Third quarter is the difference against Pioneers

OLATHE, Kan. - The Mount Mercy women's basketball finished their toughest stretch of the season, playing four games in one week. The Mustangs dropped a Heart of America Athletic Conference game to MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 81-64, at the Cook Center on Saturday afternoon. 

Mount Mercy took a 10-10 tie and quickly made it 21-14 in a two minute span. Sadie Struchen made a three pointer before and after a Sammy Mia long ball during their run before the end of the quarter. MidAmerica Nazarene flipped the script in the second quarter, scoring 21 of their own and holding Mount Mercy to 14. Nonetheless, the Mustangs were down a possesion, 38-35 going into the break. 

The Mustangs had a slow start to the third quarter, only scoring two points in the first five minutes, allowing the Pioneers to build a double-digit lead. Mount Mercy (8-12, 4-10 Heart) couldn't overcome the deficit, but did outscore MidAmerica Nazarene 17-16 in the fourth. The two teams shot the ball particularly well with MidAmerica Nazarene (13-6, 10-4 Heart) having the slight 44.1 percent to 42.1 percent edge. Both teams knocked down seven three pointers and only two rebounds separated them, but the Mustangs could not stop the Pioneers in the paint, being outscored 53-32. 

Mia recorded her sixth 20-point outing of the season, finishing with 26 points to pace Mount Mercy. Struchen was a spark off the bench, going 5-for-8 from downtown for 15 points. Madison Dreckman pulled down a team-best nine rebounds while Annika Headington totaled five assists and seven boards. The Pioneers were led by TrEl'Shawn Smith who scored 27. 

Mount Mercy travels to eighth-ranked Clarke (18-2, 12-2 Heart) on Wednesday, Jan. 25 for their third straight Heart road contest. Time off is scheduled for 5:30 pm at the Kehl Center in Dubuque.