Women's basketball team defeats Spring Arbor, 65-60

The Olivet College women's basketball team defeated non-conference foe Spring Arbor University, 65-60, today at the Upton Center. Senior guard Molly Lipton (Ann Arbor/Pioneer High School) made a three-pointer with 42 seconds left to break a 60-60 tie. She sealed the victory with two free throws with 16 seconds left.

The Cougars had the lead in the game for the first 13:49 of the game. Junior guard Emily Fix (New Buffalo/Comstock Park High School) nailed a three-pointer at the 6:11 mark, and the Lady Comets held a 22-20 lead, the first lead for Olivet in the first half. Spring Arbor battled back and led by six points with just under three minutes left in the opening half. Olivet battled back to tie the game at 30-30, and also led 34-30 at halftime.

The Comets led by as many six points in the first part of the second half. The Cougars battled back and took a five point lead (47-42) at the 10:30 mark. Olivet responded and tied the score at 50-50. Spring Arbor scored the next four points of the game.

Olivet then went on an 8-0 run to take its own four point lead at 58-54 with 3:24 left. The Cougars answered right back, and made the score 60-58. Freshman Sheena West (Kalamazoo Plainwell High School) made a jumper to knot the score at 60. Lipton buried the game-winning three-pointer following an Olivet timeout.

Sophomore center Amanda Johnston (Mt. Morris/Genessee High School) posted her third double-double this season with a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds. She made 11-of-14 shots from the floor. Fix added 14 points, followed by sophomore center Courtney Ivan (Belleville High School) with 11 points in her first start this year. Lipton was credited with six assists.

Olivet will next be in action on Tuesday, Dec. 16, when it hosts Rochester College at 6 p.m. The game is part of a men's/women's basketball doubleheader. The Olivet men's basketball team will play Grace (Ind.) College 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game.