Women’s basketball: Olivet falls to Kalamazoo, 81-80, in home-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – After playing its first five games on the road, the Olivet College women's basketball team played a home game at The Cutler Event Center today and fell to Kalamazoo College, 81-80.

The Comets led by three points, 10-7, in the first half before the Hornets went on an 18-6 run to take their largest lead of the half, 25-16, at the 9:20 mark. After Kalamazoo took another nine-point lead, 28-19, Olivet made back-to-back three-point baskets to cut its deficit down to three points. The Hornets came back with a late push to take a 39-31 lead at the halftime break.

Kalamazoo extended its lead with a pair of baskets early in the second half for its biggest lead of the game, 43-41. The Comets chipped away at the Hornet lead and eventually took a 50-48 lead with 11:09 remaining in regulation. The teams traded baskets and free throws over the next four minutes, causing six tied scores. Following the last tie at 61-61, Grace Smith put Kalamazoo ahead with a jump shot and it did not give up the lead for the rest of the game.

For the game, Olivet shot 40.3 percent (25-of-62) from the floor to 46.9 percent (30-of-64) for the Hornets. The Comets made four triples, while Kalamazoo made two. The teams combined to go 45-of-70 from the free throw line. Olivet was 26-of-36 (72.2 percent) and the Hornets were 19-of-34 (55.9 percent). After being out-rebounded by nine in the first half, the Comets finished the game with a +6 advantage, 45-39.

Senior Stefanie Lang finished with her fifth double-double of the season, 21 points and 20 rebounds, and nearly had a triple-double with six blocked shots. Junior Shauni Hankins also scored 21 points. Junior Bre Kidd came off the bench and contributed 28 points and seven rebounds.

Kalamazoo placed four starters in double figures, led by Perri Nicholson's 20 points. Grace Smith had 12, while Kelsey Adamski and Emily Lindsay scored 11 apiece. Nicholas grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Olivet returns to the court next Wednesday, Dec. 10, with a 7 p.m. home game against Aquinas College.

NOTES: Lang moved into the Top 10 all-time scoring list at Olivet. She has 849 career points to sit in ninth-place and needs 89 points to pass Julie Ottinger '98 for eighth-place. Lang's six blocks ties for the most in a single-game in school history.