Coming out of the break, the Saint Mary’s Belles battled Olivet in a tightly contested game but ultimately fell short, 54-52.
The Belles opened the scoring as freshman guard Ella Notaro scored on a layup, but Olivet quickly responded with a layup of their own to tie the score. After Olivet committed a shooting foul, Notaro sank two free throws to give Saint Mary’s the lead. However, Olivet responded with a surge, scoring two layups, two free throws and a three-pointer to pull ahead 11-4. Sophomore guard Kate Restovich added a layup for the Belles, but Olivet quickly responded with two points, extending their lead to 13-6. Notaro kept the momentum alive with a jump shot, followed by a layup from Restovich, narrowing the gap to 13-10. Olivet scored the final points of the quarter to stay ahead 16-10.
Olivet opened the second quarter with two quick points, but the Belles responded immediately as junior guard Nicole Connolly sank a three-pointer, narrowing the score to 18-13. Olivet then went on a dominant 8-0 run, extending their lead to 26-13, before Connolly stopped the streak with another three-pointer to make it 26-16. After an Olivet layup, Connolly added a free throw to bring the score to 28-17, but Olivet quickly answered with another layup, maintaining their lead at 30-17. The teams traded baskets, with Restovich contributing two layups and senior forward Julia Schutz adding two of her own to close the gap to 30-25. In the final seconds of the quarter, Olivet added a free throw to end the half ahead 31-25.
Heading into the third quarter, Olivet took the lead scoring three free throws bringing the score to 34-25 before senior guard Lauren Gumma made a three point jump shot, a layup and a free throw to make the score 34-31. Olivet continued to use their offensive advantage as they added on four more points for themselves but the Belles pushed back as sophomore Avery Schiesser added on a layup for her first points of the night and brought the score to 38-33. After a shooting foul was called on Saint Mary’s, Olivet added on another point for themselves but Schiesser responded with another layup making the score 39-35.
Olivet added two more points, but Restovich quickly answered with a layup for the Belles, narrowing the score to 41-36. After another layup from Olivet, the teams traded possessions before Notaro scored on a layup to close out the quarter, bringing the score to 43-38.
In a game that came down to the wire, the fourth quarter began with a strong push from Olivet, who scored four quick points to extend their lead. Schutz answered with a crucial three-pointer, narrowing the score to 47-41. Olivet countered with another four points, but after a shooting foul, Restovich sank two free throws to make it 51-43. Olivet added a layup to their tally, but the Belles fought back. Schutz converted two free throws, Restovich nailed a three-pointer and Notaro scored on a layup, bringing the Belles within striking distance at 53-50. Olivet responded with two more points before Restovich added two free throws, but the Belles ultimately fell short, losing 54-52.
Restovich led the Belles offensively, finishing the game with 16 points, while Connolly anchored the defense with a team-high eight rebounds. The Belles now turn their focus to their upcoming matchup against Adrian on Jan. 18 at 1 p.m.
