After coming off two successful wins, the Saint Mary’s basketball team faced off against Albion but lost 69-65.
Sophomore guard Kate Restovich started off the first quarter by putting in the first four points before three points from Albion brought the score within one. Senior forward Julia Schutz added on two points, but six in a row from Albion pulled it ahead 9-6. Kate Restovich added two points alongside freshman guard Kate Passinault, who added two more to bring the Belles back ahead 10-9, but Albion took the ball back and recaptured the lead at 16-10. Junior guard Nicole Connolly scored the final two points of the quarter to bring the score to 16-12.
Albion opened the second quarter by putting in two points to make the score 18-12, but a quick response came from Saint Mary’s as Schutz drained a 3-point shot to make the score 18-15. Albion added seven more points before a layup from Connolly and a jump shot from sophomore guard Annie Restovich brought the score to 25-19. The Britons would go into the halftime break leading 34-26.
After halftime, Albion scored six points, but Saint Mary’s was quick to respond as Kate Restovich added four points and Schutz tallied two, bringing the score to 40-32. Albion then put in three points, but Schutz added on three of her own to bring the score to 43-35. Three more points from Albion kept the Britons ahead 46-35, but two from freshman guard Ella Notaro and a free throw from Passinault brought the score to 46-38. Albion scored five more points, bringing the score to 51-38, but with four points from Schutz and three from Annie Restovich, the score was 51-45 to end the third quarter.
Starting the fourth, Kate Restovich converted a layup, Schutz notched three points and Passinault found two points to bring the Belles ahead 52-51, but Albion came back, scoring four points to move back ahead 55-52. A 3-point shot from senior guard Lauren Gumma tied the score, but six points from the Britons pulled them back ahead 61-55. However, four straight points from Schutz brought the score back to 61-59. Five more points from Albion put it ahead 66-59, but 6 from Schutz closed the score to 66-65. Three more points from Albion ended the game, as the Britons won 69-65.
Schutz led the Belles on the court as she finished with 31 points and also led with 6 rebounds. The Belles now look ahead to play Adrian on Feb. 22, starting at 1 p.m.
