NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's basketball team used a 20-4 run early in the second half to help them on their way to a 68-57 win over in-state conference foe Trine.

On Senior Recognition Day, Grace Sadowski got the Belles started off on the right foot with a scoop-shot layup for the game's first bucket. She then padded the lead to 6-0 on a fastbreak layup on a long outlet pass from Kelley Murphy.

The Thunder kept the score within a pair of possessions throughout the first half. Trine was within just two points of Saint Mary's on a free throw by Sydney Spragg with 4:32 to go before the half. The Belles scored seven quick points thanks to Jessica Centa and Maggie Ronan to go up 28-19 with 1:38 left before the half. Trine hit back-to-back buckets  to cut the lead to 28-24, but Patsy Mahoney drained two free throws before the half to put the Belles up 30-24 at the break.

The teams went back and forth to open the second half as Trine was down just six points at 35-29 on a three-pointer by Danielle Senf just two minutes into the second 20 minutes. Over the next 7:16, the Thunder made just one shot from the floor and one free throw. The Belles, on the other hand, scored on nine of 13 possessions during that same stretch to out-score Trine 20-4 and go up 55-33 with 10:37 to go.

Trine used a 20-6 run of their own to get within 61-53 with just 2:33 remaining in the game. The Belles hit five of six free throws and Kelley Murphy had a good jump shot to fend off Trine's come-back attempt as Saint Mary's took the 68-57 win at home.

The Belles out-rebounded Trine 45-28, including 21-4 on the offensive boards resulting in 19 second chance points to the Thunder's four points on second chance opportunities.

Kelley Murphy led all players with 16 points and eight rebounds on the afternoon while adding three steals and three assists. Maggie Ronan and Jessica Centa each chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds for the Belles.

Seniors Liz Wade and Grace Sadowski, meanwhile, became the first senior class in Saint Mary's basketball history to win 60 games in their careers. The next highest number of wins by a senior class was 57 by the 2010 class of Anna Kammrath. The 15 wins this season represents the second-most wins in a single season in program history as well, tying the efforts of the 2009-10 and 1980-81 squads.

The Belles (15-7, 8-5 MIAA) will have their bye week in conference play this week and will return to action next Saturday, February 12 when they travel to Albion in a big MIAA clash with the Britons.