The Basics
Final Score: Detroit Mercy 98, UIC 76
Records: Detroit Mercy 6-7 (2-0 HL), UIC 3-10 (0-2 HL)
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Calihan Hall)
DETROIT (12/31/2016) -- For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Titans are 2-0 to open Horizon League play.
Behind a dominating offensive effort Saturday, the University of Detroit Mercy shot its way past visiting UIC from Calihan Hall on New Year's Eve, earning a 98-76 victory. The Titans shot 54.1 percent in the game, including 55.6 percent from behind the arc.
Detroit Mercy drilled 15 3-pointers in the game, five by junior guard
Nicole Urbanick and four more from freshman
Anja Marinkovic. It was the second game of 15 triples or more this season and fourth contest with double-digit makes from downtown.
The Titans (6-7, 2-0 Horizon League) also had 25 assists for the second-straight game. The 98 points put up by Detroit Mercy wasn't only a season-high, it was the most for the Titans in the
Bernard Scott era. It was the most points by the Titan women's basketball team since scoring 101 points in a victory over Lourdes on Dec. 10, 2012, and the most points against a Division I opponent since 2000, when the Titans had 99 against Miami (Ohio).
Urbanick and Marinkovic each had 20 points to lead the Titans, while senior guard
Rosanna Reynolds notched the 13th double-double of her career with 15 points and 11 assists. Her 11 dimes was a season-high and the most in the Horizon League this season.
Kelsey Mitchell was the fourth member in double figures, tallying 15 points off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting. Detroit Mercy's bench totaled 47 points in the contest, while the Titans were on the run to the offensive end often, tallying 32 fast-break points.
The Titans again jumped out to an early lead, scoring eight of the first 10 points. Urbanick and Reynolds each hit treys during the stretch. Detroit Mercy hit five 3-pointers in the opening quarter -- two apiece by Urbanick and Reynolds -- to take a 22-16 lead. Urbanick would hit another triple early in the second quarter as Detroit Mercy took an 11-point lead, 29-18, but UIC would respond with the next nine points to pull to within two, 29-27, with 5:47 left before the halftime break.
The Titans kept the offensive pressure on, however, hitting two more 3-pointers in the quarter and shooting 51 percent in the first half, taking a 45-37 halftime advantage. Reynolds had 12 points, six assists and four rebounds by the break to help give the Titans the eight-point halftime lead.
In its Horizon League opener on Thursday, Detroit Mercy out-scored Valparaiso 30-6 in the third quarter and on Saturday, the Titans had another great third quarter, scoring the first five points to take a 50-37 lead. Junior forward
Brianne Cohen nailed a jumper and that was followed by a 3-pointer by
Gracie Roberts for the five points.
Much of the third quarter was back-and-forth, but Detroit Mercy went on a 12-4 run to end the frame with Urbanick and
Haleigh Ristovski hitting back-to-back 3-pointers during the stretch. After three, the Titans led 67-52.
UIC would cut into the lead and bring the score down to 10, but would never get closer the rest of the way. Urbanick nailed another triple early in the quarter and Mitchell completed a three-point play to put Detroit Mercy up, 77-59, with 7:10 remaining on the clock. Marinkovic had 10 of her 20 points in the final quarter, hitting two-straight 3-pointers and sinking all four free throws.
Detroit Mercy led by as many as 26 in the final stanza, cruising to another victory at home. The Titans have scored 80 or more points in both of their conference games thus far.
The shooting percentages from the floor and beyond the 3-point arc were both season-highs. Detroit Mercy was 33-for-61 (54.1 percent) from the floor and even better from behind the 3-point line, making 15-of-27 (55.6 percent). The Titans shot better than 50 percent in every quarter, scoring 22 points or better in all four frames.
Haleigh Ristovski added eight points for the Titans, sinking two 3-pointers.
Gracie Roberts and
Lola Ristovski each added three assists, while Marinkovic had a team-high two steals in the game. Every Titan but one scored in the contest.
Taylor Toney led UIC (3-10, 0-2 HL) with 19 points and nine rebounds.
Titan News & Notes
• Detroit Mercy has scored 90 or more points in three games this season, going 2-1 in those contests.
• The 55.6 percentage from behind the 3-point arc was the highest in the coach Scott era.
•
Rosanna Reynolds moved into sixth place on the all-time scoring list (1,432 points), passing former Titan standout Faith Cyr.
• Urbanick has six career 20-point games; It was her first of the season.
• Marinkovic has scored in double figures in five of her past six games; It was her second career 20-point game.
• The double-double for Reynolds was the Titans' second this season with
Kelsey Mitchell notching the other at Bradley.
• Detroit Mercy has 25 assists in three different games this season: Minnesota, Valparaiso, UIC.
• The 15 3-pointers were the fourth time this season Detroit Mercy has had 11 or more.
• It was the 50th career meeting between UIC and the Titans.
• Detroit Mercy is 27-23 in the all-time series with the Flames and 2-1 under coach Scott.
• The Titans are 13-7 in Horizon League play under coach Scott.
Up Next
The Titans return to the hardwood next Saturday, visiting rival Oakland for a 3 p.m. contest in Rochester. It's the third meeting between the two schools in the third year of the #MetroSeries rivalry. The game will be live on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN Applications.
