ANGOLA, Ind. - The Saint Mary's basketball team's season came to a close in a 75-36 loss to No. 8 Hope in the MIAA Tournament Semifinal on Friday at Trine University's MTI Center.

 

Hope opened the contest with the first six points of the game before Giavanna Paradiso hit a jump shot to put the Belles on the scoreboard. The Flying Dutch added back-to-back buckets for a 10-2 advantage just over three minutes into play. Jade Mosier hit a jumper to make it a six-point difference, and Carin Kaminski drained a three-pointer two minutes later as the Belles kept within striking distance at 14-7. An 8-0 spurt by Hope, however, made it a 22-7 game with three minutes remaining on the clock. Mosier broke up the scoring run with a jumper, but the Flying Dutch put the next five points up on the board for a 27-9 lead. Bella Dugas gave the Belles some momentum going into the break with a jump shot late in the quarter to make it 27-11.

 

Olivia Lathers connected on a jump shot and Kaminski drained another three-pointer to cut the Belles' deficit to 13 at 29-16. Hope, however, went on to out-score Saint Mary's 15-0 over the next five-plus minutes to hold a 44-16 lead at halftime.

 

The Flying Dutch maintained at least a 28-point lead over the remainder of the contest. The Belles held Hope to just eight points over the final quarter of action, but Saint Mary's eventually fell by the 75-36 final.

 

Hope made 55.4 percent (31-of-56) of their shots to the floor while Saint Mary's connected on just 26.9 percent (14-of-52) of their attempts.

 

Carin Kaminski led the Belles with eight points, and Giavanna Paradiso added six points and six rebounds. Kelsie Bies chipped in five points. Erin Maloney had game-highs of five assists and four steals.

 

The Belles conclude the season with an 11-16 record.