Women’s basketball team holds on to defeat Alma, 63-53

Junior Stefanie Lang (Valparaiso, Ind.) posted her 17th double-double of the season, 18 points and 14 rebounds, to lead the 24th-ranked Olivet College women’s basketball team to a 63-53 win over Alma College this afternoon at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Box Score

Team Stats

Women’s basketball team holds on to defeat Alma, 63-53
February 1, 2014

OLIVET, Mich. – Junior Stefanie Lang (Valparaiso, Ind.) posted her 17th double-double of the season, 18 points and 14 rebounds, to lead the 24th-ranked Olivet College women's basketball team to a 63-53 win over Alma College this afternoon at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

The Scots led by seven points, 9-2, at the 16:55 mark and continued to hold a six point lead, 14-8, midway through the opening half. After a 30-second timeout, the Comets scored six straight points on back-to-back three-pointers by senior Kelsey Campbell (Olivet) and sophomore Dallas Austin (St. Johns) to tie the game at 14-14.

Those baskets ignited an 18-2 run to help Olivet take a 24-16 lead. The Scots came back to trail by four points, 26-22, before the Comets scored nine straight points for a 33-22 lead. Olivet's lead at halftime, 38-25, was its biggest of the first half.

In the second half, the Comets extended their lead to 16 points, 44-28. Alma responded with 12 straight points to make the score 44-40, and the Scots never got any closer. Olivet pushed its lead back to 16 points late in the game.

As a team, Olivet out-rebounded the Scots, 48-37. The Comets also made 15 steals off 24 Alma turnovers. Lang made 8-of-16 baskets and two free throws for her 18 points, and half of her 14 rebounds were offensive boards. Junior Carli Reid (Lansing/Waverly) was the only other player in double figures with 16 points. Campbell was a rebound shy of a double-double with 11 assists and nine boards. Senior Heather Lauwers (Ortonville/Brandon) finished with eight rebounds and game-high five steals.

For the Scots, Mallory Pruett had team-highs in points (16) and rebounds (11). Kassadi Adams and Raeanna Zink each scored 13 points.

The Comets host Albion College Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m.

NOTES: With her 18 points, Lang moved into fifth-place on the single-season scoring list with 386 points. Next up for her to pass is Louisa Grill's 400 points in 2000-01. Other single-season ranks for Lang are second in rebounds (263), third in blocks (34) and fourth in field goals made (157).