HANOVER, Ind. - Saint Mary's College Basketball defeated Wilmington College in the first round of the Hanover Invitational on Friday night, 81-71. The Belles win their third straight game, improving to 3-1 while the Quakers fall to 0-5 to start the season.

Wilmington came out strong, getting out to a quick 10-4 lead early in the first quarter. The two teams traded buckets back and forth throughout the remainder of the quarter, but the Quakers came out ahead after the first 10 minutes, 20-12. Freshman Caroline Langworthy (Cincinnati, OH) led the team with five points in the quarter with a couple layups and a free throw.

The teams continued to trade shots as the Belles tried to bounce back. The Quakers extended their lead to ten and held the Belles at bay throughout the second quarter. Wilmington hit a free throw before the end of the half to head into the locker room with a 34-26 lead. Sophomore Ella Notaro (Crystal Lake, IL) got hot in the second quarter, scoring eight of team high 10 points, after knocking down a three-pointer and a couple layups along with a free throw. Notaro and freshman Liv Fry (Fort Wayne, IN) led the team with four rebounds at the half as Saint Mary's outrebounded Wilmington, 23-19, in the half.

After the third quarter started with traded baskets, Saint Mary's caught fire midway through the quarter. The Belles went on a 15-0 run in the last five minutes of the quarter to take their first lead of the game and head into the final 10 minutes with a big 50-43 lead. The Belles outscore the Quakers 24-9 in the quarter while shooting an incredible 66.7% from the field. Notaro improved up to 17 points on the game in the quarter while senior Nicole Connolly (Mokena, IL) brought her total to 10 in the quarter. 

The Quakers tried to bounce back in the fourth, but both teams traded baskets and the Belles held them at a safe distance. The two teams combined for 59 points in the final 10 minutes as Saint Mary's held on for an impressive 81-71 victory. 

Notaro led the Belles with a career-high 17 points on the night. Three other Belles finished in double-figures as sophomore Kate Passinault (Grand Rapids, MI) added 14, junior Kate Restovich (St. Louis, MO) added 11, and Connolly added 10. Passinault grabbed a team high seven rebounds while Fry grabbed five while also dishing out a game high six assists.

As a team, Saint Mary's outshot Wilmington 49.2% to 39.3% while also winning the turnover battle, forcing 17 and only giving up eight. The Belles also grabbed 34 rebounds as a team and outscored the Quakers in the paint, 50-22.

UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES

Saint Mary's returns to action tomorrow as they take on the host Hanover College in the championship game. The Belles and Panthers will tip off at 4pm tomorrow. The Belles close out the road swing on Tuesday, November 25, as they travel to take on Anderson University at 7pm.