CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Having dropped the last three, the Mount Mercy Mustangs were looking to get back on track against conference foe, the Clarke University Pride. The Mustangs would control the game for much of the first half with the Pride nipping at their tails. Leading for a majority of the second half, it would slowly slip away as the Pride came out on top 64-56. The Mustangs now move to 5-12 overall and 1-12 in the Heart of America Conference.
Running out of the gates with momentum, the Mustangs started on a 5-0 run thanks to an opening three by Audrey Mulumba (JR/Vantaa, Finland) followed by a field goal by Sarah Moffett (SO/Mount Pleasant, Iowa). The Pride would eventually find their footing to knot the game at 5-5. Midway through the first quarter, Aalyiah Brown hit a jumper to put the Mustangs on top again. A few possessions later Moffett would drive to the hoop aggressively to make the basket, draw the foul, and complete the three-point play. The lead would swap between the two teams a few more times throughout the quarter. The Mustangs ended the quarter on a 9-6 run thanks to long balls by Mulumba, Anna LeGrand (FR/Coggon, Iowa), and Sara Blowers (SR/Iowa City, Iowa). Out of the huddle to start the second quarter, the Pride went on a 9-0 run to grab just their second lead of the game. Battling right up to the half, Lakin Goodman (SR/Morrison, Ill.) converted a steal from Samantha Kitterman (JR/Cedar Rapids, Iowa) into a three-point basket on the other end of the court. At the half, the scoreboard read 34-27 in favor of the visitors.
Coming out of the locker room, the Mustangs brought the fire hitting five three pointers in a row to cap off a 15-2 run. The Mustangs would then use a time out to setup a full court press, but that transferred the momentum to the Pride. With four seconds left, Chelsey Lampe (SR/Riverside, Iowa) would nail a three to cap off the Mustangs 25-13 third quarter over the Pride. However, the Pride would prevail in the fourth driving to the hoop, drawing the fouls, and converting the free throws to take the lead 1:30 into the quarter. The Mustangs were held scoreless until there was one 4:55 left on the scoreboard, which was not enough to counteract the Pride's 10-0 run. The Pride would complete the comeback and snag the win from the Mustangs.
In tonight's conference matchup, the Mustangs shot 36.4% from the field and 31.6% from beyond the arc, while shooting 80% from the free throw line. The Mustangs pulled down 31 total rebounds with seven of those being offensive. The Pride displayed their height and dominance on the boards as they collected 39 rebounds with 11 offensive. Individual leaders on the night were Lampe and Blowers with nine points followed by Mulumba, Moffett, and Goodman all contributing eight. Brown would add seven. Mulumba lead on the boards as she pulled down seven. Mulumba and Brown would dish out five and four assists respectively. Both Kitterman and Goodman had two steals. Lampe, Brown, and Blowers all collected one block on the night.
Up next, the Mustangs will now be on the road for a pair of conference matchups before returning home on Saturday, Jan. 26 to take on No. 2 MidAmerica Nazarene University at 2:00 P.M. in Hennessey Rec Center.
