Women’s basketball: Harwood’s career-high 28 points help Olivet beat Albion, 75-72

OLIVET, Mich. – Junior Jackie Harwood scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Olivet College women's basketball team to a 75-72 win over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College today at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Harwood made 10-of-17 baskets, including seven from behind the three-point arc, and 1-of-2 free throws for her 28 points. The seven triples ties for the second-most in a game in school history. Seniors Stefanie Lang and Carli Reid joined her in double figures with 14 points apiece, while junior Bre Kidd finished with 12 points. Lang also grabbed 11 rebounds for her 14th double-double of the season.

The majority of the first half was back-and-forth, as neither team led by more than three points. With the score tied at 20-20, the Comets went on a 14-3 run to take an 11-point lead, 34-23, at the 3:07 mark. The Britons answered with an 8-0 run to end the half, and trail by three points, 34-31, at the break.

In the second half, Olivet stretched its lead to seven points, 54-47, at the midway point. Albion came back and tied the game at 58-58. Harwood drained a three-pointer to put the Comets back ahead by three points, 61-58. The Britons made two free throws before another triple by Harwood made the score 64-60.

The Britons responded with their own three-pointer to make the score 64-63. Harwood made a jumper in the lane for a 66-63 Olivet lead. Four times Albion closed to within two points in the final three minutes and 43 seconds of the game.

The Britons had the ball in the final 13 seconds of the game. With the Comets clinging to the three-point lead, Lang swatted away a potential game-tying three-point attempt from Albion's Darian Payne. Lang also corralled the rebound, as the horn sounded.

Payne led the Britons with 19 points and nine rebounds. Oreyana Curry scored 18 points, including 11-of-15 shooting from the foul line.

The Comets play their next three games on the road, beginning next Wednesday, Jan. 28, with a 7:30 p.m. game at Kalamazoo College.

NOTES: With her 14 points, Lang moved into a tie for second-place on the all-time scoring list with 1,063 points. Esther Dykstra also scored 1,063 points. Lang needs only nine rebounds to move into third-place on the all-time list and five blocks to become the career leader.