Belles Setback by Saints

Box Score

• Eleni Shea had a game-high 17 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
• Krista Knapke scored 13 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
• Gabby Diamond had her first collegiate double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's basketball team staged a second-half comeback before being dealt a 70-59 loss at the hands of neighboring Holy Cross on Saturday afternoon.

A pair of free throws by Eleni Shea made it a two-possession difference in favor of the visiting Saints at 14-9 with 5:48 on the clock in the first quarter. Holy Cross and Saint Mary's traded buckets back-and-forth as Gabby Diamond and Shea came up with response baskets as the score shifted to 20-15 with 2:29 remaining. The Saints pulled ahead 25-15 with under a minute on the clock, but Erin Maloney hit a layup with 26 seconds to go to make it 25-17 at the first break.

The second quarter continued to be a back-and-forth battle as the Belles continued to come up with a response each time the Saints tried to extend their lead. With the score at 35-25 with 2:30 left in the first half, the Belles scored the final six points of the period with a layup by Shea and a pair of jumpers by Diamond to make it 35-31 at halftime.

Saint Mary's extended their run into the early minutes of the third quarter as the Belles drew even at 35-35 with 9:03 on the clock. The Saints regained the lead with back-to-back baskets for a 40-35 edge, but a three-point play by Eleni Shea made it a two-point affair at 44-42 with 4:32 left in the third quarter. Holy Cross had a pair of jumpers fall to go up six points, but the Belles came right back again with layups by Krista Knapke and Kelsey Trimble. The Saints put points on the board on three consecutive possessions before both teams found some difficulty notching points down the stretch of the quarter as Holy Cross held a 54-46 advantage heading into the final period.

The Belles cut the differential down to eight points three times over the final 10 minutes of play, but the comeback was not to be for Saint Mary's against the Saints as Holy Cross closed out the 70-59 final decision.

Saint Mary's held a 38-30 edge in points in the paint while also out-scoring the Saints 18-11 on second chance buckets.

Eleni Shea led all players with 17 points while pulling down 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. The senior also tallied four assists and blocked three shots. Krista Knapke added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Gabby Diamond registered 12 points and 10 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. It is the first time since last season's November 22 win over Trinity International that three different players have registered a double-double for the Belles.

The Belles (0-5) open conference play on Monday, November 30 when they travel to Olivet for a 7:30 p.m. contest.