Parrish's 14 points lead women’s basketball team to 82-52 win over Rochester

OLIVET, Mich. – Sophomore Ayren Parrish matched her career-high with 14 points to lead the Olivet College women's basketball team to an 82-52 win over Rochester College tonight in its home-opener at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Parrish did all of her scoring in the first half, netting seven points in each of the first two periods. She had five rebounds and three assists to go along with her 14 points. Seniors Shauni Hankins and Bre Kidd, and junior Gabby Trudell joined Parrish in double figures with 10 points apiece. Senior Dallas Austin grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Kidd posted team-highs in assists (six) and steals (two).

The first five minutes of the game was back-and-forth with two lead changes and three tied scores. With the score knotted at 9-9, Parrish scored five straight points on a layup and three-point basket to put Olivet ahead for good. The Comets led by seven, 20-13, after one period of play.

Olivet stretched its lead to 16 points, 34-18, with 1:44 left in the second period. The Comets settled for a 15-point margin, 36-21, at halftime.

The Warriors got as close as 12 points, 38-26, in the first minute of the third period. Olivet responded with a 13-3 run to go up by 22 points, 51-29, at the 4:24 mark. After Rochester closed to 20 points, 53-33, the Comets ended the period with an 8-0 scoring spurt for a 61-33 advantage entering the final period of play.

The closest the Warriors got in the fourth period was 23 points after they scored the first five points of the stanza. Olivet led by as many as 30 points twice, with the final margin being the last time.

Overall for the game, the Comets shot 44.1 percent (30-of-68) from the floor and 73.7 percent (14-of-19) from the free throw line compared to 25.4 percent (16-of-63) and 54.2 percent (13-of-24) for Rochester. Olivet also had a 54-38 edge in rebounds, and turned the ball over one less time. The Comet bench outscored the Warrior bench, 39-14.

Jackie Highstreet was the only Rochester player in double figures, as she scored 10 points. Erica Schwartz was next with nine points. Highstreet and Casey Bowdell each pulled down six rebounds.

Olivet returns to action Friday and Saturday at the Earlham (Ind.) College Quaker Tournament. The Comets play Kenyon (Ohio) College in a first-round game Friday night at 5 p.m. The other first-round match-up features Earlham vs. Dominican (Ill.) University. The losers will play a consolation game Saturday at 1 p.m., immediately followed a championship game at 3 p.m.