The Saint Mary’s basketball team continued its season as it faced the Albion Britons this past Wednesday but took a close 54-53 loss in a back-and-forth contest.
Sophomore guard Kate Restovich started off the first quarter with a jump shot, but four points from Albion pulled it ahead 4-2. The Belles responded as senior forward Julia Schutz, Kate Restovich and freshman guard Ella Notaro added layups to build a 9-4 lead. After a Saint Mary’s shooting foul, the score became 9-5, but Schutz added a layup to make the score 11-5 before Albion pushed back with two points to bring the score to 11-7. Schutz and freshman guard Kate Passinault both added three-point shots, making the score 17-7, but at the end of the quarter, Albion scored the final two points to bring the score to 17-9.
Heading into the second quarter, Albion went on a 9-0 run to regain the 18-17 lead, but a quick layup from junior guard Nicole Connolly brought the Belles back ahead 19-18. Albion responded with a three-point shot to pull ahead 21-19, and, after going back and forth, Schutz added on a layup to tie the score. Albion put in two free throws before Kate Restovich answered with two points and Schutz made a three-point shot, ending the quarter with the Belles ahead 26-23.
After the half, the Belles kept the ball rolling as Notaro added a layup and Schutz added three free throws, keeping the Belles ahead 31-23. Albion responded with a 9-0 run of its own, pulling ahead 32-31, but a layup from junior guard Alyssa Matuza, a layup from Passinault and a layup from Kate Restovich helped the Belles regain the 37-32 lead. Nearing the end of the quarter, the game went back and forth as Albion added a free throw but Matuza went coast-to-coast, putting in a layup to bring the score to 39-33. Albion closed the third quarter with two free throws, bringing the score to 39-35.
In a battle for the lead, Albion started the fourth quarter strong, going on a 5-0 run to take a 40-39 lead, but the Belles offense did not back down as Notaro added a layup to regain the 41-40 lead. A layup from Albion brought the score to 42-41, but another layup from Notaro gave the Belles a 43-42 lead. Albion was quick to respond, putting in another layup to gain the lead, but three points from Passinault gave the Belles a 46-44 lead. Albion added on another layup to tie the score at the end of the quarter, sending the game into overtime.
The two teams battled throughout the five minutes of overtime, starting as Schutz put in a layup to pull the Belles ahead 48-46, but a 5-0 run from Albion gave the Britons the 51-48 lead. A layup and a free throw from Notaro tied up the score, but Albion added a three-point shot, bringing the score to 54-51. In her final efforts to win the game, Passinault added on two points in the final seconds, but the Belles came up short, losing 54-53.
Schutz led the team on offense with a total of 17 points, adding a total of nine rebounds. The Belles now look ahead to face Calvin on Jan. 25, starting at 1 p.m.
