The Saint Mary’s basketball season came to a close this past week as they finished 8-17 overall and 3-13 in conference play. The two teams they went up against were Kalamazoo and Olivet. With this, the Belles finished their season eighth in the MIAA and did not make the cut to advance to the tournament.
Saint Mary’s vs. Kalamazoo
In a close matchup against conference foe Kalamazoo, Saint Mary's took a hard-fought 65-60 win, avenging its 58-53 loss earlier in the season. Kalamazoo finished its season in the No. 6 spot. Both teams struggled in the first quarter, unable to find the basket. Despite this struggle, the Belles led 11-10 at the first break. The second quarter proved to be more successful for the Belles’ offense; an 11-3 run helped the team lead 30-22 going into the half.
Following the break, Kalamazoo came out of the gate in the third quarter, knocking down 22 points to the Belles’ 15; this brought the score to 45-44, and the Belles again led by only one point. The final quarter was key for both teams, as it went down to the wire, but the Belles pulled through. While the Hornets only added 16 points to the board, the Belles put up 20 to come out with the final win.
Overall as a team, Saint Mary’s offensive drive was the key to its win over the Hornets. Even while shooting only 39% from the field and putting in only five 3-pointers, it was taking advantage of the Hornets’ defensive shooting fouls that brought them victory. The Hornets’ aggressiveness allowed the Belles to go 18-for-21 from the free-throw line, a key part of their success. Defensively, the Belles grabbed 41 rebounds and forced 14 turnovers. Junior guard Annie Restovich led the team with 17 points, while junior guard Kate Restovich added 13. Senior forward Hannah Outlaw and sophomore guard Kate Passinault were key throughout the game, as well, as they each totaled six rebounds on the night, and freshman guard Liv Fry made her name known with four assists and four steals.
Saint Mary’s vs. Olivet
Olivet was the final game of the season for the Belles. The team traveled to Olivet and took a close 68-63 loss. Olivet finished its season behind Saint Mary’s in the MIAA, taking the ninth spot. Both teams took turns trading baskets in the first quarter, but Olivet took the 15-13 lead heading into the first break. Saint Mary’s took control of the second quarter, putting in 13 points in comparison to Olivet’s six. This gave Saint Mary's a 26-21 lead at halftime. Going into the third quarter, Olivet came out strong, outscoring the Belles 24-16. This was a major breakthrough for Olivet as they were able to retake the 45-42 lead. In the final quarter, forced turnovers from Olivet led to its victory as it outscored the Belles 23-21.
Olivet’s defense was the key to their victory as they were able to grab 45 rebounds compared to Saint Mary’s 38. Additionally, Olivet was able to strip the ball away from the Belles 11 times while Saint Mary’s was only able to get six steals. Restovich led the Belles with 17 points, while Outlaw added 14 points herself. In addition, Passinault and Outlaw added six rebounds each to contribute to the Saint Mary’s defense.
