Women’s basketball team loses to Hope, 82-57, in MIAA-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team lost 82-57 to Hope College in its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opener this evening at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. Hope entered the game ranked No. 3 in the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association poll and No. 7 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.

The Flying Dutch opened the game by scoring 13 of the first 15 points. Olivet fought back to trail by only one point on two occasions, with the last time being 19-18, at the 5:30 mark. Hope stretched its lead back to figures and led by 14, 39-25, at halftime. The Flying Dutch built their lead to as many 24 points in the second half. The closest the Comets would get was 15 points, 70-55.

Junior Stefanie Lang (Valparaiso, Ind.) posted her third straight double-double, 21 points and 12 rebounds, to lead Olivet. Senior Chelsea Ciba (Olivet) added 12 points, while junior Carli Reid (Lansing/Waverly) had 10. Senior Kelsey Campbell (Olivet) finished with nine points and eight assists.

For Hope, Rebekah Llorens and Maura McAfee each scored 20 points. Llorens also grabbed 12 rebounds. Amanda Traversa came off the bench to score 14 points.

Olivet will take Thanksgiving off and be right back in action Friday night when it hosts Oberlin (Ohio) College at 6 p.m.