NOTRE DAME, Ind. - A 16-3 run in the third quarter saw the Saint Mary's basketball team pull away for good as the Belles took an 82-66 win over visiting Illinois Tech on Thursday night.

 

The Belles snagged a 7-2 lead through the opening minute-and-a-half of play after Elle Deardorff sunk a pair of layups before Julia Schutz converted a three-point play. The bounces, however, went the other way over the next four-plus minutes as the visiting Scarlet Hawks edged ahead 10-7 with just over four minutes remaining. Nicole Connolly hit a pair of key shots to draw the Belles even at 11-11 with 3:40 on the clock, but Illinois Tech countered with a three-pointer and a fastbreak layup for a 16-11 lead. The Scarlet Hawks extended their lead to eight at 20-12 with less than a minute to play in the first quarter with a second-chance three-pointer. Maddie Rzepka found a cutting Julia Schutz late for a layup as the Belles went to the first break trailing 20-14.

 

Elle Deardorff opened the second quarter with a triple, Athena Samson added a layup, and Nikki Murphy scored a layup on the fastbreak to put Saint Mary's up 21-20 just 1:05 into the period. The sides went back-and-forth over the next minute as Illinois Tech regained a 25-23 edge, but Deardorff erased that deficit for Saint Mary's quickly with another three-pointer for a 26-25 lead. Illinois Tech tied the game at 27-27, but buckets by Anne Goralczyk, Maddie Rzepka, and Jasmyne Townsend put the Belles up ten at 27-27 with under a minute remaining on the clock.The Scarlet Hawks got a late bucket, but Saint Mary's carried a 37-29 lead into the locker room.

 

The two teams were even for the early moments of the third quarter before the Scarlet Hawks cut the Saint Mary's lead to two points at 43-41 with 5:28 to go in the stanza. Anne Goralczyk was fouled on a drive to the bucket and converted both free throws on the next possession, and Maddie Rzepka added a good three-pointer moments later for a 48-41 lead. Illinois Tech countered with a layup to push the score to 48-43 with 4:34 on the clock. Lauren Gumma, Nicole Connolly, and Goralczyk connected on shots on three-consecutive possessions for a 54-43 lead to kick-start a decisive 16-3 run. Saint Mary's scored on each of their final four possessions of the quarter to hold a 66-49 lead going into the final period.

 

Saint Mary's extended their lead to 21 on a stop and pop jump shot by Nikki Murphy at the top of the lane just 1:28 into the fourth quarter. The Scarlet Hawks twice edged within 14 points, but the Belles had an answer each time down the stretch for an 82-66 victory.

 

Saint Mary's out-scored Illinois Tech 46-28 in the paint and had a 31-24 advantage in points from non-starters. 

 

The Belles had four players score double-digit points in the win, led by Maddie Rzepka's 18-point effort on the night. The senior co-captain added five rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots. Nicole Connolly had a season-high 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting with five rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Athena Samson registered her first collegiate double-double with 12 points and a game-high and career-best 14 rebounds. Elle Deardorff posted 12 points with four assists and two steals. Anne Goralczyk collected a career-best 12 rebounds on the night and tallied six points, an assist, and a blocked shot. Jasmyne Townsend tallied six points, and Nikki Murphy registered a game-high five assists with seven rebounds. 

 

The Belles (3-1) continue a stretch of home games on Sunday when they host Defiance at 1:00 p.m.