ALBION, Mich. - Saint Mary's College Basketball fell to Albion College on Wednesday night, 54-53 in overtime. The Belles fall to 4-13 (1-7 MIAA) while the Britons improve to 7-10 (5-3 MIAA).

Saint Mary's got out to an early lead in the first quarter as they would go into the first break with a 17-9 lead. The Belles outshot the Britons 41% to 30% in the quarter while also going 2-3 from the three point line. Senior Julia Schutz (Dyer, IN) led the way for the Belles in the quarter with seven points.

While Albion would get out to a hot start in the second quarter, Saint Mary's would bounce right back and retake their lead with a three pointer at the halftime buzzer from Schutz, leading 26-23 at the break. Schutz would move into double-figures with her three pointer. With 12 points, it's her 11th game with double-digit points and her fifth in the last six games.

Both teams were sluggish coming out the locker room but the Belles would hold strong and preserve their lead going into the final quarter, 39-35. The Belles would shoot an incredible 55% from the field in the quarter while allowing the Britons to hit just 28% of their shots.

Albion got hot in the fourth quarter as they stormed back and took a lead late in the game. While down with less than two minutes to play, freshman Kate Passinault (Grand Rapids, MI) drove to the basket and made the tough contested layup while getting fouled to give Saint Mary's the lead back, Passinault would make the free throw to give them a two point lead. But the Britons came back down and would tie the game up and force the first overtime game for either team this season. 

Albion continued their hot streak into overtime as they would shoot 50% from the field in the extra period compared to just 28% from Saint Mary's. After freshman Ella Notaro (Crystal Lake, IL) drove to the basket and made the contested layup and her and-one free throw, the game was knotted up at 51. Albion would go down and knock down a three pointer to take the lead back. The Belles would call a timeout with five seconds left in the period as they got the ball inbounded to sophomore Kate Restovich (Wildwood, MO) she was fouled on her three point attempt as time expired. Unfortunately, Restovich would only hit two of her three free throws and the Britons took home the win.

Schutz finished with a team high 17 points and nine rebounds. Notaro and Restovich would finish in double-figures as Notaro would finish with 12 and Restovich with 10. Notaro would also grab eight rebounds while snagging four steals.

UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES

Saint Mary's returns home on Saturday, January 25, as they host Calvin University for a 1pm tipoff. This is the second matchup of the season for the Knights and Belles, Calvin was victorious in Grand Rapids, MI on December 7, 70-32.