Women's basketball team falls to Adrian, 62-58

The women's basketball team dropped a 62-58 decision to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Adrian College this evening at the Upton Center. The Bulldogs (4-7, 1-3 MIAA) pulled out the win after trailing by seven points with 1:19 left in the game.

The Lady Comets (6-6, 1-3 MIAA) scored the first eight points of the game. Adrian then put together an 11-2 run to take its first lead, 11-10, at the 11:19 mark. The Bulldogs went on to lead by as many as nine points as well as take a 33-27 lead into the halftime break.

Olivet had its first lead of the second half when freshman Jaime Kowalczyk (Wyandotte Roosevelt) nailed a free throw to complete a three-point play with 10:47 left. Over the next eight minutes, the Comets extended their lead to eight points, 55-47. From that point, the Bulldogs outscored Olivet, 15-3, for the victory.

Despite the loss, the Comets had a balanced scoring attack as five players scored at least seven points. Kowalczyk led the way with 14 points. Junior Kari Searles (Marshall) joined her in double figures with 11 points, followed by senior Essence Porter (Battle Creek/Central) and sophomore Stephanie Smith (Waldron/Camden Frontier) with eight points apiece and senior Emily Fix (New Buffalo/Comstock Park) with seven.

Kowalczyk and Searles grabbed five rebounds each. Kowalczyk had three blocks while freshman Amy Brackenwagen (Grand Ledge) made five steals.

Amanda Rainsberger came off the bench for Adrian, recording game-highs of 19 points and nine rebounds. Corri Helldobler was next with 12 points.

Olivet will next be in action this Saturday, Jan. 8, when it travels to play Alma College at 5 p.m.