ALBION, Mich. - The Saint Mary's basketball team could not overcome a first-half deficit in an 88-56 setback at Albion on Saturday evening.

 

Julia Schutz got the Belles on the scoreboard with a free throw less than two minutes into the contest, but Albion responded with a 16-0 run over the next five minutes of action as Saint Mary's was unable to catch a bounce off the rim. Maddie Rzepka got the Belles back on track with a pull up jump shot at the top of the lane, and Jasmyne Townsend drained a three-pointer before adding a mid-range jumper of her own to give the Belles seven consecutive points. Albion, however, closed out the quarter with a layup for a 19-8 lead through ten minutes of action.

 

The teams traded buckets back and forth to open the second quarter. Townsend collected a steal and converted a layup at the other end, and Lauren Gumma dialed in a long-distance three-pointer to make it a 22-13 game. The Belles looked to build some momentum on a highlight-reel play moments later. Gumma found Nikki Murphy near the center court line with an outlet pass. Murphy and Bella Dugas had a two-on-one opportunity in transition, and Murphy used a behind-the-back pass to connect with Dugas as the senior hit the layup and drew a foul just 2:32 into the quarter. Dugas converted the and-one opportunity to edge the Belles within ten points at 26-16. The Brits, however, thwarted the Saint Mary's energy with the next seven points to gain a 33-16 lead midway through the period. Townsend and Claire Bartz each got in the scoring column, and Morgan Flynn hit a three-pointer as the Belles battled down the stretch of the second quarter.

 

Nikki Murphy opened the third quarter with a defensive rebound and pushed the tempo with a layup at the other end. Julia Schutz then sunk a three-pointer as the teams continued to trade baskets. Townsend and Rzepka combined for back-to-back pull up jump shots to make it a 50-33 score three minutes into the period. Despite three-pointers from Townsend and Elle Deardorff, the Belles were unable to string together a sustained run as the two teams scored 19 points apiece in the third quarter.

 

The Brits started the fourth quarter with a 13-2 run to take the largest lead of the game with 5:17 to play. Saint Mary's continued to fight down the stretch as Schutz hit a pair of free throws before Elle Deardorff drained back-to-back three-pointers. Lauren Gumma added a three-pointer late in the game, but the Belles ultimately shouldered an 88-56 setback on the road.

 

Albion made 50.7 percent (37-of-73) of their shots from the floor while the Belles were limited to a 31.7 percent (20-of-63) shooting effort in the game. Saint Mary's had a 14-13 edge in offensive rebounds in the contest while the Brits held the 44-40 overall advantage in total rebounds on the night.

 

Jasmyne Townsend led the Belles with a season-high 15 points after connecting on 66.7 percent of her shots from the floor. Julia Schutz collected her first collegiate double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Elle Deardorff chipped in nine points on a trio of three-pointers. Maddie Rzepka and Lauren Gumma each tallied six points for the Belles. Nikki Murphy tallied five assists in the contest.

 

The Belles (6-17, 5-9 MIAA) travel to Alma on Monday for a 7:00 p.m. contest against the Scots.