Women’s basketball team stung by Hornets, 68-61

The Olivet College women’s basketball team fell to Kalamazoo College, 68-61, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association contest today at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Box Score

Team Stats

Photo by Brian Freiberger
Photo by Brian Freiberger
January 14, 2017

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team fell to Kalamazoo College, 68-61, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association contest today at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Kalamazoo 68, Olivet 61
Location: The Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Mich.
Records: Kalamazoo 3-12 overall, 2-5 MIAA; Olivet 0-15 overall, 0-7 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The entire first quarter was back-and-forth, as neither team led by more than four points. The teams combined to make nine three-pointers in the opening quarter. The last one by senior Jillian Nickels tied the game at 21-21 after one period.
  • The Hornets opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run, including two treys, to take the largest lead for either team.
  • Kalamazoo held the lead throughout the quarter and had a six-point advantage, 39-33, at halftime. In the first 20 minutes, the Hornets made 14 baskets, including nine from three-point range. Olivet connected on 13 shots, with six triples.
  • In the third quarter, the Comets battled back to take 49-48 lead after Nickels made a pair of three throws at the 3:28 mark.
  • The Hornets responded with seven consecutive points to go up 55-49. The Comets scored the final basket of the quarter to trail by four, 55-51, entering the final period.
  • Olivet used a 6-0 run in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter to take a 57-55 lead.
  • Kalamazoo answered with five straight points to go back up 60-57 and did not relinquish the lead for the rest of the game.

FOR THE COMETS

  • Nickels scored a single-game career-high with 25 points.
  • Freshman Jazmin Hildebrand posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
  • Making her first start of the season, freshman Amari Brown dished out four assists.

FOR THE HORNETS

  • Suzanne Miller led Kalamazoo with 25 points.
  • Emily Kozal finished with 23 points.
  • Danielle Simon contributed 10 points, seven assists and team-best 10 rebounds.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • Nickels broke the single-game school records for field goals attempted (30) and three-pointers attempted (17). The previous records were 25 by Stefanie Lang vs. Kenyon (11/15/2013) and 16 on two occasions last by Stephanie Smith vs. Alma (1/14/2006).

UP NEXT

  • Olivet hosts Saint Mary's (Ind.) College next Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. The Comets will play six of the next seven games inside The Cutler Event Center.