(RV) Women's Basketball caps off week with comeback win over Mount Mercy

Benedictine Women's Basketball withstood 18-4 start to the game from Mount Mercy University to earn a comeback win over the Mustangs to close out their 2024 home schedule.

The Mustangs came out firing on offense, but the Ravens didn't panic. They gradually worked their way back into the game before pushing through to earn a 70-66 win.

After trailing by as much as 14 points in the first quarter, the Ravens rallied to close the quarter on a 10-2 run to cut the deficit down to 6 points, 20-14, headed into the second quarter. Jennifer Jacobs gave the Ravens their first lead of the game near the midpoint of the second quarter at 24-23, but that lead was brief as the Mustangs regained as much as a 4-point lead. Benedictine stepped up the defense effort and held Mount Mercy scoreless over the final 2:40 of the half, scoring 8 unanswered to take a 34-30 lead at the half.

Jacobs gave the Ravens their first 7-point lead of the third quarter at 41-34 before the Mustangs pulled the game even 90 seconds later. Benedictine never gave up the lead after Mount Mercy tied the game and Lauryn Dubbert pushed the Ravens advantage back to 7 points on a 3-pointer late in the quarter before the Ravens took a 53-50 lead into the fourth quarter. 

The Ravens were never quite able to put the Mustangs away in the fourth quarter as the two teams matched each other on the offensive end. Mount Mercy took a 60-58 lead with just over four minutes left in the game, but a 3-pointer from Josie Weishaar pushed Benedictine back ahead at 61-60. Like the end of the first half, the Ravens stepped up the defensive pressure to end the game, limiting the Mustangs to just 6 points over the final four minutes to earn the win.

Dubbert led four Ravens in double figures with 15 points. Jacobs finished with 14, followed by Riley Bruggeman with 13 off the bench while Kennedy Nicholson rounded out the top scorers with 11 points. Benedictine finished with a 19-3 advantage off the bench and a 17-4 advantage in second-chance points as they pulled in 13 offensive rebounds.

Benedictine heads to Hawaii for the Hoops in Hawaii Classic on Dec. 19 and 20. They take on Hastings College on Dec. 19 and College of St. Mary (Neb.) on Dec. 20.

www.ravenathletics.com | #UnleashGreatness | www.benedictine.edu