MILWAUKEE – Hot shooting from the opening tip surged the Mount Mary University basketball team to a halftime lead, but visiting Rockford found the answers late to snatch away a victory Thursday night at Bloechl Center, 53-49.

Mount Mary (0-10 overall) shot an impressive 11-for-19 (57.9 percent) from the floor in the first half alone, also making eight of 11 free throw attempts in the opening half. Sophomore Talesa Campbell (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson) scored 10 of her game-high 21 points in the second quarter alone on 3-for-3 shooting and converting four of five from the charity stripe.

MMU led 31-29 at the half, its second halftime lead of the season. 

The majority of the game was played within a seven-point range, as neither team led by more than three points. A layup by junior Sarah Shaffer (Webster, Wis./Siren) put MMU up 35-30 at the 8:31 mark of the third quarter. Rockford's largest lead was also five, coming at 46-41 at the 5:37 mark in the fourth. A Campbell triple and ensuing jumper would quickly erase that deficit, tying the game at 46. However, Rockford would retake the lead and come up with some timely plays down the stretch, converting its free throws and outscoring MMU 7-3 over the final four minutes.

Campbell's 21 accompanied four rebounds, three steals, and a pair of assists. Sophomore Brianna Duke (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King) added nine points, six rebounds, and four assists off the bench. Freshman Natalie McDermott (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) chipped in six points and five rebounds, with sophomore Ashton Longazel (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) adding five points and four boards.

Senior Brianna Jashinsky (Butler, Wis./Hamilton) matched Duke for a team-best six rebounds, while freshman Lisette Rodriguez (Bensenville, Ill./Fenton) added four points and four boards. Shaffer had four points and a pair of rebounds of her own.

Rockford's pair of prolific scorers, freshmen Anaya Davis and Audrina Terhune, were held to a combined 5-for-27 shooting. Davis led the Regents with 12 points—six below her NACC-leading season average.

The Blue Angels took 26 fewer attempts than Rockford (6-4), but outshot the Regents 40.4 percent to 21.9 percent for the game. Rockford did cash in from the free throw line, however, going 17-of-28 compared to 9-for-13 for Mount Mary.

Next Up

The Blue Angels will finish up their pre-holiday break back on the road for a Saturday evening showdown at Blackburn College. Tipoff at Dawes Gymnasium in Carlinville, Ill., is slated for 6 p.m.