Women’s basketball team comes from behind to defeat Alma, 70-66

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team rallied from nine points down to start the fourth quarter to defeat Alma College, 70-66, this evening at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

The Scots led by seven points twice in the first period, with the last time being 9-2. The Comets answered with seven straight points to tie the game at 9-9. Following another tie at 11-11, senior Jackie Harwood put Olivet ahead for the first time in the game on a three-pointer.

Senior Dallas Austin followed with a layup to make the score 16-11 at the 2:04 mark. Alma responded with seven consecutive points to take the lead back, 18-16. Junior T'Keyia Collins made a layup to tie the game at 18-18 after one quarter of play.

Following a 21-21 deadlock early in the second period, the Scots went on an 11-2 scoring spurt for a nine-point lead, 32-23, at the 4:38 mark. Olivet battled back and trailed by four points, 36-32, at halftime.

The Scots took their largest lead of the game, 47-35, with 3:45 left in the third period. Alma settled for its nine-point cushion, 51-42, at the end of the quarter.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Austin, junior Jillian Nickels and senior Morgan West each drained a three-pointer as part of a 9-0 Comet scoring run to tie the game. A jump shot by Austin gave the lead to Olivet, 53-51, for the first time since the final two minutes of the opening period.

The Scots took the lead back with a mini 5-0 run. A layup by Collins tied the game and a layup by senior Bre Kidd handed the lead back to the Comets, 57-56, with 4:25 left in regulation, and they did not trail for the remainder of the game.

For the game, both teams made 24 baskets. The difference in the contest was Olivet made two more three-pointers and two more free throws. Austin finished with a team-high 17 points, seven rebounds and seven steals to go along with four assists. Nickels and senior Shauni Hankins each scored 11 points. Kidd dished out a team-best six assists.

Kassidy Blough paced the Scots with 24 points. Tara Padgett provided 11 points. Kaitlyn Kendall chipped in nine points and six rebounds.

Olivet will play its next four games on the road, beginning Saturday afternoon with a 3 p.m. contest at Trine (Ind.) University.