Women's Basketball 12/20/2016 12:00:00 AM

St. Mary's Women's Basketball Edged by Illinois College

Box Score

For Immediate Release · By Nairem Moran · nmoran@smcm.edu

The Basics

Score: St. Mary's 55, Illinois College 59
Records: St. Mary's (3-7), Illinois College (6-2)
Location: San Juan, P.R. · Coliseo Roberto Clemente
The Short Story: The St. Mary's College of Maryland women's basketball team posted their highest three-point field goal percentage of the season but their efforts came up short in a 59-55 non-conference loss to Illinois College in the Puerto Rico Clasico. Junior captain Kerri Kline (Hagerstown, Md./Saint James) matched a season-best with 21 points on 5-of-8 shooting from downtown.

How It Happened

The Seahawks shot 40-percent from the floor and Kline led the way with six points on 2-of-4 shooting from behind the three-point arc to give St. Mary's a 12-5 lead after one quarter of play.
St. Mary's stretched its advantage to nine twice in the second period, including at the 3:14-minute mark on a jumper by first-year forward Christine McKee (Frederick, Md./Urbana). Five straight points from sophomore forward Brielle Greenleaf (Evansville, Wis.) cut the deficit to four with 1:17 left before a Kline jumper sent the Seahawks into the locker room with a 28-22 halftime lead.
Kline notched 14 of her 21 points in the first half as she led all scorers with 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range while sophomore guard Katie Robey (Kensington, Md./Georgetown Visitation) grabbed six rebounds to help St. Mary's establish a 25-21 rebounding edge.
Back-to-back jumpers by senior center Nina Haller (Chevy Chase, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase) had the Seahawks on top, 35-27, with 6:27 remaining in the third. However, the Lady Blues closed out the quarter on a 14-5, including Greenleaf capping the run with a triple for IC's first lead of the game.
The Seahawks opened up the final quarter with an 8-5 spurt to claim their final lead of the game with 5:07 left in the game. Sophomore guard Jaicie Halleman (Hillsboro, Ill./Hillsboro) put Illinois College back in front with a three-pointer and the Lady Blues would hold on for the win despite St. Mary's cutting the lead to two at the 1:41-minute mark with a Kline basket. Greenleaf sealed the win with a pair of free throws with three ticks on the clock.

Inside the Box Score

As a team, the Seahawks shot 47.1-percent from behind the three-point arc for their highest three-point field goal percentage thus far this season.
Along with her game- and season-best 21 points, Kline connected on a career-high five three-pointers and added a team-best three steals.
Haller nearly completed her third double-double of the season with 16 points and nine rebounds plus three blocks.

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