Hornets sting Belles 88-53 in regular season finale
by KATIE McVOY
Assistant Sports Editor
The Saint Mary's basketball team ended its regular season on a low note, dropping Saturday's game to Kalamazoo 88-53.
"It was a bad game," sophomore starting guard Katie Christiansen said.
That summed up the game, as the 35-point win margin set a record for Kalamazoo as the largest margin of victory in Hornet history. The 88-point win also ranked No. 1 for number of points scored in a single game.
Rebounding was at the top of the list of problems Saint Mary's faced on Saturday. The Belles only grabbed 30 total rebounds compared to the Hornets' 52.
"We didn't rebound at all," Christiansen said. "It killed us. That was the big thing."
The Kalamazoo offense kept the ball at the Kalamazoo end of the floor and provided second and third chances for shots.
"I think our thing was that we were boxed out and nobody would go after the ball," Christiansen said. "They would get their second and third shots."
The first half was bleak for the Belles, with only 18 points and an 18.5 shooting percentage. The Hornets led 46-18 after the first 20 minutes of play.
Kalamazoo's consistent man-to-man coverage kept the Belles shooting percentage down and knocked the team off-track. Although the Belles had a better second half, shooting 37.5 percent from the floor, they couldn't come back from the 28-point first-half deficit.
"They played really good defense, they pressured us really well," Christiansen said. "It's hard to get into a rhythm."
The Hornets got right into a rhythm, however. They had a season high 51.4 percent from the floor.
"It was their senior night, they were pumped and ready to play," Christiansen said. "The first half they hit all their shots and we had an off shooting night."
And it truly was senior night for Kalamazoo seniors Lindsay Drury and MaryJane Valade. Drury, a starting forward, led the Hornets with 16 points along with eight rebounds. Valade scored 10 points along with seven rebounds and four assists. Joining the senior effort were sophomores Amanda Weishuhm and Stephanie Getz with 15 and nine points respectively.
Senior guard Julie Norman, who was playing in the last regular season game of her college career, led in scoring and rebounding for Saint Mary's. Norman scored 11 points and had three rebounds. Anne Blair chipped in eight points and guard Mary Campione scored six. Elizabeth Linkous grabbed six boards, leading the Belles in rebounding.
The Belles came into the game looking for a win to possibly boost their MIAA playoff seed; Saturday's loss guaranteed that they will face off against league leader Hope College during round one of tournament play. They know they will have to step up their play.
"We just know we can't take Hope lightly and we have to play our hardest against them," Christiansen said. "We know that we can't [play like we did Saturday] against Hope; that just isn't good."
The Belles will tip off against Hope Tuesday night at Hope.
All Sports Stories for Monday, February 19, 2001
