The Raven Women's Basketball team snapped a two-game losing skid in convincing fashion Saturday, beating the Mount Mercy Mustangs 85-60.
The Ravens rode a strong first half, building a 20-point lead at the break and never letting the Mustangs within single digits in the second half.
The Ravens dominated the first 20 minutes of play, including a 17-0 run that stretched from the end of the first quarter into the beginning of the second quarter. That run turned a 13-12 deficit into a 29-13 lead.
Defensive pressure was key as the Ravens turned the heat up with a full-court press. The Mustangs turned the ball over 14 times in the first half and shot just 30.4 percent from the field. After making their first three 3-pointers, the Mustangs finished the half 2-of-13 from behind the line.
On the offensive end, the Ravens shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, including 38.9 percent from behind the 3-point line. The Ravens also had 13 assists on 18 made baskets in the first half. Nine different players scored in the first half. Skylar Washington delivered the exclamation point on the first half, hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Ravens a 20-point lead.
The Ravens got a big boost from their bench in the first half; the reserves outscored the Mustangs team 27-25.
The second half saw the Ravens hold the Mustangs at bay for the final 20 minutes. When Mount Mercy made a small run to cut the Lady Ravens lead to 14 in the fourth quarter, LaRanda Thomas answered with a personal 5-0 run to push the lead back to 19 points.
Washington was the game's high scorer, netting 21 points and shooting a scorching hot 5-of-7 from behind the 3-point line. Thomas joined her in double digits, with 15 points. Three players, Zeynep Canbaz, Natalie Smaron and Ali Brzozowski, finished with 9 points and Grace Brzozowski scored 8 points. Overall, 11 players scored for the Ravens in the convincing win.
The Mustangs had 22 turnovers in the contest and shot 34 percent from the field. The Ravens were 48.5 percent from the floor and had 24 assists on 32 made baskets.
Next up for the Ravens (12-8, 7-7 Heart of America) is a road contest at No. 2 MNU on Monday.
