Women’s basketball team loses to Alma, 58-52

ALMA, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team lost 58-52 to Alma College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association contest today at the Art Smith Arena in Alma.

Neither team led by more than a basket in the first five minutes of the opening quarter. The Scots seized a 9-4 lead at the 3:38 mark. The Comets scored six consecutive points to go up 10-9 with 36 seconds left in the quarter. Alma went back ahead on a layup with 21 ticks left and then got a basket at the buzzer for a 13-10 lead at the end of the first period.

The Scots continued to hold their lead until a jump shot by junior Jillian Nickels and two free throws by senior Jackie Harwood put Olivet ahead, 21-18. Alma's Kassidy Blough drained a free throw to complete a three-point play to knot the score at 21-21.

The Comets took the lead back 25-21 after senior Shauni Hankins and Nickels made layups. Like the end of the first quarter, the Scots scored the final four points of the second period to tie the game at 25-25 at halftime.

Alma started the third quarter with a 10-0 run. Olivet did not score its first basket until the 4:45 mark. A Comet basket sandwiched around a three-pointer and layup gave the Scots their largest lead of the game, 40-29. Alma took a 42-33 lead into the final quarter.

Olivet put the first five points on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter to trail by only four points, 42-38. The Scots stretched their lead back to double digits, 50-40. The Comets responded with a 9-0 run to cut their deficit down to a single point, 50-49, with 1:50 left in regulation. Alma sealed its win by making 6-of-8 free throws in the final 30 seconds of the game.

Nickels led Olivet with a season-high 13 points, including three baskets from three-point range. Junior T'Keyia Collins came off the bench to score 11. Senior Dallas Austin scored nine points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

The Scots' scored 44 of their 58 points. Tara Padgett led the way with a game-high 17 points, while Blough added 14. Lauren Higgins pulled down a game-best nine rebounds.

The Comets will complete their regular season schedule next week with a pair of home games. On Wednesday, they will play Trine (Ind.) University at 6 p.m., and on Saturday afternoon, they will face Adrian College at 3 p.m. Olivet and Trine are tied for third-place in the MIAA standings, and sit one-game ahead of Adrian.