Women’s basketball: Comets lose close game to Hope, 42-35

HOLLAND, Mich. – Both teams scored a season-low points, but the Olivet College women's basketball team was on losing end of a 42-35 score to Hope College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest today at the DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland.

The Comets raced out to a 7-2 lead in the first three minutes and 32 seconds of the game. The Flying Dutch scored the next five points to tie the game. After another tie, 9-9, Hope went on an 8-2 run to take its largest lead of the half, 17-11, with 8:29 remaining in the opening half.

Olivet battled back and trailed by only one point, 20-19. Maura McAfee made a jump shot to put the Dutch ahead 22-19 at halftime.

Hope gained its first double digit lead, 33-22, of the game with 13:19 left after McAfee made a free throw to complete an old-fashioned three-point play. The Comets came answered with a 10-1 scoring run to be down only two points, 34-32, at the 5:20 mark. Olivet would not get any closer for the rest of the game.

Both teams made 12 baskets. The difference in the game was the Dutch made two more 3-pointers and five more free throws. The Comets out-rebounded Hope, 52-46.

Senior Stefanie Lang finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. Junior Bre Kidd scored seven points, while senior Carli Reid grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. Freshman Ayren Parrish had a game-high five steals.

McAfee led the Dutch with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Olivet will play its final two regular-season games at home next week. On Wednesday night, the Comets host Adrian College at 8 p.m. before playing Saint Mary's (Ind.) College on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.