The 2008-09 Alma Women's Basketball team hosted MIAA rival St. Mary's College on Saturday afternoon in search of their fourth win in five tries, but came up short, as visiting Belles prevailed by a score of 66-39. The loss dropped the Scots to 5-7 in league play and 7-13 overall, while St. Mary's improved to 11-2 in the MIAA and 13-8 on the season.
The Belles were strong throughout the contest and the only lead of the game that Alma had was at 5-4, when Jr. F Meagan Hoblet (Cadillac, MI/Cadillac) converted a three-point play four minutes into the game. St. Mary's proceeded to go on a 9-0 run to take a 13-5 advantage three minutes later, but the Scots closed the gap to 15-12 at the 9:14 mark when Jr. F Kathryn Bigelow (Alma, MI/Alma) hit a jumper.
After Alma Fr. G Cassie Kopke (Haslet, MI/Haslet) cut the Belles lead to 17-15 a minute later, St. Mary's went on another 9-0 run to make it a 26-15 game with 4:03 left in the half. The teams basically traded baskets the rest of the way and St. Mary's went into halftime with a ten-point advantage at 30-20. Neither team shot particularly well in the first half as St. Mary's finished at 31% (10 of 32), while Alma was at 29% (seven of 24).
The second half was a tough one for the home team as St. Mary's went on a 26-1 run to take a 56-21 lead with 7:07 left in the game and they never looked back. The Belles shot 53% (15 of 28) in the final frame, while the Scots were successful on just six of 27 attempts in the second half (22%).
For the game, St. Mary's shot 42% (25 of 60), while Alma finished at just 26% with 13 of 51 shooting. The Belles outrebounded the home team by a margin of 42-33 and forced 25 Alma turnovers, notching 18 steals on the afternoon.
Jr. G Stephanie Bradshaw (Livonia, MI/Churchill) led all Scots scorers with seven points, while So. G Hannah Hewitt (Alanson, MI/Harbor Light Christian) and Fr. C Aubrey Maxa (Saginaw, MI/Swan Valley) each added six points. Kopke led the the Scots with four assists and three steals, while Hoblet paced Alma with eight rebounds.
Alma continues MIAA play on Wednesday evening when they travel to Olivet College to take on the Comets, with tip-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
