Chicago, Ill. – Erin Nelson scored 18 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in her next to last game in her collegiate career, and the Illinois Tech women's basketball team got back into the win column with a 59-46 victory over visiting Mount Mary University in a non-conference matchup Tuesday night at the Keating Sports Center. The win stopped a five game losing streak for the Scarlet Hawks. The Hawks improved to 3-6 overall. The Blue Angels fell to 0-9.

Nelson, who is graduating at the conclusion of the fall semester, will play her final game for the Scarlet Hawks this Saturday, December 18th at home against Concordia University Chicago. The 18 points she scored in this contest was just one point off of her career high of 19 points against Rockford in February of 2019. In addition, the win against Mount Mary was the team's third of the season, which is one more win than Nelson had experienced in her previous three seasons combined. The multi-sport senior is completing her athletic career on a high note.

How It Happened:

First Quarter

• The Blue Angels opened the game with an 8-3 run, capped off by a Talesa Campbell layup.
• The Scarlet Hawks responded with a 14-3 run, culminated by a Julia Bucci three-pointer with 29 seconds remaining to close out the quarter leading 17-11.
• Bucci paced the Hawks with six points, while Deriniece Moton collected 4 rebounds.
• Campbell had five points for the Blue Angels.

Second Quarter

• A Campbell jumper with 5:38 to go in the quarter completed a 10-4 run for the Blue Angels, forcing a 21-21 tie score.
• A pair of Moton free throws with 52 seconds remaining gave the Hawks a 30-24 lead.
• Sarah Shaffer pulled the Blue Angels within four at halftime when she hit a jumper with 34 seconds remaining.
• Moton has six points and three rebounds. Nelson added five points and four rebounds.
• Campbell added seven more points and four rebounds for Mount Mary.

Third Quarter

• A Jessica Weaver free throw with 2:34 remaining finished off an 11-2 run for the Hawks, boosting their lead to 41-28.
• Campbell made a jumper as time expired, cutting the Blue Angels deficit to seven at 43-36.
• Nelson had five points and two rebounds for Illinois Tech. Weaver added four points and six rebounds.
• Campbell had six points and one rebound.

Fourth Quarter

• The Blue Angels stayed within seven points early in the fourth quarter until Julia Bucci hit a three-pointer with 6:45 remaining to put the Hawks up by ten, 48-38.
• The teams traded baskets for the next couple minutes before a Nelson layup with 4:11 remaining put the Hawks up by twelve, 54-42.
• The Hawks would outscore the Blue Angels 5-4 the rest of the way to secure the 59-46 victory.
• Bucci had 10 points in the quarter, while Weaver and Nelson pulled down six and four rebounds, respectively.
• Natalie McDermott had four points, while Lisette Rodriguez blocked two shots for the Blue Angels.

 Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Nelson with 18 points and 11 rebounds. 
• Bucci had 19 points along with three steals and two assists.
• Weaver finished with eight points and 14 rebounds.
• Moton tallied seven points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals.

 Blue Angels Watch

• Campbell lead Mount Mary with 20 points, to go along with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.
• Brianna Duke had eight points and eight rebounds, along with five assists and six steals.

 Inside the Box Score

• The Hawks shot 21.1% from three point range(4-19); the Blue Angels shot 27.3%(3-11).
• Mount Mary committed 22 fouls to 13 for Illinois Tech.
• The Scarlet Hawks converted on 55% of their free throws(11-20); the Blue Angels shot 33.3% from the free throw line(3-9).
• Bucci led the Hawks with 37 minutes played, with Nelson close behind at 35 minutes. Campbell paced Mount Mary with 39 minutes played, with Duke playing 38 minutes.

 Up Next

• The Scarlet Hawks return to conference play when Concordia University Chicago comes to town for a NACC matchup Saturday, December 18th at 1pm in the Keating Sports Center.