NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Saint Mary's basketball team fell in a 75-55 final at North Central on Saturday evening.

 

Nicole Connolly and Jasmyne Townsend each hit an early bucket, and Elle Deardorff and Athena Samson got into the scoring column as the game stood deadlocked at 8-8 midway through the opening quarter. The Cardinals put the next five points on the scoreboard, but Kate Restovich put the Belles right back in business with a fastbreak three-pointer off of an outlet pass from Carly Sherfield. North Central gained a six-point lead late in the period. This time, it was Annie Restovich with the good triple off of a pass from Sherfield as the Belles edged within three at 17-14 at the end of the first quarter.

 

Elle Deardorff opened the second quarter with a good three-pointer to knot the game at 17-17, and Athena Samson made it a one-possession game with a hook shot in the paint two minutes later as the Belles trailed 22-19. When North Central tried to put together a run, Saint Mary's continued to find a response. Kate Restovich hit a layup and added another three-pointer to pull the Belles within two at 26-24 with four minutes still to go in the second stanza. Lauren Gumma made a late fastbreak layup, but a buzzer-beater by the Cardinals gave North Central a 33-26 lead at the half.

 

Athena Samson put the first points of the third quarter on the scoreboard with a layup on the Belles' first possession. North Central, however, countered with a 15-4 run over the next five minutes to gain a 48-32 advantage. Saint Mary's used six quick points by Kate Restovich, Samson, and Nicole Connolly to cut the deficit to 11 at 51-40 only to see the Cardinals put four points on the scoreboard in the final minute of the period for a 55-40 lead.

 

North Central opened the fourth quarter with a 9-2 scoring edge for a 64-42 advantage three minutes into the period. Saint Mary's, meanwhile, was unable to get a much-needed run as each of their buckets were followed by points by the Cardinals as North Central took the 75-55 decision. 

 

Athena Samson had her second double-double of the season with 12 points and a team-best 12 rebounds. Kate Restovich had her first double-digit scoring effort of her collegiate career with 12 points to go along with five rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Elle Deardorff added 11 points . Nicole Connolly posted six points and six rebounds with a pair of assists, and Annie Restovich tallied six points with two rebounds and an assist. Lauren Gumma and Jasmyne Townsend each chipped in four points on the night.

 

The Belles (1-3) are on the road on Tuesday when they travel to Anderson for a 7:00 p.m. contest.