Women’s basketball: Comets comes up short against Albion, 53-49 in MIAA-opener

ALBION, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team opened Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with a 53-49 loss to Albion College tonight at Kresge Gymnasium in Albion. Despite the loss, senior Stefanie Lang led all players with 20 points and 15 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.

In the first half, the Comets held a six-point lead, 8-2. The Britons made back-to-back three-pointers to tie the game, 8-8. After Olivet took the lead back, 10-9, Albion used a 9-1 run to go up by seven points, 18-11. Olivet battled back with a 15-6 run to gain a 26-24 lead with 2:59 left until halftime. The Britons scored the final seven points of the half to take a 31-26 lead at the break.

The Comets outscored Albion, 9-4, in the first five minutes of 42 seconds of the second half to create a 35-35 tie. The teams traded baskets before Olivet surged ahead by three points twice, with the last time being, 45-42. The Britons scored six straight points to go ahead 48-45 with 3:29 left.

The next time down the court, Lang made a free thrown to complete an "and one" play to tie the game at 48-48. Albion got a basket on its ensuing possession to take a 50-48 lead with 2:45 remaining in the game. Neither team scored until there were 34 ticks left when junior Shauni Hankins split a pair of free throws to make the score 50-49. The Britons made 3-of-4 free throws in the final 14 seconds to seal their win.

For the game, Olivet shot 26.9 percent (18-of-67) from the floor, 20 percent (4-of-20) from the 3-point line and 60 percent (9-of-15) from the free throw line. Albion was 20-of-54 (37 percent) from the floor, 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) from behind the arc and 10-of-23 (43.5 percent) from the charity stripe. The Comets had a +1 margin (48-47) in rebounding.

Lang made 6-of-18 baskets, including one 3-pointer, and 7-of-7 free throws for her 20 points. Nine of her 15 rebounds came off the offensive glass. Lang also blocked three shots. Hankins finished with eight points, while senior Carli Reid contributed six points and eight rebounds.

For Albion, Darian Payne scored 17 points before fouling out. Erin Nelson had a double-double, 10 points and 13 rebounds. Mikaela Bromley added 12 points.

The Comets will take the rest of the week off for fall semester examinations and be back in action Saturday evening when they play Kalamazoo College in their home-opener. Tip-off inside The Cutler Event Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

NOTES: With her 20 points, Lang needs only seven points to move into the all-time Top 10 scoring list at Olivet. She has 828 career points in 48 games. Sitting at 10th is Kris Post '89 who scored 834 points in 71 games. Lang already ranks in the Top 10 in other statistical categories, including rebounds (seventh, 518); blocked shots (third, 69); and field goals made (sixth, 337).