Over the weekend, the Saint Mary’s Belles basketball team faced off against the Kalamazoo Hornets but took the close, 83-73 loss.
Kalamazoo started off the first quarter going on a 7-0 run before senior forward Julia Schutz made a layup and freshman guard Kate Passinault hit a jump shot to make the score 7-4. Another 10-0 run from Kalamazoo made the score 17-4, but a three-point shot from junior guard Alyssa Matuza brought the score to 17-7. Kalamazoo ended the quarter with a free throw, keeping it ahead 21-10.
The Hornets started off the second quarter strong with five points before Restovich added four points, bringing the score to 28-14. Kalamazoo added two points, but Restovich responded quickly, notching two points to bring the score to 28-17. The Hornets went on a 9-0, pulling them ahead 37-17 before none other than Restovich added a layup and two free throws and freshman forward Kori Dues put in a layup to make the score to 37-23. Kalamazoo scored the final two points of the quarter, resulting in a halftime score of 39-23.
After halftime, Kalamazoo was off to a quick start with two points, but a speedy response came from the Belles as Restovich drained a three-pointer, bringing the score to 41-26. Two more points from Kalamazoo were quickly followed by another three from junior guard Nicole Connolly, who brought the score to 43-29. But after a 7-0 run from the Hornets, the score became 50-29. Schutz added on three points to bring the score to 50-32, but Kalamazoo answered with two points to make the score 52-32. The two teams continued to battle it out on offense, but a buzzer-beater from Kalamazoo kept it ahead 65-47.
The Hornets scored the first four points of the fourth quarter before Schutz nailed a jump shot and a layup to bring the score to 69-51. Three more points from Kalamazoo brought the score to 72-51, but five more points from Schutz closed the score to 72-56. The Hornets recorded another three points, but Restovich responded, tallying two points along with Schutz's three to bring the score to 75-61. Kalamazoo responded with a point, but as senior guard Lauren Gumma answered with three points before Restovich made the score 75-65. Kalamazoo picked up another three points, but Restovich posted six more points for the Belles to tighten the score to 79-71. In the final seconds of the game, freshman guard Ella Notaro added a layup, but Kalamazoo responded with four points and took the 83-73 win.
Kate Restovich led the Belles on the court, finishing with a total of 31 points, while Passinault led on the interior with eight rebounds. The Belles will face Olivet on Wednesday, Feb. 12, starting at 7 p.m.
