Women’s basketball: 11 three-pointers help Comets defeat Aquinas, 84-68

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team made a season-high 11 three-pointers and defeated Aquinas College, 84-68, in a non-conference game tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The 11 triples ties for the fifth-most in school history for a single-game and is also the most in a game since Feb. 9, 2008, when Olivet made 14 vs. Tri-State (Ind.) University.

The Comets scored the first six points of the game before the Saints went on a 9-2 run to gain their first lead of the game 9-8 at the 11:11 mark. Olivet then went on a 16-4 scoring spurt to take their largest lead of the half, 24-13. The run was fueled by three straight baskets from behind the arc – one each by juniors Dallas Austin, Jackie Harwood and Morgan West.

The teams exchanged baskets, causing four more 11-point advantages for Olivet with the last one being 33-22. Aquinas scored five points to cut its deficit to six points before freshman Ayren Parrish made the Comets' fifth three-pointer of the half to make the score 36-27 at the break.

The Saints trailed by only six points, 43-38, with 14:59 left in regulation. West then nailed two straight triples to push Olivet's lead back to double digits, and it stayed that way for the rest of the game. The Comets were able to stretch their lead twice to 20 points, with the last time being 81-61 at the 2:17 mark.

For the game, Olivet shot a season-high 50.8 percent (30-of-59) from the floor and 61.1 percent (11-of-18) from three-point territory. The Comets out-rebounded the Saint, 45-29. Senior Stefanie Lang produced her sixth double-double of the season with a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Senior Carli Reid finished with 13 points. West scored a season-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the arc. Harwood was 3-for-3 from "downtown" for nine points. Austin, and juniors Shauni Hankins and Leighann Thilo each dished out four assists.

Chelsea Matley led all Aquinas players with 17 points. Allison Heberlein and Miara Okie contributed 16 and 13 points, respectively. Heberlein had a team-leading six rebounds. 

The Comets (3-4) are back in action Monday, Dec. 15, when they host Marygrove College at 5 p.m. It is the first game of a basketball doubleheader, as the Olivet men also play Marygrove after the women's game at approximately 7:30 p.m.