MILWAUKEE (2-29) – UC Santa Cruz played their first game of the American Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Basketball as they took on the host Mount Mary University. The Banana Slugs led by twenty-nine at halftime en route to a 74-55 win over the Blue Angels.  

In the first quarter, the Blue Angels gained their only lead of the ballgame at two, at 2-0, on an Erica Williams jumper with 9:31 left in the quarter. From that point, the Banana Slugs would go on a 20-0 run, capped by a Lilli Hammons jumper with 1:41 left in the quarter, to take the lead for good at 22-2. The Banana Slugs led 25-3 at the end of the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, the closest the Blue Angels would come would be twenty-one, at 33-12, on a Williams layup with 4:20 left in the half. The Banana Slugs led 43-14 at the end of the half.

In the third quarter, the Banana Slugs gained their largest lead of the ballgame at forty-three on two occasions; the second occasion at 49-16 on an Ashley Kowack layup with 8:55 left in the quarter. The Blue Angels would come as close as twenty-two on two occasions; the second occasion at 58-36 on a Rae Grubbs layup with 1:00 left in the quarter. The Banana Slugs led 60-36 at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the e Banana Slugs would gain their largest lead of the quarter at twenty-eight, at 67-39, on a CJ Catina three pointer with 7:26 left. The Blue Angels would come as close as nineteen, at 74-55, with sixteen seconds left on a pair of Lucy Pavelko free throws.

Kaylee Murphy had a game-high seventeen points and 12 rebounds for the Banana Slugs.Kowack had sixteen, and Catina and Emily Mitchell had ten apiece.
Williams had fourteen points for  the Blue Angels. 

The Banana Slugs shot 42.6% (29-68) from the field, 19.4% (6-31) from the three-point line and were 66.7% (10-15) from the free throw line. The Blue Angels shot 29.5% (18-61) from the field, 21.4% (3-14) from the three-point line and 64% (16-25) from the foul line. UC Santa Cruz's defense forced thirteen Blue Angels' turnovers while the Blue Angels' defense forced fourteen turnovers. UC Santa Cruz outrebounded Mount Mary 50-36,  had sixteen more points in the paint (42-26) than did the Blue Angels and outblocked their opponents 8-0.

The next game for the Banana Slugs will be tomorrow as they take on Finlandia University in the American Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Basketball Championship Game. Game time is set for 10 am.