Seniors lead women’s basketball team to 55-44 win at Saint Mary’s in season-finale

The Olivet College women’s basketball team outscored Saint Mary’s (Ind.), 17-7, in the fourth quarter to gain a 55-44 victory over the Belles today in its season-finale at the Angela Athletic Center in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Box Score

Team Stats

From left: Seniors Leeza Fortner, Jillian Nickels, T'Keyia Collins, Katie McKinnon and Kali Hancock
From left: Seniors Leeza Fortner, Jillian Nickels, T'Keyia Collins, Katie McKinnon and Kali Hancock
February 18, 2017

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Olivet College women's basketball team outscored Saint Mary's (Ind.), 17-7, in the fourth quarter to gain a 55-44 victory over the Belles today in its season-finale at the Angela Athletic Center in Notre Dame, Indiana.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet 55, Saint Mary's 44
Location: Angela Athletic Center; Notre Dame, Ind.
Records: Saint Mary's 2-23 overall, 1-15 MIAA; Olivet 2-22 overall, 2-14 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The first half was a tale of two quarters.
  • The Belles led by nine points, 18-9, at the end of the first quarter.
  • In the second quarter, the Comets chipped away at their deficit and took a 26-24 lead after freshman Amari Brown made a three-pointer at the 2:23 mark.  Saint Mary's made one-of-two free throws with 16 seconds left in the quarter to make the score 26-25 at halftime.
  • Saint Mary's scored 11 of the first 15 points in the third quarter to take a 36-30 lead at the 3:05 mark.
  • The Belles held that lead until the final 32 seconds of the quarter. Senior Kali Hancock made her fourth three-pointer of the game and senior Katie McKinnon made a fast-break layup to put Olivet ahead 38-37 entering the final quarter.
  • In the fourth quarter, the Comets made six baskets and four free throws for their 17 points. All seven points for Saint Mary's came at the charity stripe.

FOR THE COMETS

  • For the game, Olivet shot 35.1 percent (20-of-57) from the floor, including 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from three-point range.
  • Hancock finished with 12 points.
  • McKinnon was a rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.
  • Senior Leeza Fortner had nine points, while senior Jillian Nickels scored seven.
  • Sophomore Olivia Ricketts also grabbed nine rebounds.

FOR THE BELLES

  • Saint Mary's made just 14-of-60 baskets (23.3 percent), including 3-of-21 (14.3 percent) from behind the arc.
  • Ally Steve led all scorers with 13 points, with 7-of-8 shooting from the free throw line.
  • Kelsey Ronan contributed 11 points and eight rebounds.