Rally falls short as women's basketball team falls to Saint Mary's, 69-67

The women's basketball team rallied but fell short to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Saint Mary's (Ind.) College, 67-65, today at Angela Athletic Facility in Notre Dame, Indiana.

The Belles (11-14, 6-10 MIAA) led by as many as seven points twice during the first half with the last time being 22-15 with just over six minutes left. The Lady Comets (7-17, 2-14 MIAA) came back with a 12-5 run over the next four minutes and 12 seconds to tie the game at 27-27. Allison Kessler made a free throw to complete a three-point play with 48 seconds remaining and give Saint Mary's a 30-27 lead at halftime.

Olivet took its first lead of the game, 37-36, at the 16:20 mark of the second half when senior Tonya Dawson (Marshall) made a jumper. The Belles answered and took a six-point lead, 50-44. The Comets answered with a 9-2 to take a 53-52 lead with seven minutes left. Saint Mary's took the lead back for good on two free throws by Katie Boyce. The Comets had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds.

Sophomore Stephanie Smith (Waldron/Camden Frontier) scored a career-high 19 points with five three-pointers for Olivet. She also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Senior Emily Fix (New Buffalo/Comstock Park) and junior Kari Searles (Marshall) tallied 16 points apiece for the Comets.

Bridget Boyce led four Belles in double digits with 15 points, followed by Alison Kessler (14), Maureen Bush (12) and Emily Creachbaum (10). Kessler pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

The Comets will be the #9 seed in the 2005 MIAA Tournament, and will travel to play Adrian College in the play-in game Monday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m. The winner of the game will play at #1 seed Albion College Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.