Women’s basketball team rallies past Saint Mary’s, 52-49

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Olivet College women's basketball team used another fourth-quarter comeback to stun Saint Mary's (Ind.) College, 52-49, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest this afternoon at the Angela Athletic Center in South Bend, Indiana.

The Comets entered the fourth quarter down by six points. 39-33. Olivet battled back and took its first lead in the game, 46-45, with 3:35 left in regulation. The Belles grabbed the lead back, 47-46, 25 seconds later when Eleni Shea made two free throws. There was no scoring until the 1:47 mark when Kelsey Ronan made a layup to put Saint Mary's up by three points, 49-46.

Olivet was called for an offensive foul, turning the ball back over to the Belles. Saint Mary's missed a shot on the ensuing possession. The Comets tied the game at 49-49 after senior Shauni Hankins made a three-pointer with 56 ticks left in the game.

The Belles had their next shot blocked by senior Bre Kidd. They managed to grab the offensive rebound, but turned the ball over with senior Jackie Harwood getting credit for a steal. Olivet called a timeout with 27 seconds showing on the clock. Hankins was fouled with 10 ticks remaining. She split the two free throws to make the score 50-49.

Saint Mary's had one last chance to score a winning basket but turned the ball over. Harwood got the steal and made a layup for the final margin.

In the first quarter, the Belles took a 13-point lead, 15-2, with 51 seconds left. The Comets scored four straight points before Saint Mary's settled for an 18-6 lead at the end of the quarter. The Belles stretched their lead back to 14 points, 24-10, around the midway point of the second period. Olivet put seven of the final nine points of the quarter to trail by nine, 26-17, at halftime.

The Comets cut their deficit down to three points, 26-23, early in the third quarter. Saint Mary's then pushed its lead back to double digits, 39-28, at the 1:14 mark. Olivet scored the final five points of the period to trail by only six, 39-33, to start the fourth period.

Both teams made 21 baskets and five free throws, with the difference in the game being the Comets were 5-of-13 from behind the three-point arc compared to 2-of-5 for the Belles. Saint Mary's had just a slight advantage in rebounding, 29-28.

For Olivet, Hankins led all scorers with 18 points. Kidd joined her in double figures with 10 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Senior Dallas Austin grabbed a team-best six rebounds.

For the Belles, Krista Knapke scored a team-high 11 points. Ronan finished with 10 points and game-high eight rebounds.

The Comets wrap-up a four-game road trip next Wednesday, Feb. 7, with a 6 p.m. game MIAA leader Hope College.