Foul trouble forces Belles into fourth straight loss
By KATIE MCVOY
Sports Writer
The Saint Mary's basketball team's efforts fell short Tuesday night as it lost to Anderson University 78-58 at O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.
The Anderson Ravens snapped a 12-game losing streak with the win, while the Belles lost their fourth in a row.
The Belles got into foul trouble early in the first half of the game. Junior starter Julie Norman headed to the bench with two fouls five minutes into the game.
At the 10-minute mark starters Kristen Matha and Anne Blair also had two fouls each.
Halfway through the first half Anderson went on a 17-2 run, taking the game from a close, two-point lead to a score of 39-22. The first half ended with Anderson on top 41-25.
"Anderson shot incredibly well," Norman said. "We didn't play defense well enough to stop that."
Anderson shot 57 percent from the field. The Belles only shot 26 percent from the field.
With three minutes left to play in the game, the Belles only trailed 66-58.
However, they did not score again.
The Belles took control under their own basket, but were out-rebounded by the Ravens defensively 34-15.
Matha and Mary Campione led the Saint Mary's offensive with 12 points each. Shaun Russell and Anne Blaire did their part with nine and eight points, respectively.
Matha also led the defense with eight of the Belles' 32 rebounds.
Saint Mary's will play its final regular season game on Saturday at home against conference competitor Adrian College.
The Belles are looking to recover from the loss to Anderson and win on Saturday.
"Tuesday's game was discouraging, but we're hoping to rebound and play well against Adrian," Norman said.
Saint Mary's is currently in eighth place in the MIAA and is hoping to remain ahead of Olivet College, who is ranked No. 9. If the Belles remain in eighth place, they will start conference tournament play on Monday by hosting Olivet at home.
"We need to get some fire," Norman said.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, February 17, 2000
