Anna Hahn with 15, Amanda Hamilton 14 and Candis Kertson 10. Hahn pulled down a game-high eight rebounds, Kertson grabbed six boards. Kertson and Brittany Collier tallied two assists each.

Mount Mercy is off until the La Quinta Stritch Holiday Classic on Dec. 19-20 in Milwaukee, Wis. The Mustangs face 15th-ranked Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) on Monday, Dec. 19, at 5:00 p.m., then St. Francis (Ill.) on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 3:00 p.m.