Posted: Dec 19, 2022
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Saint Mary's basketball team saw their comeback effort run out of time in a 79-73 setback against Franklin at the Music City Classic on Monday evening.
Athena Samson tallied the first points of the game, and a Julia Schutz three-pointer followed by a jump shot by Schutz put the Belles up 7-2 early. The Grizzlies responded with a 9-0 spurt to gain an 11-7 advantage with 5:26 remaining. Schutz powered her way to back-to-back layups for the Belles, knotting the game at 11-11 moments later. Franklin countered with an 8-0 run over a two-minute span late in the quarter before Jasmyne Townsend and Nikki Murphy teamed up for five quick points to put the score at 19-16. A late free throw by the Grizzlies gave Franklin a 20-16 lead at the first quarter break.
Julia Schutz opened the second period with a pair of free throws, and Maddie Rzepka tied the game at 20-20 with a mid-range jumper. Athena Samson then gave the Belles the lead with a free throw for a 21-20 advantage less than two minutes into the stanza. Both sides hit a scoreless stretch for the next two-plus minutes of action before a three-pointer by Franklin saw the lead trade hands again. Rzepka responded with a triple in front of the Grizzlies' bench on the next possession for a 24-23 lead, but Franklin went ahead yet again with a quick four-point spurt. A layup from Mary Kate Gareau and a free throw from Rzepka pulled the Belles even at 27-27 with under four minutes to go in the half. The Grizzlies, however, used a 6-1 spurt over the span of 2:53 for a 35-28 advantage in the waning moments of the quarter. Nicole Connolly connected on a mid-range jumper just before the buzzer to give the Belles a boost and cut the deficit to five points at 35-30 heading into the halftime break.
The Belles took advantage of the opening possession of the third quarter with a Julia Schutz layup, and the sophomore connected on a baseline jumper at the edge of the lane. Athena Samson then beat the shot clock with a driving layup from the top of the key and added another layup as Saint Mary's pulled within three points on four occasions early in the third. The Grizzlies responded with buckets each time to maintain their lead. The score remained unchanged for the next 2:54, but it was Franklin who broke through with five consecutive points for a 48-38 with 3:25 to go in the quarter. Saint Mary's got back in the scoring column with a pair of free throws by Jasmyne Townsend to make it 48-40. A three-pointer by the Grizzlies put Franklin ahead 51-40, but the Belles got a layup from Nicole Connolly to make it 51-42. A pair of Townsend free throws late again put the Belles within striking distance at 54-44 heading into the final quarter.
A free throw and layup by Athena Samson cut the deficit to seven points early in the fourth period. The teams traded points back and forth over the next two minutes, and a Maddie Rzepka three-pointer again made it a seven-point game at 61-54 with 7:19 remaining. Elle Deardorff and Mary Kate Gareau each got into the scoring column, and an offensive rebound by Julia Schutz led to a pair of free throws by the sophomore to put the Belles within four points at 63-59. Another offensive board and putback by Schutz continued to keep Saint Mary's close at 65-61 midway through the quarter. Maddie Rzepka then calmly sunk a three-pointer at the top of the key to cut the deficit to three at 67-64 as the Belles continued their battle. Saint Mary's, however, was plagued by a scoreless stretch where good shots just missed the mark as Franklin expanded their advantage to eight at 72-64 with 1:28 to play. Athena Samson connected on a layup to make it 72-66, Maddie Rzepka added a jumper of her own as the score moved to 74-68, and Julia Schutz converted both free throws moments later to pull the Belles within 75-70 with 23 seconds to go. Missed chances late, however, combined with good free throws by the Grizzlies pushed the Franklin advantage to 79-70 with four seconds to go. Jasmyne Townsend drained a three pointer as the buzzer went off but it was not enough in the 79-73 final.
Saint Mary's out-rebounded Franklin 45-41 and connected on more chances from the free throw line (20-of-32) than their counterparts (14-of-20). The Grizzlies, meanwhile, held advantages in points in the paint (40-26), second-chance points (15-6), and points off of turnovers (18-6).
Julia Schutz tied her career-high scoring total with 21 points and collected her sixth double-double of the year with 10 rebounds. Maddie Rzepka added 16 points, and Athena Samson registered her sixth double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jasmyne Townsend put up 11 points with a pair of assists. Nicole Connolly and Mary Kate Gareau each tallied four points, and Gareau pulled down five rebounds and posted two assists.
Athena Samson tallied the first points of the game, and a Julia Schutz three-pointer followed by a jump shot by Schutz put the Belles up 7-2 early. The Grizzlies responded with a 9-0 spurt to gain an 11-7 advantage with 5:26 remaining. Schutz powered her way to back-to-back layups for the Belles, knotting the game at 11-11 moments later. Franklin countered with an 8-0 run over a two-minute span late in the quarter before Jasmyne Townsend and Nikki Murphy teamed up for five quick points to put the score at 19-16. A late free throw by the Grizzlies gave Franklin a 20-16 lead at the first quarter break.
Julia Schutz opened the second period with a pair of free throws, and Maddie Rzepka tied the game at 20-20 with a mid-range jumper. Athena Samson then gave the Belles the lead with a free throw for a 21-20 advantage less than two minutes into the stanza. Both sides hit a scoreless stretch for the next two-plus minutes of action before a three-pointer by Franklin saw the lead trade hands again. Rzepka responded with a triple in front of the Grizzlies' bench on the next possession for a 24-23 lead, but Franklin went ahead yet again with a quick four-point spurt. A layup from Mary Kate Gareau and a free throw from Rzepka pulled the Belles even at 27-27 with under four minutes to go in the half. The Grizzlies, however, used a 6-1 spurt over the span of 2:53 for a 35-28 advantage in the waning moments of the quarter. Nicole Connolly connected on a mid-range jumper just before the buzzer to give the Belles a boost and cut the deficit to five points at 35-30 heading into the halftime break.
The Belles took advantage of the opening possession of the third quarter with a Julia Schutz layup, and the sophomore connected on a baseline jumper at the edge of the lane. Athena Samson then beat the shot clock with a driving layup from the top of the key and added another layup as Saint Mary's pulled within three points on four occasions early in the third. The Grizzlies responded with buckets each time to maintain their lead. The score remained unchanged for the next 2:54, but it was Franklin who broke through with five consecutive points for a 48-38 with 3:25 to go in the quarter. Saint Mary's got back in the scoring column with a pair of free throws by Jasmyne Townsend to make it 48-40. A three-pointer by the Grizzlies put Franklin ahead 51-40, but the Belles got a layup from Nicole Connolly to make it 51-42. A pair of Townsend free throws late again put the Belles within striking distance at 54-44 heading into the final quarter.
A free throw and layup by Athena Samson cut the deficit to seven points early in the fourth period. The teams traded points back and forth over the next two minutes, and a Maddie Rzepka three-pointer again made it a seven-point game at 61-54 with 7:19 remaining. Elle Deardorff and Mary Kate Gareau each got into the scoring column, and an offensive rebound by Julia Schutz led to a pair of free throws by the sophomore to put the Belles within four points at 63-59. Another offensive board and putback by Schutz continued to keep Saint Mary's close at 65-61 midway through the quarter. Maddie Rzepka then calmly sunk a three-pointer at the top of the key to cut the deficit to three at 67-64 as the Belles continued their battle. Saint Mary's, however, was plagued by a scoreless stretch where good shots just missed the mark as Franklin expanded their advantage to eight at 72-64 with 1:28 to play. Athena Samson connected on a layup to make it 72-66, Maddie Rzepka added a jumper of her own as the score moved to 74-68, and Julia Schutz converted both free throws moments later to pull the Belles within 75-70 with 23 seconds to go. Missed chances late, however, combined with good free throws by the Grizzlies pushed the Franklin advantage to 79-70 with four seconds to go. Jasmyne Townsend drained a three pointer as the buzzer went off but it was not enough in the 79-73 final.
Saint Mary's out-rebounded Franklin 45-41 and connected on more chances from the free throw line (20-of-32) than their counterparts (14-of-20). The Grizzlies, meanwhile, held advantages in points in the paint (40-26), second-chance points (15-6), and points off of turnovers (18-6).
Julia Schutz tied her career-high scoring total with 21 points and collected her sixth double-double of the year with 10 rebounds. Maddie Rzepka added 16 points, and Athena Samson registered her sixth double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jasmyne Townsend put up 11 points with a pair of assists. Nicole Connolly and Mary Kate Gareau each tallied four points, and Gareau pulled down five rebounds and posted two assists.
The Belles (4-8) have a quick turnaround as they take on Berry at 2:00 p.m. on day two of the Music City Classic at Welch College in Tennessee.