Record-breaking night for women’s basketball team in season-opening 91-80 win over Kenyon

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Four single-game school records were broken, as the Olivet College women's basketball team defeated Kenyon (Ohio) College, 91-80, tonight in its season-opener in a first round game of the College of Mount St. Joseph Tip-Off Tournament in Cincinnati. Junior Stefanie Lang (Valparaiso, Ind.) set new benchmarks for points (43), field goals made (17) and field goals attempted (25). Senior Kelsey Campbell (Olivet) broke her own single-game record with 19 assists, which is also the third-most ever in a single-game in NCAA DIII women's basketball history (see table below).

In the first half, Olivet took a pair of six-point leads, with the last one being 28-22 at the 8:27 mark. Kenyon battled back to take a 41-40 lead with 2:39 remaining before halftime. The Comets answered with a 7-2 run for a 47-43 lead. The Ladies scored the final five points of the half to take a 48-47 lead into the locker room. At the break, Lang had 21 points and eight rebounds, while Campbell dished out 12 assists.

The teams traded baskets in the early stages of the second half until Olivet took the lead for good on a pair of free throws by Lang to make the score, 54-51. The Comets stretched their lead to double figures for the first time, 69-58, with 11:18 left in the game.  Five minutes later, Olivet's lead grew to 21 points, 83-62, due to a 14-4 scoring spurt. Kenyon got no closer than 11 points for the rest of the game.

The Comets shot a sizzling 54.5 percent (36-of-66) from the floor, with an identical percentage from behind the arc (6-of-11). Olivet also out-rebounded the Ladies, 41-27. Lang made 17-of-25 baskets, including 3-of-3 from three-point land, and 6-of-7 free throws for her 43 points. She also pulled down 15 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double.

Senior Chelsea Ciba (Olivet) scored a career-high 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Freshman Gabrielle Trudell (Mason) was perfect in her collegiate debut, as she made 5-of-5 baskets and 2-of-2 free throws for 12 points. Campbell had nine points to go along with her 19 assists.

Olivet will play Muskingum University in the championship game tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. The Fighting Muskies defeated the host Lions, 80-59, in the other first round game.