ADRIAN, Mich.--Junior Marissa Cotton was a sparkplug off the Adrian College bench on Saturday, scoring a game-high 16 points to lead the Bulldogs past visiting Saint Mary's (Ind.) College, 71-58, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association women's basketball contest at the Merillat Sport & Fitness Center. The Bulldogs have won three of their past four outings to up their overall record to 7-6, including 4-1 in the MIAA, while the Belles drop to 1-14 on the season and 1-5 in the league.

Eleni Shea led three Saint Mary's starters with 16 points, Gabby Diamond scored 15 and Krista Knapke, 12. Diamond completed a double-double with a game-best 12 rebounds, plus three assists.

Cotton sank 6 of 8 field goals, including 3-for-4 from the three-point arc, in 22 minutes of action. Senior Jorden York added 14 points on 5-for-9 (three treys) and senior co-captain Amber McCullough added 10. 

Adrian came out of the halftime break holding a slim 33-30 advantage to outscore the Belles in the third quarter, 22-10, to take control 55-40 going into the final stanza. 

Senior Antoinea McElroy (7 points) hauled down a game-high 14 rebounds to help the Bulldogs enjoy a huge 55-37 edge on the glass. Freshman Katie Crawford (career-high 8 points) and McCullough chipped in eight boards apiece.

St. Mary's led for most of the opening quarter, but Crawford scored four of her team's nine points during a key stretch as the Bulldogs went from 10-7 down to a 16-12 lead and never trailed after that. Adrian was leading 18-14 after 10 minutes.

The Bulldogs hit the hardwood again on Wednesday at MIAA opponent Calvin, tipping off at 7:30 p.m.

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