Women's basketball team knocks off Division II foe Northwood, 64-49

Junior Kari Searles (Marshall) scored a game-high 19 points to lead the women's basketball team to a 64-49 victory over NCAA Division II foe Northwood University this afternoon in the 2004 Comet Classic. For her efforts, Searles was selected as the Comet Classic MVP, and freshman Amy Brackenwagen (Grand Ledge) joined her on the all-tournament team.

The Timberwolves (2-2) scored the first two points, and that would be their only lead of the entire game. Following an 8-8 tie, the Lady Comets (4-1) went on a 22-4 run to lead by 18 points with 6:42 left in the first half. That lead was their biggest of the first half. Olivet extended its lead to as many as 20 points at 54-34 with 8:22 left when sophomore Cassie Monette (Holt) made a layup.

Searles scored her 19 points on seven-of-12 shooting from the floor, including four-of-seven behind the htree-point arc. Brackenwagen and senior Emily Fix (New Buffalo/Comstock Park) contributed 11 points apiece, followed by sophomore Sheena West (Kalamazoo/Plainwell) with seven. First-year player Jaime Kowalczyk (Wyandotte-Roosevelt) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. The Comet defensive pressure forced 23 turnovers and made 16 steals.

For Northwood, Karyn Maiorana scored a team-high 14 points, and Maureen Elliott joined her in double digits with 11 markers. Payge Salquist pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.

In the other game today, Alma College beat Concordia University, 64-60.

Olivet is now idle until Saturday, Dec. 4, when it opens Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play at home against Saint Mary's (Ind.) College. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.

All-Tournament Team -- Michelle Dettling (Alma), Richelle Gerstenberger (CU), Maureen Elliott (NU), Amy Brackenwagen (OC) and MVP Kari Searles (OC)