Lang breaks single-season scoring record as women’s basketball team routs Trine, 76-51

OLIVET, Mich. – Junior Stefanie Lang (Valparaiso, Ind.) broke the single-season school scoring record, leading the No. 18 Olivet College women's basketball team to a 76-51 win over Trine (Ind.) University on Senior Day this afternoon at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

A basket by Lang at the 18:27 mark pushed her past Audrey Graham for the scoring record. That basket continued an 11-2 run to start the game for the Comets, as they five of their first six basket and a free throw. Olivet quickly led by 16 points, 22-6, with 11:11 remaining in the opening half.

Trine fought back and trailed by nine points twice, with the last time being 28-19, at the 5:28 mark. The Comets then went on a 14-3 scoring run to take their largest lead of the half, 42-22. The Thunder scored a basket with under 30 seconds left in the half to trail by 18, 42-24, at intermission.

In the second half, Olivet stretched its lead to 24 points, 65-41, at the 9:08 mark. Trine scored eight straight points in a span of two minutes to make the score 65-49. The Comets responded by scoring 11 of the next 12 points to take their largest lead of the game, 76-50. The Thunder made a free throw with 27 seconds left for their final margin of defeat.

Olivet shot 50.8 percent from the floor to 29.1 percent for Trine. The Comets made two more three-pointers but the Thunder drained nine more free throws. Olivet had a +18 advantage in rebounding, 44-26.

Five Comets reached double figures in the scoring column, led by Lang's 16 points. Senior Chelsea Ciba (Olivet) had 12 points, while sophomore Dallas Austin (St. Johns), junior Carli Reid (Lansing/Waverly) and sophomore McKenzie Skiendziel (Battle Creek/Lakeview) each scored 11 points. The 11 points were single-game scoring highs for Austin and Skiendziel.

Ciba just missed a double-double, dishing out nine assists to go along with her 12 points and five steals. Senior Kelsey Campbell (Olivet) was one point shy of her own double-double, as she had 13 assists as well as the nine points. Senior Heather Lauwers (Ortonville/Brandon) pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

Kayla Dunn led Trine with 15 points, while Laura Rosekrans had 11. Lauren Tait grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Olivet (22-3, 14-2 MIAA) now turns its attention to the 2014 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament. The Comets earned the second seed and will host third seed Calvin College in a semifinal game on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. The other semifinal features top seed Hope College hosting fourth seed Adrian College. The two semifinal winners will advance to the championship at the highest remaining seed next Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.

NOTES: In 2013-14, Lang has scored 494 points. The previous scoring record was 479 points by Audrey Graham during the 2005-06 season. Lang also holds the single-season school records for field goals made (204), rebounds (335) and blocks (44). She needs 16 field goal attempts to break that record. Campbell finishes the regular season with 228 assists, including 133 in conference play.