Saint Mary's Beats Alma; Advances to MIAA Semfinals
Box Score
NOTRE DAME, IN – Erin Newsom grabbed an MIAA Tournament record 21 rebounds in addition to scoring 14 points in leading third-seeded Saint Mary’s to a 66-54 win over Alma Tuesday evening in the first round of the league’s post-season tournament.
Bridget Lipke dished off a tournament record 11 assists in the winning effort. Alison Kessler scored 20 points to set the Saint Mary’s single season scoring record. Kessler now has 484 points this season which surpasses Jennie Taubenheim mark of 476 set during the 1994-95 season. For Newsom it was her sixth double-double of the season.
In the opening half neither team held a lead larger than seven-points. Saint Mary’s ended the first half on a 14-7 scoring spree over the final 7:40 in taking a 30-29 edge at halftime.
Megan Hoblet gave sixth-seeded Alma (10-14) their final lead of the night on lay-up during the Scots first possession of the second half. Saint Mary’s (12-12) slowly pushed their lead to 50-45 with 10:32 remaining and never let Alma get closer the rest of the way in sealing the victory.
It is the first time since Saint Mary’s joined the league during the 1998-99 season that the Belles advanced to the semifinals of the postseason tournament. The Belles will now face defending national champion Hope, the tournament’s second seed, on Thursday evening at 7:30 in Holland, MI.
Ashley Matuzak had a game high 21 points to pace the Scots efforts.
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