Mustangs Scratch Wildcats at Home

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A dominant second-quarter performance lifted the Mount Mercy Mustangs to an 83-58 victory over Baker on Monday afternoon at Hennessey Recreation Center. With five players scoring in double figures, Mount Mercy improved to 7-5 overall and 5-4 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.

The Mustangs trailed 17-12 after the opening frame but exploded for 30 points in the second quarter, outscoring Baker 30-10 to take a 42-27 lead into halftime. The Mustangs shot 49.2% from the field (29-of-59) and capitalized on efficient free-throw shooting, going 17-of-22 (77.3%).

Annika Headington led the Mustangs with 17 points, shooting 9-of-12 from the free-throw line while adding five rebounds and three assists. Madison Skelton and Sam Kiel each contributed 15 points. Kiel shot a blistering 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, while Skelton went 7-of-10 from the field. Claudia Vanzant added 14 points, shooting 5-of-7, and Ellie Morrill provided a spark off the bench with 10 points.

Defensively, the Mustangs controlled the boards, outrebounding the Wildcats 36-32, with 12 offensive rebounds leading to second-chance opportunities. The Mustangs also tallied 14 steals and forced 18 Baker turnovers, converting those miscues into 23 points.

Baker (1-10, 0-9 Heart of America) was led by Sophia Barrett, who finished with 15 points and five rebounds. Taniya Tease added 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Destiny Kiner chipped in 10 points.

Mount Mercy outpaced Baker 23-19 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory, showcasing their depth as all 14 players saw action.

The Mustangs return to action after the holiday break on Thursday, January 2nd traveling to face Peru State in another Heart of America matchup. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.