Women’s basketball team loses overtime thriller to Kalamazoo, 70-68

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team lost an overtime thriller to Kalamazoo College, 70-68, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) game this evening at the Upton Center Gymnasium.

Final Score: Kalamazoo 70, Olivet 68 (OT)
Location: Upton Center Gymnasium; Olivet, Michigan
Records: Kalamazoo 4-11 overall, 2-4 MIAA; Olivet 4-12 overall, 1-6 MIAA

• The Hornets built a 12-point lead, 16-4, at the 2:26 mark of the first quarter. Olivet closed the gap to eight points, 18-10, at the end of the opening quarter. The Comets trimmed their deficit in half, 22-18, with 3:44 remaining in the second quarter. Kalamazoo scored the next six points to push its lead back to double digits. Olivet scored the final point of the quarter to trail by nine points, 28-19, at halftime.
• The Hornets extended their advantage to 11 points, 33-22, at the 7:09 mark of the third quarter. The Comets fought back to make the score 39-33 to start the fourth quarter. Kalamazoo stretched its lead back to 13 points, 48-35, with 6:50 remaining in regulation.
• After the Hornets led by nine points, 55-46, Olivet out-scored them 12-3 over the final 2:29 to send the game to overtime with the score even at 58-58. Kalamazoo put the first five points on the scoreboard in the extra period. The Comets did not quit and came back to tie the game at 65-65. A layup and free throw put the Hornets ahead, 68-65.
• Freshman Hannah Brown split two free throws to make the score 68-66. Kalamazoo missed three baskets, and Brown grabbed the defensive rebound after the third miss. After an Olivet timeout, Brown made a jump shot to tie the game with 14 seconds showing on the clock. Following a Hornet timeout, Kaytlyn Tidey drained a jumper for the go-ahead back with five seconds remaining. The Comets used its final timeout but a last-second shot was off the mark.

• Junior DeeDee Post posted a double-double, 23 points and 12 rebounds, to lead both teams.
• Freshman Zara Weber had 15 points.
• Brown contributed 14 points.

• Tidey tallied a team-best 19 points.
• Isabelle Clark was next with 18 points.
• Mya Gough had 11 points.
• Georgie Andrews grabbed a team-best nine rebounds.

• Tonight's overtime game was the first for Olivet since Jan. 9, 2016, when it played Calvin.
• The Comets are now 10-13 all-time in school history in overtime games.

• The Comets travel to play Adrian College Saturday at 3 p.m.