NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Saint Mary's College Basketball defeated Lake Forest College in a tight contest on Saturday night, 70-66. The Belles improve to 1-1 on the year while the Foresters fall to 0-1. This was the first win of his head coaching career for new Belles Head Coach Rob Hoffman.
Saint Mary's and Lake Forest ended the first quarter almost even, with the Belles leading by three at the break. Both teams made the same amount of field goals, but it was six made free throw attempts for the Belles that gave them the early edge. Senior Julia Schutz (Dyer, IN) scored 10 of the Belles 19 points in the first quarter.
The second quarter was the exact same story, as the belles would go into the break with a four point lead, 38-34. Saint Mary's continued to shoot above 40% from the field in the game and held Lake Forest under 40%. Schutz brought her point total to 18 in the quarter.
It was the exact same story offensively for the Belles to start the second half, as they would bring their lead to its largest of 14 points midway through the quarter. They shot an incredible 66.7% from the field in the third quarter and went 2-3 from beyond three-point range. Schutz would increase her total by 10 to 28 while junior Nicole Connolly (Mokena, IL) would score five of her points in the third.
Lake Forest would start their comeback in the fourth quarter as they brought the game within three points, but Saint Mary's was able to hold them off by holding and finishing off the win. The Belles would draw seven fouls in the fourth quarter alone which saw them go to the line and attempt eight free throws, making six in the quarter.
Schutz would finish the night with a career high 32 points while also grabbing a career high 17 rebounds in the game. Connolly would tack on 10 points to the Belles total while sophomore Kate Restovich (Wildwood, MO) and freshman Kate Passinault (Grand Rapids, MI) would each record eight. Freshman Ella Notaro (Crystal Lake, IL) grabbed nine rebounds while Kate Restovich would grab six. Connolly led the team with three assists while Restovich, Passinault, and senior Lauren Gumma (Troy, MI) would dish out two each.
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's heads to Rock Island, IL to compete in the Hyatt Place Tournament next weekend as they begin the tournament taking on the hosts Augustana College on Friday at 6pm est. Depending on the result of the game, the Belles will either face Edgewood College or Washington University-St. Louis on Saturday. The Belles return home on November 20 when they host Franklin College for a 7pm tipoff.