Women’s basketball team loses to Calvin, 80-76, in MIAA Tournament semifinals

OLIVET, Mich. – The No. 18 Olivet College women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 80-76 decision to Calvin College tonight in the semifinals of the 2014 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament inside The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. Calvin advances to play Hope in the MIAA championship game Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Olivet's only chance for its season to continue will be if it receives an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III National Championships, which will be announced next Monday, March 3.

There was not much scoring in the early stages of the game. The Knights managed to build a nine-point lead, 17-8, at the 8:54 mark of the opening half. The Comets fought back with a 12-2 run to take their second lead of the game. During the game, junior Stefanie Lang (Valparaiso, Ind.) scored nine of the points.

In the final 6:11 of the first half, there were three tied scores and six lead changes. After Calvin led 28-27, Olivet scored the final four points of the half to take a three-point lead, 31-28, into the locker rooms.

The start of the second half was similar to the end of the first half, with multiple ties and lead changes. The Comets were able to build a four-point cushion, 46-42, after senior Kelsey Campbell (Olivet) made a three-pointer at the 13:38 mark. The Knights came back with a 12-4 run to take their own four-point lead, 54-50, with 9:55 left in regulation.

Over the next seven minutes, neither team led by more than three points and there were 13 lead changes. Olivet had a 70-69 lead before the Calvin answered with a three-pointer to go up 72-70. The Knights did not relinquish their advantage for the rest of the game, as they made six free throws in the final 57 seconds to seal their victory.

Overall, the game had 11 ties and 25 lead changes. Olivet made one more basket, 29-28, than Calvin, but the Knights drained two more three-pointers and four more free throws. The Comets out-rebounded Calvin, 41-32. The Knights did a better job holding onto the ball, committing only 16 turnovers to 25 for Olivet.

Lang finished the game with 32 points and 13 rebounds for her 22nd double-double of the season. Campbell had 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Senior Chelsea Ciba scored 16 points, dished out six assists and made four steals.

For Calvin, Breanna Verkaik posted a team-high in points (27) and game-high in rebounds (14). Kayla Engelhard joined her in double figures with 16 points.

NOTES: Lang's 2013-14 statistics are 217 field goals made, 405 field goals attempted, 348 rebounds, 44 blocks and 526 points. All five are single-season school records. Her .536 shooting percentage is fifth-best. Ciba has 366 points, which ranks sixth on the single-season scoring list. Campbell has made 86 free throws to tie for fifth-best in a single-season to go along with her school-record 236 assists.