Women’s basketball: Olivet defeats Illinois Tech, 84-56

CHICAGO, Ill. – A strong start to the second half helped the Olivet College women's basketball team defeat Illinois Institute of Technology, 84-56, this afternoon at the Keating Sports Center in Chicago.

The Comets put the first six points on the scoreboard and eventually led by nine points, 17-8, with 11:46 remaining in the first half. Illinois Tech chipped away at its deficit and trailed by only three points, 19-16, at the 5:42 mark. Olivet ended the half on a 15-5 run to take its largest lead, 34-21, at the halftime break.

The Comets came out strong offensively and defensively to start the second half. On the offensive end, Olivet scored 22 of the first 24 points of the second period to open a 56-23 lead. On the defensive end, the Comets did not let the Scarlet Hawks make a field goal until the 12:05 mark. Olivet led by as many as 39 points, 70-31, in the second half following a three-pointer by junior Leighann Thilo.

For the game, the Comets shot 36.4 percent (28-of-77) from the floor, with five three-pointers, and 57.5 percent (23-of-40) from the free throw line. Olivet out-rebounded Illinois Tech, 56-39, including a 26-10 edge on the offensive glass. The Comet bench out-scored the Scarlet Hawk bench by 30 points, 46-16.

Overall, Olivet had a balanced scoring attack. Senior Carli Reid finished with 14 points, followed by senior Stefanie Lang with 12. Freshman Morgan Neeley was a spark off the bench with 10 points. Also off the bench, sophomore Gabby Trudell and freshman Ayren Parrish had eight points apiece, and junior Bre Kidd scored seven.

Reid also pulled down 13 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Lang narrowly missed a double-double with nine boards. Junior Dallas Austin dished out a game-high five assists.

The Comets (1-1) return to action Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22, at the Lee Fulmer Tip-Off Classic, hosted by University of Redlands (Calf.). Olivet will play the host Bulldogs on Friday night at 8 p.m. EST and Chapman (Calif.) University on Saturday night at 6 p.m. EST.