Feb. 20, 2008

Stats

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The difference in Adrian's 11-point loss at Saint Mary's on Wednesday night was free throw shooting which was dominated by the home team to the tune of 40 attempts to 13 for the visitors. In fact, Alison Kessler herself outshot AC at the line 27-13. Kessler went to the foul line and made 22-of-27 finishing with 31 points after shooting just 4-of-16 from the floor including 1-of-7 from the arc. Kessler set an MIAA single game record with 22 made free throws breaking the previous record of 17 by Jaime Fornetti of Albion on January 3, 2006.

Adrian played even in all other stat categories on the evening making more field goals (24) and three-pointers (6). Saint Mary's shot 33.3 percent from the floor while Adrian was 38.1 percent including 43.8 percent in the second half. Sophomore Kim Olech registered a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. She was 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 at the line in 38 minutes, which tied a season-high. She was also just one point shy of her season-high in scoring. Liz Hafeli was the other Bulldog in double figures with 14 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Hafeli was 5-of-10 shooting including 4-of-6 from behind the arc.

Saint Mary's jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the first 3:45 and over the first 10 minutes of the game built a 17-5 advantage. Adrian began the game by shooting 2-of-12 in the first 10 minutes. Adrian trimmed the lead down to 19-14 at the 7:26 mark on a pair of Olech free throws and both teams traded baskets for the rest of the half as the Belles led 35-29 at intermission.

Saint Mary's played very well in the first 10 minutes of the second half and led 55-45 at the 10:11 mark. The Belles led 65-51 at the 6:06 mark but Adrian cut the lead down to six at 69-63 with 46 ticks on the clock. Both teams had 28 points in the paint and nearly had identical totals off second chance points with SMC holding a 14-13 edge. The guard combo of Anita Stamps and Rita Carter played well off the bench going a combined 7-of-12 from the floor. Stamps finished with nine points in 21 minutes while Carter had seven points and two rebounds in nine minutes.