Women’s basketball team loses to Manchester, 61-51

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. -- The Olivet College women's basketball team fell to Manchester (Ind.) College, 61-51, in its final non-conference game of the 2010-11 season today at the Stauffer-Wolfe Arena in North Manchester, Ind.

In the first half, Olivet led by three points on three occasions, with the last time being 9-6 at the 15:57 mark. Manchester then made a layup and three-pointer to take an 11-9 lead. They would go up by seven points, 18-11, with 13:16 left before halftime. Olivet answered with a 9-0 scoring spurt to take a 20-18 lead.

Two straight baskets handed the lead back to the Spartans, and they did not relinquish it for the rest of the game. Manchester led by as many as 11 points in the first halftime before taking a 33-25 lead into the locker rooms. The closest the Comets would get in the second half was six points, 45-39, with 9:21 remaining.

Both teams made 18 baskets, but the difference in the game was a 3-1 advantage in three-pointers and 22-14 edge in free throws made for the Spartans. Junior Debbie Nikodemski (Rockford) was the only Olivet player to reach double figures in the scoring column with 13 points. Senior Kaitlin Oleksyn (Kalamazoo/Parchment) and sophomore Kati Stickney (Union City) each pulled down a team-leading six rebounds.

Manchester placed three players in double figures, led by Alexandra Starkey's game-high 15 points. Brittani Bush and Janelle Morr scored 11 points apiece. Becki Lowden grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, including four off the offensive glass.

The Comets will now be off until Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, when they resume Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play at Calvin College. Game time is 1 p.m.