Balanced scoring leads women’s basketball team to 63-49 win over Saint Mary’s

OLIVET, Mich. – All five starters scored in double figures, as the Olivet College women's basketball team defeated Saint Mary's (Ind.) College, 63-49, tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. With the win, the Comets snapped a 15-game losing streak, including seven against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponents.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet 63, Saint Mary's 49
Location: The Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Mich.
Records: Saint Mary's 1-15 overall, 0-8 MIAA; Olivet 1-15 overall, 1-7 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first quarter, the Comets led by as many as seven points, 14-7, before the Belles scored the last basket of the quarter to make score 14-9.
• In the second quarter, Olivet led 16-12 until Saint Mary's made back-to-back three pointers to gain an 18-16 lead.
• There were then three tied scores, with the last one being 22-22.
• The Belles scored five straight points to go up 27-22.
• The Comets got a free throw to make the score 27-23 at halftime.
• Saint Mary's continued to hold the lead in the third quarter, leading by as many as six points, 31-25, at the 8:08 mark.
• Olivet then went on a 13-2 run to take a 38-33 lead.
• The Belles trimmed their deficit down to two points, 40-38, entering the fourth quarter.
• Saint Mary's scored the first basket of the final stanza to level the score at 40-40.
• The teams then put points on the scoreboard on five straight times with the ball, resulting in a 49-44 Comet lead at the 6:55 mark.
• The Belles answered with a 5-0 run over the next minute and 42 seconds to tie the game at 49-49.
• Those would be the final points for Saint Mary's, as Olivet ended the game on a 14-0 run.
• In that stretch, the Belles were 0-for-14 shooting, while the Comets made 5-of-9 baskets.

FOR THE COMETS

• Freshman Jazmin Hildebrand posted a double-double, 16 points and 14 rebounds, to lead Olivet.
• Senior Jillian Nickels and sophomore Olivia Ricketts each scored 11 points.
• Seniors Leeza Fortner and Katie McKinnon had 10 points apiece, while dishing out six and five assists, respectively.

FOR THE BELLES

• Gabby Diamond netted 13 points to lead Saint Mary's.
• Ally Steve had 12 points.
• Kelsey Ronan came off the bench to score 10 points.
• Ronan and Erin Maloney each grabbed seven rebounds.
• Maloney also recorded eight assists.

UP NEXT

• Olivet plays host to the Trine (Ind.) University Thunder for a basketball doubleheader Saturday at The Cutler Event Center. The women's game tips-off at 3 p.m., followed by the Comet men against the Thunder at approximately 5:30 p.m.