Mustangs Use Fourth-Quarter Execution to Edge Bees

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Mount Mercy sealed a non-conference victory with a 59–56 road win over St. Ambrose on Wednesday at Lee Lohman Arena, using a decisive fourth-quarter stretch and a strong rebounding margin to close out its fourth victory of the season. The Mustangs finished with a 43–36 advantage on the glass and held the Fighting Bees to 33.3% shooting from the field. 

Mount Mercy (4–3) generated consistent production from its starting unit, led by 17 points and 12 rebounds from Sydni Morris, who went 7-for-10 from the field. Sadie Struchen added 15 points on 5-for-11 shooting, including four made 3-pointers. Taylor Rose posted 12 points with a team-high five turnovers but added a key late defensive rebound. 

St. Ambrose (3–3) was paced by Abby Wolter, who totaled 17 points and 13 rebounds while logging 34 minutes. The Bees recorded 34 points in the paint but were limited to 5-for-29 from long range. 

Mount Mercy trailed 20–13 after the opening quarter but tightened its defensive coverage in the second, holding the Bees to 20% shooting in the frame. Despite the improvement, the Mustangs entered halftime down 27–22 after committing eight turnovers in the period. 

The Mustangs responded with their highest-scoring quarter of the night, producing 23 third-quarter points while hitting 61.5% of their field-goal attempts. Struchen opened the surge with a made 3-pointer at the 8:55 mark, trimming the deficit to 29–27.

Morris added two baskets in the lane, and Rose connected from beyond the arc at 5:22 to give Mount Mercy its first lead since the early stages of the game. The Mustangs entered the fourth quarter trailing 46–45 after St. Ambrose made a late push, including a 3-pointer from Olivia Harter. 

Mount Mercy generated its largest lead at 51–46 early in the fourth, highlighted by a made 3-pointer from Candace Baker with 8:58 remaining. The Bees countered with an 8–0 run to go ahead 54–53 at the 2:23 mark, but the Mustangs stabilized with a baseline finish from Morris and a defensive stop from Isabel Wallschlaeger.

Aubrey Luvan scored on a late drive to cut the deficit to one before Morris hit a mid-range jumper with 35 seconds left to give Mount Mercy a 57–56 advantage. 

After a defensive stand, Ellie Morrill converted two free throws with four seconds remaining to extend the lead to three. St. Ambrose had two attempts at a tying 3-pointer, but both shots were off target, and Wallschlaeger closed out the game with the final defensive rebound. 

In addition to Morris and Struchen, Baker contributed five points and six rebounds off the bench. Luvan posted four points and five assists, while Wallschlaeger added six rebounds and one assist in 31 minutes. The Mustangs posted eight made 3-pointers and shot 73.3% from the free-throw line. 

Despite committing 19 turnovers, Mount Mercy offset the deficit through rebounding and fourth-quarter efficiency. The Mustangs allowed zero second-chance points in the final frame and recorded four team assists in the quarter, including two on Morris' made jumpers. 

Mount Mercy returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 22, when it travels to Olathe, Kansas, to take on MidAmerica Nazarene. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m.