Feb. 24, 2009

Final Stats

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The end of the season saw the women's basketball team lose a little bit of the magic that was present in the first half of the season. Adrian dropped a 74-60 decision at Saint Mary's on Tuesday night in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals. After winning nine straight games earlier in the season, the Bulldogs dropped six of their last seven to end 2008-09.

Saint Mary's got the better of Adrian for the third time this season and this time by the largest margin. Adrian struggled right out of the gate and never had a lead against the Belles. The teams were tied at 2-2 but Saint Mary's scored the next seven points to go up 9-2 less than two minutes into the contest. The Belles increased their lead to 20-8 less than five minutes into the game and Adrian did not recover from the early surge.

SMC led by as many as 16 in the first half before going into the locker room with a 43-32 lead. AC shot 32 percent (8-of-25) in the first half and committed 13 turnovers. SMC shot 41.5 percent (17-of-41) and committed just seven turnovers. Adrian did have success at the foul line in the first half going 14-of-16.

Adrian cut the lead to 45-38 less than three minutes into the second half but Saint Mary's went on a 6-0 run to push the lead back to 13 at the 14:59 mark. Adrian could not get the deficit under double digits and the Belles kept the foot on the gas pushing their lead up to 24 points with 8:16 left.

The Bulldogs held steady in the second half shooting 32.1 percent (9-of-28) but could not find the shooting touch from outside going 2-of-11. AC ended the year with improved numbers at the free throw line and finished the game going 24-of-30 at the charity stripe. Sophomore Megan Bouwens had a big night on the glass grabbing a season-high 15 rebounds (all defensive). She scored just four points and committed six turnovers. Junior Anita Stamps struggled from the floor (4-of-12) but had a great night at the line (8-of-8) totaling a team-high 16 points.

Junior Jennifer Perrin scored 15 points and was 5-of-10 from the field. Perrin was 4-of-4 at the line and had four boards and two assists in 33 minutes. Juniors Ashley McClarren and Elysia Norris each scored six points.