Women’s basketball: Comets come from behind to beat Alma, 78-69

ALMA, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team outscored Alma College, 46-32, in the second half to beat the Scots, 78-69, today in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest at Art Smith Arena in Alma. With the win, the Comets improve their overall record and stay in fifth-place in the league standings with a 6-6 mark.

In the first 13 minutes of the game, there were six tied scores and three lead changes. The Scots took the largest lead for either team, 30-22, with 4:50 left before halftime. The Comets scored five quick points, layup by junior Leighann Thilo and three-pointer by junior Jackie Harwood, to make the score 30-27.

Alma answered with its own 5-0 run to go back up by eight points, 35-27. In the final 57 seconds of the half, Thilo made a layup, Reanna Zink made a layup for the Scots and junior Dallas Austin drained a triple, for a 37-32 Alma advantage at halftime.

The Scots continued to lead in the second half until junior Shauni Hankins and senior Stefanie Lang drilled back-to-back treys for a 44-43 Olivet lead. Alma took the lead back and built a seven-point cushion, 57-50, with 12:27 remaining in the game. Over the next two minutes of clock time, the Comets went on a 9-0 run, capped by a three-pointer by Harwood, to grab a 59-57 lead.

Zink then made a free throw to complete an old-fashioned three-point play to hand the lead back to the Scots, 60-59. Junior Bre Kidd answered with a layup to hand the advantage back to Olivet, 61-60, with 10:04 left in the contest. The Comets did not give up the lead for the rest of the game, leading by as many as 10 points in the final 32 seconds of the game.

Olivet made 29-of-57 baskets, with 9-of-16 shooting from three-point range, and 11-of-16 free throws, for its 78 points. The Scots were 23-of-58, including 8-of-28 from behind the arc, and 15-of-20 from the charity stripe for their 69 points.

The Comets had a balanced scoring attack, as eight different players scored at least five points apiece. Lang led the way with 16 points, followed by Harwood, Kidd and senior Carli Reid with 12 points each. Thilo finished with nine points, while dishing out eight assists, committing only two turnovers and making three steals.

Lang grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for her 17th double-double of the season and the 40th of her career. She also had four blocks to pass Louisa Grill and become Olivet's all-time leader. Lang now has 98 career blocks. With two more blocked shots, she will be the first player in school history to have career totals of at least 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 100 blocks.

For Alma, Zink led all scorers with 21 points. Morgan Henry contributed 12 points. Lauren Higgins grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds.

The Comets host Trine (Ind.) University next Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m.