Saint Mary's Claims Thrilling OT Win
Box Score
NOTRE DAME, IN – In a game were neither team held a lead larger than five points during regulation and featured 16 ties, Saint Mary’s claimed a 71-63 overtime win against Albion on Wednesday evening.
The win lifts the Belles record to 11-11 overall and 10-5 in league play. In addition, the win clinches the third seed for next week’s MIAA tournament. The Belles will host Alma, the sixth seed, in the first round on Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. It is also the first time in school history that Saint Mary’s has won 10 league games in a season.
Albion held a 35-31 lead at halftime after an Amy Aemisegger three-pointer at the buzzer sent the teams to the locker room.
The second half had a tie score on seven occasions. Saint Mary’s took the largest lead of regulation with 5:25 remaining when Bridget Lipke’s lay-up gave the Belles a 57-52 edge. The Britons chipped away and eventually tied the score at 57-57 with 1:49 left on a Katie Elder foul shot.
Alison Kessler hit a running lay-up with 40 seconds left to give the Belles a 59-57 lead. Albion drew up an out of bounds play were Jessica Babcock nailed a 10 foot jump shot with five seconds left that sent the game to overtime.
The Belles never trailed in overtime as they scored on six of their 10 possessions in overtime. Saint Mary’s forced Albion into five overtime turnovers and a 2-for-9 effort from the field in the extra session.
Kessler had a game high 23 points to go along with her contest best eight assists. In addition, Lipke (18) and Nicole Beier (10) each posted double figure scoring efforts. Erin Newsom tallied her fifth double-double of the year with a 13-point, 15-rebound effort.
Elder led all Albion scorers with 14 points
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