Lang’s career-best 26 points help women’s basketball team beat Albion, 62-60, in overtime

OLIVET, Mich. – Sophomore Stefanie Lang (Valparaiso, Ind.) scored a career-best 26 points to help the Olivet College women's basketball team beat Albion College, 62-60, in overtime this afternoon at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. With the win, the Comets end the first half of its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) schedule with a 6-2 record, while the Britons' conference record slips to 1-6.

The game was tight throughout, as neither team led by more than five points. There were also 13 lead changes and 12 tied scores.

In the first half, Olivet trailed by two points, 6-4, when Lang checked in the game. She went on to score 13 straight points, capped by a three-pointer, for the Comets and they led by five, 17-12. The Britons came back with a 5-0 run to knot the score at 17-17.

Junior Kelsey Campbell (Olivet) put Olivet back ahead, 20-17, before an Albion basket made the score 20-19. Lang answered with a layup and the Comets led by three, 22-19. Olivet continued to lead until the Britons made a couple runs to tie the game at 25-25 and 28-28.

Albion took its first lead, 30-28, since the 13:41 mark. The Comets tied the game, 30-30, at halftime and for the sixth time when junior Rachael Wagner (Clinton Twp./Fraser) made a layup.

At the start of the second half, Campbell scored the first five points for Olivet to make the score 35-30. The Britons responded with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 35-35. The Comets came back with another 5-0 scoring run to regain a five-point cushion, 40-35.

Albion scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 43-42 lead. In a 35-second span, Lang scored five consecutive points for Olivet and made the score 47-43. Like the whole game, the Britons responded with a 7-2 run to establish a 50-49 advantage.

The Comets went ahead 52-50 on a three-pointer by senior Mellissa Bageris (Milford). After Albion tied the game, Bageris made one free throw to make the score 53-52 with 2:29 left. The Britons knotted the score at 53-53 and took a 55-53 lead with 1:10 left. Junior Heather Lauwers (Ortonville/Brandon) sent the game to overtime at 55-55 when she made a jump shot with 51 seconds left in regulation.

Taylor Nugent scored the first points in overtime to give Albion its largest lead of the game, 60-55. From there, Olivet scored the last seven points of the game to leave the gym with the win.

Lang made 10-of-19 baskets, including the one 3-pointer, and five free throws for her 26 points. Playing all 45 minutes, Campbell posted a double-double, 11 points and 10 assists. Senior Sydney Radde (Stevensville/Lakeshore) grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, as the Comets out-rebounded the Britons, 55-43.

Nugent led all Albion players with 13 points and eight rebounds. Emily DeWaters had 12 points.

Olivet will take a break from MIAA play with two non-conference games early next week. On Monday evening, the Comets host Siena Heights University at 7:30 p.m., and on Wednesday night, they travel to play Rochester College at 7 p.m. The game against Rochester will be played at Oakland Christian High School in Auburn Hills.