Mustangs light it up from downtown, rout Yellowjackets

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - For the third time this season, the Mount Mercy women's basketball team drained double-digit 3-pointers. The Mustangs defeated the Yellowjackets of Graceland Wednesday, 76-55, in a Heart of America Athletic Conference clash, snapping their three game losing skid. 

Mount Mercy started strong from the tip with Madison Dreckman knocking down a triple just 23 seconds in. Graceland (8-8, 3-7 Heart) tied the game at 4-4 and again at 7-7, but Mount Mercy never surrendered the lead. The Mustangs won every quarter, taking a 34-25 advantage into halftime. The Yellowjackets applied the press and got within five in the third, but Mount Mercy's 3-point shooting shut down all of Graceland's comeback hopes. 

A quick eight-point swing including a pair of free throws from Anais Bonnemaison and consecutive 3-pointers from Tatum Griffin and Sammy Mia, turned a five point lead into a 13 point lead, 42-29 at the 6:34 mark in the third. The Yellowjackets never got within single digits again. Mount Mercy (8-8, 4-6 Heart) used a 24-point fourth quarter to seal the deal and get back in the win column. 

Mia scored 20 points for the fifth time this season, totaling 26, connecting of 7-of-8 free throws while grabbing five rebounds. Sadie Struchen provided a big spark off the bench, going 4-of-5 from downtown for a career-best 12 points. Dreckman recorded another double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. Griffin chipped in 10 to go along with five assists. Bonnemaison stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and a steal. 

Mount Mercy travels to Culver-Stockton (Mo.) (11-5, 6-4 Heart) on Saturday, Jan. 14 for a Heart matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 pm inside Charles Field House in Canton, Mo.