NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Saint Mary's College Basketball took down the University of Olivet, 76-67, for their first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association win of the season. The Belles improve to 6-8 (1-4 MIAA) while the Comets fall to 2-11 (0-5 MIAA).
 
Olivet got out to an early six-point lead in the first four minutes of the first quarter. Saint Mary's bounced right back and finished the final six minutes on an impressive 14-3, 14-0 until with a minute and half to play, run to take a 18-13 lead into the first break. Six Belles found themselves on the scoresheet as the team shot 7-14 (50%) from the field in the quarter, senior Hannah Outlaw (Jones, MI) and freshman Liv Fry (Fort Wayne, IN) led the team with four points each.
 
While the Comets started the second quarter with a strong 8-2 run to retake the lead, the Belles came right back with a 15-0 run of their own to put Olivet a safe distance. While Olivet added three straight points, Saint Mary's put five of their own back on to dominate the second quarter, 22-11. The Belles shot 9-18 (50%) from the field to finish the first half with a 50% field goal percentage as they went into the locker room with a 40-24 lead. 
 
The Belles defense shined in the first half as they forced the Comets into 17 turnovers, resulting in 13 steals for the Belles. Junior Annie Restovich (St. Louis, MO) added eight points in the quarter to bring her total to 10 while Outlaw and sophomore Ella Notaro (Crystal Lake, IL) both snagged four steals each to lead the team.
 
Saint Mary's struggled to shoot from the field in the third quarter, finishing by just hitting 37%. Olivet used their best shooting quarter to outscore the Belles, 18-17, in the quarter, but Saint Mary's held strong with a 57-42 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes. Junior Kate Restovich (St. Louis, MO) put up seven points in the quarter to join her sister in double-figures with 11 points.
 
The fourth quarter was the strongest of the night by far for the Comets, outscoring the Belles 25-19 while shooting a ridiculous 72% from the field and 80% from three-point. The Belles defense kept them alive, forcing six more turnovers as they held on for a 76-67 victory and their first MIAA win of the season.
 
The sixth win of the season also matches the Belles win total from last season.
 
Kate Restovich led the team with 16 points, her sixth straight game in double-figures and 11th overall. Restovich also surpassed 700 career points on the night. Outlaw followed close behind with 13 points of her own while Annie Restovich added 12 and Notaro added 10. Fry and Notaro led the Belles with three assists each.
 
Sophomore Kate Passinault (Grand Rapids, MI) led the team with eight rebounds on the night while Fry grabbed six. Notaro, Outlaw, and Kate Restovich all added five. As a team, the Belles totalled 21 steals while Outlaw snagged seven of her own, the second most steals in a game in program history. Notaro would also grab six. Saint Mary's outrebounded Olivet 36-32 overall while having a +10-turnover margin, 18-28.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's hits the road for a quick MIAA matchup with Albion College on Saturday, January 10, at 3pm. The Belles return home on Wednesday, January 14, as they host Alma College at 7pm.