Women’s basketball team defeated by North Park, 67-58

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Olivet College women's basketball team was defeated by North Park University, 67-58, in a non-conference contest this afternoon in Chicago, Illinois.

The Vikings led by as many as seven points in the first quarter, 14-7, after Soly Roman made back-to-back layups. The Comets ended the period on a 9-0 run to take 16-14 lead entering the second quarter. North Park started the second period by scoring the first 10 points to gain its largest lead of the game, 24-16. Olivet scored four straight points to cut its deficit down to four points, 24-20.

After the teams traded two-point, the Vikings used a three-point play to push their lead to seven points, 29-22. The Comets got a free throw from junior T'Keyia Collins to make the score 29-23 at halftime.

North Park started the third quarter on a 5-0 run for its first double digit lead of the game, 34-23. Following a 36-28 Viking lead, Olivet went on an 8-0 scoring run to knot the score at 36-36 at the 2:41 mark. North Park closed the quarter by scoring seven of the final eight points to take a 43-37 lead into the start of the fourth quarter.

The Vikings extended their lead to as many as 18 points in the fourth period. The nine-point margin of defeat would be as close as the Comets would get.

Making her first start of the season, junior Katie McKinnon scored a team-leading 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Senior Bre Kidd and junior Jillian Nickels added eight points apiece. McKinnon and senior Dallas Austin each grabbed five rebounds.

For North Park, Roman led all players with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Nicole Kruckman chipped-in 16 points. Liz Rehberger added 13 points.

Olivet (6-6) hosts Illinois Institute of Technology next Wednesday, Jan. 6, for its last non-conference game of the season. Tip-off at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet is scheduled for 2 p.m.