DETROIT (2-27-25) - Fifth-year senior
Aaliyah McQueen put on a show for her 23rd birthday scoring 23 points on 9-for-17 shooting and 3-for-6 from 3-point range while grabbing eight rebounds with three steals to lead Detroit Mercy to a crucial 81-75 #HLWBB win over Northern Kentucky in the home final at Calihan Hall on Thursday Night.
Junior
Myonna Hooper added 14 points going 4-for-9 from the floor with four assists followed by graduate student
Emaia O'Brien with 13 points and four helpers. Sophomore
Makayla Jackson reached double figures for the third consecutive game with 12 points and four assists as Detroit Mercy (14-13, 8-11 HL) matched a season-second best 14 assists on 30 made baskets.
Freshmen
Kailey Starks chipped in six points with graduate student
Jasmine Edwards adding five points.
Detroit Mercy outscored NKU 18-17 in the third quarter and was in control of the game up 11 points, 56-45, going into the fourth quarter. Hooper scored UDM's first six points of the frame extending the lead to 14 points, 62-48.
However, after only making three 3-pointers over the first three quarters, NKU's (10-17, 7-12 HL) offense caught fire going 5-for-9 (55.6%) from 3-point range and 11-for-17 (64.7%) including a late 7-0 run to pull within two points at 77-75 with 47.2 seconds left.
After a UDM turnover, the Norse had a chance to tie or take the lead but missed a 3-pointer from the corner with 34 ticks left and were forced to foul. After McQueen sank a pair of clutch free throws for a four-point lead, 79-75, the Titans defense stood tall again forcing NKU to miss a contested layup with 11 seconds remaining. O'Brien then sank another pair of free throws to seal the game as the Titans scored 80 for the first time since defeating Cleary 81-55 on Dec. 8th.
In the first half UDM jumped out to a 21-13 lead and outscored NKU 18-14 for a 12-point half-time lead, 39-27.
Detroit Mercy travels to IU Indy for the regular-season finale on Saturday. Mar. 1 at noon on ESPN+.
