Women’s basketball: Reid’s career-high 23 points push Comets past Saint Mary’s, 74-54

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Senior Carli Reid scored a career-high 23 points to help the Olivet College women's basketball team close out the first half of its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) schedule with a 74-54 win over Saint Mary's (Ind.) College tonight at the Angela Athletic Center in South Bend, Indiana.

The frontcourt duo of Reid and senior Stefanie Lang proved to be too much for the Belles. Reid made 11-of-15 baskets, with a three-pointer, for her 23 points. Lang scored 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. In addition, junior forward Dallas Austin had seven points.

The first half of the opening 20 minutes of play were a back-and-forth affair, with neither team holding more than a three-point lead. After a 13-13 tie, Saint Mary's scored seven of the next nine points to go up by five, 20-15. The Belles led by five points one more time, 24-19, at the 6:15 mark. Olivet answered with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 26-26.

Following two more ties, 28-28 and 30-30, the Comets took a 32-31 lead on an Austin basket. Olivet then led 34-31 at halftime when sophomore Gabby Trudell made a basket.

The Belles opened the second half with an 8-0 run to take a 39-34 lead at the 18:15 mark. For the next seven and one-half minutes, the Comets held Saint Mary's without a basket and scored 16 points themselves for a 50-39 lead. Olivet eventually led by as many as 22 points. Two Belle free throws created the final 20-point margin.

Eleni Shea posted team-highs in points (15) and rebounds (seven) to lead Saint Mary's. Krista Knapke joined her in double figures with 10 points.

The second half of Olivet's league schedule begins Saturday with a 3 p.m. home game against Albion College.