Mustangs win low-scoring road matchup

CANTON, Mo. -- The Mount Mercy women's basketball team picked up a critical road win on Wednesday night, staying in the hunt to host a conference tournament quarterfinal after a 56-42 Heart of America Athletic Conference victory over Culver-Stockton at Charles Field House.

The Mustangs (16-9, 14-8 Heart) are currently locked into fifth place in the league, just a half-game back of MidAmerica Nazarene (15-10, 14-7 Heart) for the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. The top four seeds will host a Heart of America quarterfinal on Feb. 28.

Mount Mercy held Culver-Stockton (9-16, 8-13 Heart) to only 11 first-half points on Wednesday, then cruised from there. Annika Headington was the lone Mustang in double figures, scoring 18 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Malie Marfil and Madison Skelton added eight points each and Anais Bonnemaison seven. Karlie Krogman grabbed a team-high seven boards.

Katie Webb scored 11 points off the bench to lead the Wildcats. Avery Oetting, Aaliyah Ortiz, and Ashton Bowers chipped in eight points apiece. Oetting also pulled down seven rebounds and Ortiz collected six assists and four steals.

The Mustangs face a stiff road test against this weekend, traveling to Atchison, Kan., to take on Benedictine at noon at Ralph Nolan Gymnasium. They topped the Ravens, 82-72, on Jan. 6 at Hennessey Recreation Center. Benedictine is currently third in the Heart at 17-8 overall and 15-6 in conference play.