ALBION, Mich. - Elle Deardorff broke a 35-year-old record, the Saint Mary's basketball team set the record for most made three-pointers in a single game, and the Belles gave it their all to the final whistle in a 110-63 setback at Albion.

 

After getting a defensive stop to open the game, the Belles struck on their first possession of the contest with a good three-pointer by Elle Deardorff at the top of the key. The Brits responded with a three-pointer of their own on their next opportunity. Athena Samson used an offensive board and put-back effort to regain the lead for Saint Mary's. Albion used a layup to knot the game and used a steal and layup the other way to gain a 7-5 lead. A layup for Saint Mary's was just off the mark, and the Brits made it a two-possession lead with a three-pointer. Elle Deardorff dialed in another three-pointer for her 50th made three-pointer of the season to make it a 12-8 game with just under six minutes. Athena Samson converted a three-point play to edge Saint Mary's within a point at 12-11. Albion scored on three quick possessions a minute later to gain an 18-11 lead. Nyah Porter got the Belles back on track with a strong layup, and Caroline Roecker cut the deficit to six at 21-15 on a pair of free throws with two minutes to go in the period. The Brits, however, used six points down the stretch to hold a 27-15 lead at the break.

Annie Restovich hit back-to-back threes early in the second quarter to make it a ten-point game at 31-21 as Albion called a timeout. After the Brits gained a 39-21 advantage, it was Elle Deardorff's turn to hit back-to-back three-pointers. Annie Restovich added a pull up jumper in the paint moments later, and the Belles continued to try to chip away at the deficit in a 43-29 game. Athena Samson added a layup two minutes later, and Annie Restovich sunk another three to make it 52-34 late in the half. A three-pointer by the Brits on their last possession of the period gave Albion a 55-34 lead at the halftime intermission.

Elle Deardorff picked up right where the Belles left off as the senior drained her fifth three-pointer to start the third quarter. Deardorff added a driving layup as the Belles twice cut the deficit to 18. After six Albion points, Deardorff sunk yet another three-pointer. Annie Restovich connected on both ends of a trip to the charity stripe, and Athena Samson hit a shot in the lane with under four minutes on the clock. The Brits, however, closed out the quarter on a 15-point run for an 86-46 lead going into the fourth.

Undeterred, the Belles kept fighting. Annie Restovich hit a pair of three-pointers as the program's record for made threes in a game looming on the horizon. Elle Deardorff then tied the individual record for made threes in a game with a triple with under two minutes to go. Nicole Connolly got a layup to fall with 52 seconds remaining as Saint Mary's fought the clock late to try to set a pair of records. Deardorff provided the decisive blow as the senior hit her eighth three-pointer while giving the team their 13th made trey of the contest to rewrite two rows of the record book with 29 seconds to play. The Belles had one more possession and made the most of it with a good three-pointer by Alyssa Matuza to set the new single-game record for threes at 14.

Elle Deardorff led all players in the game with 26 points and established a new single-game record for made three-pointers with eight. The previous record had been set in the 1988-89 season by Julie Radke. The senior added a team-high four assists and had three rebounds. Annie Restovich matched her season-high with 19 points and posted two assists. Athena Samson just missed out on a double-double with nine points and a team-best nine rebounds. Alyssa Matuza had three points, and Caroline Roecker, Nyah Porter, and Nicole Connolly each had two.

The Belles (5-19, 2-13 MIAA) conclude their season on Saturday when they travel to Adrian for a 3:00 p.m. competition.