Box Score
The Mount hosted Anderson University on Saturday afternoon to close the season and celebrate the seniors on Senior Day. The Lions' women's basketball team sent its senior players out with a bang giving them a win in the final game of their collegiate basketball careers. The Mount grabbed its third victory in its last four games by defeating the Ravens, 55-43. The win puts the Lions above the Ravens in the HCAC standings, moving them into a three-way tie for sixth place. The Mount finished the season 6-19 overall, 6-12 HCAC.
The first half saw the lead change six times and had five ties before the Lions went into the locker room with the lead at 23-22. Both teams exchanged buckets for most of the first half with the largest lead of the half being four points for the Mount as they started the game off up 4-0 in the first two and a half minutes before Anderson's Melissa Stachovic knocked down a three-pointer. Sophomore guard Erica Miknius (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) led all scorers at half with seven points in 17 minutes of play. The Mount forced 12 first half turnovers, which led to 11 of the team's 23 first half points.
The Lions burst out of the gate in the second half going on a 21-4 run through 15 minutes of the second half, giving the Mount a commanding 44-26 lead. The Ravens tried to make a comeback getting to within eight points of the Lions (twice - 46-38, 48-40), but the Mount denied their effort by taking care of the ball and making seven of their last eight free throw attempts in the final minute of the game.
Miknius finished with 15 points, and chipped in two steals and two boards in 35 minutes of action. Freshman guard Melanie Monahan (Mason, OH/Bishop Fenwick) scored 11 points for the Lions, all on free throws. Monahan went 11-14 from the line and went 7-8 in the final minute of the game. Monahan also had a game-high seven assists.
The Mount's seniors Courtney Cole (Vevay, IN/Switzerland County), Leah Schroeder (Fairfield, OH/McAuley), and Katie Jo Collins (Cincinnati, OH/Mercy) combined to score 20 of the Mount's 55 points in their final game.
Head Coach Ashley Bland had this to say about getting a win for the seniors in their final game: "It feels great. You never know how a team is going to come out and play, especially when you know you're not going to make the tournament. I'm extremely pleased with the entire group's effort, coming out really wanting to win and doing what they had to, to get that win."
Coach Bland would also like to thank the seniors for the hours and hard work they have put in over the past four years, and wishes them nothing but the best. "I hope they'll come back and be a part of the program."
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