La Crosse, Wis. - The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team couldn't overcome a lackluster first half as they lost their sixth consecutive game Wednesday night when they were defeated by Mount Mercy College 63-45.

Viterbo was outscored 34-16 in the first half by Mount Mercy as the team shot just 25% from the field and went only 3-8 (37.5%) from the free throw line. The score was knotted up at 7-7 early in the game before Mount Mercy opened up their lead as they went on a 23-5 run. The Mustangs leading scorer on the season, senior guard Catalina de la Quintana, scored a team high 10 points in the first half while going 5-6 from the free throw line. Viterbo's two leading scorers, Dani Templin (Fr. - Richland Center, Wis.) and Katina Mandylaris (Sr. - Melbourne, Australia) combined for just two first half points.

The V-Hawks offense came to life in the second half but they were never able to threaten the Mustangs for the lead as each team scored 29 second half points. Mount Mercy continued to find open three point shooters and made the V-Hawks pay. The Mustangs finished the game with seven made three pointers compared to just two by the V-Hawks. Quintana accounted for three of the made three pointers as she finished with a game high 20 points.

Sami Weaver (Fr. - Trempealeau, Wis.) led the V-Hawks in points for the third game in a row as she finished with 10 points on the night. Joni Stanek (Sr. - Kendall, Wis.) contributed nine points and five rebounds while Mandylaris and Templin combined for just six points. Viterbo out rebounded the Mustangs 47-36 but lost the turnover battle 25-21. The V-Hawks went with a young roster at many times throughout the night experimenting with four to five freshmen on the floor at the same time. This strategy led to Viterbo's bench adding 21 points on the night.

The loss drops Viterbo's overall record to 6-19 and 2-9 in the Midwest Collegiate Conference. The Mustangs improve to 16-9 overall and 8-3 in the MCC with hopes of receiving some national attention as they received votes last week in the NAIA Division II Top 25 Poll. The V-Hawks return to action this Saturday as they are set to face Saint Ambrose University at the R.W. Beggs Sr. Gymnasium with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 pm.