Women’s basketball team beats Calvin, 82-67, to secure second-place in MIAA standings

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Behind 27 points by senior Chelsea Ciba (Olivet) and junior Stefanie Lang's (Valparaiso, Ind.) double-double (22 points and 20 rebounds), the 23rd-ranked Olivet College women's basketball team defeated Calvin College, 82-67, today at Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids. With the win, the Comets move two games ahead of the Knights for second-place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) standings with an 11-2 record.

Senior Kelsey Campbell (Olivet) joined them in double figures with 12 points. Campbell and Ciba dished out nine and eight assists, respectively. Ciba had three steals. Senior Heather Lauwers (Ortonville/Brandon) scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

The first 10 minutes of the game were back and forth, as neither team led by more than four points. The Comets held a 15-14 lead before going on a 9-3 run to take a seven point-lead, 24-17, at the 8:24 mark. The Knights came back and tied the game twice, 33-33 and 35-35. Ciba scored two baskets in the final 32 seconds of the half for a 39-35 Olivet lead at halftime.

The Comets out-scored Calvin, 17-4, in the first five minutes of the second half to stretch their lead 56-39. The Knights would not get any closer than seven points for the rest of the game.

For the game, Olivet shot 52.5 percent (31-of-59) from the floor to 31.9 percent (23-of-72) for Calvin. The Knights were 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) from behind the arc, while the Comets were 2-of-6 (33.3 percent). Both teams made 18 free throws. Olivet out-rebounded Calvin, 49-37.

Lang made 10-of-19 baskets and 2-of-3 free throws for her 22 points, and 19 of her rebounds were offensive boards. Ciba shot 10-of-16 from the floor and 6-of-10 from the charity stripe for her 27 points.

Breanna Verkaik finished with a game-high 29 points to lead the Knights. Hannah Acre came off the bench to score 11 points. Acre and Verkaik each pulled down seven rebounds.

The Comets (19-3, 11-2 MIAA) have their final two regular season games next week. On Wednesday, they travel to play Saint Mary's (Ind.) College at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, they host Trine (Ind.) University at 1 p.m.

NOTES: With her 22 points, Lang has also scored 448 points this season, which sits third all-time at Olivet for a single-season. The top two single-season scoring marks are both by Audrey Graham -- 459 in 2006-07 and 479 in 2005-06. Lang had four blocks to break the single-season record. The previous mark was 39 by Louisa Grill in 1999-2000. Campbell now has 204 assists this season.