An offensive explosion has led the Mount Mercy women’s basketball team into the nation’s top 25 and to the top of the Midwest Collegiate Conference standings. The Mustangs have won eight of their last nine games in their last five wins have averaged just under 91 points.
Mount Mercy coach Aaron Jennings says if you come to a game you will see him say "go,go,go" as he wants the team to score in the 80’s while opponents will want to keep the score in the 60’s.
Jennings says they try to force the tempo with an aggressive defensive style that is designed to force turnovers and create easy baskets. He says one of the first things he tells them is to control the tempo of the game by using the press to create turnovers that lead to easy baskets and free throws. Jennings says that also allows them to shoot more three pointers.
Jennings says the Mustangs rely on quickness. Opponents are shooting just 39 percent from the field and only 30 percent from three point range. He says they are not very big and usually play four guards around the six-foot center. Jennings says everyone does a good job of boxing out and limiting the other teams shots.
Jennings is in his first year as head coach of the womens program after serving as an assistant for the Mount Mercy men’s program. They are 6-1 in the M-C-C and currently share the league lead with Iowa Wesleyan. He says he didn’t know what to expect and how they would respond to him but he says he tells the team, "I hope this fun for you because I am having the time of my life."
Jennings says he tries to make it as fun as possible, because basketball is supposed to be a fun game not be work. Mount Mercy is ranked 24th in the latest NAIA poll and returns to action at home on Saturday afternoon against Viterbo.