Women’s basketball team falls to Hope College, 70-45

The Olivet College women's basketball team fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Hope College, 70-45, tonight at the Upton Center in Olivet. The loss snapped the Lady Comets' (5-2, 1-1 MIAA) five-game winning streak.

In the first half, Olivet took a two-point lead, 11-9, when senior Essence Porter (Battle Creek/Central) canned two free throws with 9:45 left. The Flying Dutch (6-1, 2-0 MIAA) battled back with a 14-2 run for a 23-13 lead and eventually led by 12 points twice, including at halftime, 29-17. The Comets would trail by as many as 27 points on two occasions in the second half.

Senior Emily Fix (New Buffalo/Comstock Park) was the only Olivet player in double digits with 12 points. Porter was next with nine points along with a team-high six rebounds. Junior Kari Searles (Marshall) chipped in with eight points, followed by sophomore Cassie Monette (Holt) and freshman Amy Brackenwagen (Grand Ledge) with seven apiece.

Hope was led by Linda Ebels with a game-high 13 points. Three other Flying Dutch starters – Jordyn Boles, Julie Henderson and Adelynn Vilmann – scored nine points each. The fifth Hope starter, Bria Ebels, contributed a game-high 10 rebounds.

Olivet is next in action when it travels for a non-league game Saturday, Dec. 11 at Aquinas College. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.