Women’s basketball: Olivet shocks Thunder, 56-55, on last-second free throw

ANGOLA, Ind. – Senior Stefanie Lang drained a free throw to complete a three-point play with 10.9 seconds left to lift the Olivet College women's basketball team past Trine (Ind.) University, 56-55, this afternoon at Hershey Hall in Angola, Indiana.

In the first half, the Comets built a nine-point lead, 26-17, with a little less than five minutes remaining. The Thunder came back with a 12-2 run to take their first lead, 29-28, since the 16:08 mark. Olivet scored four of the final six points of the half to take a 32-31 lead into the locker rooms.

The Comets went up by three points, 39-36, with the 17:13 remaining in the contest. The teams then went on a four-minute scoring drought before Trine went up by three points on two occasions. The last time was 46-43 at the 8:57 mark.

Olivet went on a 6-0 run to go up 49-46 before the Thunder battled back to gain a 52-51 lead with 2:55 left. The Comets took the lead back, 53-52, when senior Carli Reid made a layup 13 seconds later. The Thunder grabbed the lead back 54-53 on two free throws from Kayla Dunn with 2:22 remaining.

There was no more scoring until Trine seized a two-point lead, 55-53, with 37.3 seconds left when Nikky Moan split two tosses from the free throw line. Reid missed the game-tying basket, but Lang corralled the offensive rebound and put the ball back up and into the basket to tie the game. She was fouled and made the go-ahead free throw.

Trine called a timeout with 8.1 seconds left. The go-ahead shot was missed, with Reid grabbing the rebound and the Comets were able to run the final second off the clock.

Olivet had a balanced scoring attack to beat the Thunder. Reid led the way with 13 points. Sophomore Gabby Trudell added nine points, all in the first half. Junior Morgan West contributed eight points. Junior Leighann Thilo finished with six points, while Lang, junior Shauni Hankins and freshman Ayren Parrish each had five points.

Lang pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. Reid had nine rebounds.

Dunn scored a game-high 16 points, followed by Kelsey Henselmeier added 12. Moan grabbed nine rebounds. 

The Comets host MIAA co-leader Hope College next Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.

Watch the final minute of the game!