Women's basketball team falls to Calvin, 78-57

The Olivet College women's basketball team fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Calvin College, 78-57, today at the Upton Center in Olivet.

The Knights (17-4, 11-3 MIAA) jumped out to an 11-4 lead at the 15:59 mark. Three consecutive three-pointers – two by sophomore Stephanie Smith (Waldron/Camden Frontier) and one by junior Kari Searles (Marshall) – gave the Lady Comets (7-15, 2-12 MIAA) a 13-11 lead. Following a 15-15 tie, Calvin went on a 9-1 run for its biggest lead of the half at 24-16. The Knights also led 30-24 at halftime.

The closest that Olivet would get in the second half was six points. Calvin led by as many as 25 points with 2:20 left in the contest.

Smith led the way for the Comets with 15 points. Freshman Jaime Kowalczyk (Wyandotte-Roosevelt) provided a spark off the bench with 13 points and a team-high five rebounds in 18 minutes.

Four starters scored in double digits for the Knights – Kristen McDonald (15), Lisa Winkle (13), Lesa Holleman (12) and Rita Ouwinga (11). Winkle grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

Olivet wraps up the 2004-05 regular season with a pair of road games next week. On Wednesday, the Comets play Tri-State (Ind.) University at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, they have a 3 p.m. tip-off against Saint Mary's (Ind.) College.