Milwaukee, WI- On Monday evening the Mount Mary Basketball team hosted the Inferno of Alverno College.  It was a special evening in that the night was the 3^rd annual "What Made you Smile Today Kid" Classic.  The match up honors the late Marc Heidorf, Marc served as an Assistant Coach at Alverno and most famously as the Women's Basketball Coach and Director of Athletics at Mount Mary from 2013-2019. 

With Marc's family and several former players and staff on hand, the Blue Angels and Alverno treated the raucous crowd to a remarkably exciting and competitive game.  Regulation was not enough to decide the match up.  In the end it was the Blue Angels pulling the game out in overtime by a 70-65 final score, securing the "What made you smile today kid" trophy for the first time.

Mount Mary struggled to get out of the starting blocks offensively, trailing 13-3 and 20-9 at the end of the 1^st quarter.  MMU awoke in the second quarter, with Vanessa Diaz and Deja Rivers finding the range from 3, Alverno only scored six points in quarter number two and the Blue Angels took a 35-26 lead into halftime.

The second half would teeter back and forth with neither team being able to pull away.  A free throw at the end of regulation by the Inferno tied the game at 57 and sent the contest to overtime.  MMU would rise to the occasion in overtime, outscoring Alverno 13-8 to claim the 70-65 win.

The heroes on the night for the Blue Angels were many, Sanai Ballard continued her stellar start to the season with 16 points, 3 rebounds, two assists and two steals.  India Lucas recorded another double double on the young season, tallying 15 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.  Vanessa Diaz came up big for Mount Mary as well, with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.  Alexus Hatcher and Alyssen Noriega both came through in the clutch with key overtime baskets and defensive plays, Hatcher finished the night with eight points and six rebounds, and Noriega contributed six points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

Mount Mary has put together a remarkable run of success at the Bloechl Center.  The Blue Angels have won six straight on their home court, eight of their last nine and hold a record of 11-4 in their last 15 home contests.

The Blue Angels (3-1) will now hit the road for six straight games.  Beginning Wednesday, November 20^th, when MMU will look to grab their fourth win of the season when they take on the Scots of Monmouth College.  Stay tuned to www.mtmaryathletics.com for all coverage of Blue Angel Basketball.