SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Angelo State Belle basketball team defended their home court once again as they defeated the St. Mary's Rattlers, 75-64.
The Belles are now 11-5 overall and 8-4 in conference.
 
In Case You Missed It:
First Quarter

• The Belles had a slow start in the first quarter as St. Mary's quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead off of a made three pointer and jump shot, but the Belles would rally quickly and a three pointer from Lana Marov put the Belles on the board, 5-3.
• A layup from De'Anira Moore and a made three pointer from Sawyer Lloyd cut the Rattlers lead down to two points with about six minutes left to go, 10-8.
• Two three pointers from Catara Samuel gave the Belles a four point lead, 14-10.
• Two three pointers made by Samantha Rocha and Samuel extended the Belles lead up to eight to end the first quarter for the Belles, 20-12.

Second Quarter

• A jump shot from St. Mary's cut the Belles lead down to four, but another made three pointer from Marov brought the Belles lead up to seven, 23-16.
• A made free throw and layup from Angel Hayden extended Angelo States lead to double digits for the first time in the game as the Belles lead grew to 10, 26-16.
• A layup from Samantha Rocha and a three pointer from Samuel, with the assist from Rocha, gave the Belles a 13 point lead over the Rattlers, 31-18.
• Several layups from St. Mary's cut ASU's lead down to seven points, but a foul on Hayden gave her the chance to make two free throws to bring the Belles back to a nine point lead, 33-24.
• Two free throws from Asia Davis, plus a three pointer and jump shot from Lloyd brought the second quarter to an end for the Belles to give ASU a 13 point lead heading into the third quarter, 40-27.

Third Quarter

• A three pointer from the Rattlers started the third quarter off as the Belles lead fell to 10, but two free throws from Samuel brought their lead back to 12, 42-30.
• Two quickly made jumpers from St. Mary's cut the Belles lead down to eight, but a layup from Moore and two made free throws from Kinley Brown extended the Belles lead back up to 12, 46-34.
• St. Mary's quickly responded with a made three pointer to cut Angelo States lead down to nine, but two made layups from Samuel and Moore, plus two free throws from Davis brought the Belles to a 15 point lead, 52-37.
• The Belles and Rattlers continued to trade points back and forth throughout the rest of the quarter, with a made jump shot from Davis ending the quarter for the Belles to bring the Blue and Golds lead to 14, before a made jumper from the Rattlers brought it down to a 12 point game leading into the fourth quarter, 57-45.

Fourth Quarter

• Marovs three point shooting ability continued to shine as she drained her third for the night to bring the Belles to yet another 15 point lead over the Rattlers, 60-45.
• Free throws from Hayden and Moore maintained the Belles 15 point lead, but a fast break layup from Davis extended the Belles lead to 17, their highest lead of the game, 66-49.
• Free throws from St. Mary's cut Angelo States lead down to 14, but a made layup from Lloyd brought ASU back to another 16 point lead over St. Mary's, 68-52.
• Hayden and Moore would work together once again to maintain the Belles 16 point lead and not give the Rattlers any ground to gain, as Hayden sank yet another free throw and Moore used her strength and shooting skill in the paint to make another layup, 72-56.
• Moore finished the quarter for the Belles, making three free throws for Angelo State, and St. Mary's would attempt to make a comeback late in the fourth quarter and cutting the Belles lead down to 11, but the Belles shooting skill and defensive capabilities thwarted the Rattlers attempts, ending the game with a Belles victory, 75-64.

 
Key Players:

• Catara Samuel was Angelo States MVP, scoring 16 points for the Blue and Gold, shooting 83% from the field, 100% from the three point line, and 100% from the free throw line. Samuel shot 4-4 from the three point line and 2-2 from the free throw line, as well as registering four rebounds, two on offense and defense each. Samuel also recorded three assists and two steals.
• De'Anira Moore continues to dominate the paint for the Belles on offense and defense both, scoring 13 points for Angelo State. Moore shot 44% from the field, and 83% from the free throw line. Moore registered nine total rebounds, two on offense and seven on defense, as well as one block.
• Lana Marov showed her offensive capabilities against the Rattlers as she shot 40% from both the field and the three point line, scoring 10 points for the Belles. Marov recorded five total rebounds, all defensive, along with one assist.

Up Next:
The Belles travel to the eastern half of the state as the Belles take on the University of Texas-Tyler Patriots on Thursday, January 30 at 5:30 p.m., and then Commerce, Texas to take on the No. 6 nationally ranked Texas A&M-Commerce Lions on Saturday, February 1 at 2 p.m.