Comets tied with Hope and Calvin for first-place in the MIAA

The Olivet College women's basketball team won its fifth straight Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) game this afternoon with a 74-50 victory over Adrian College at the Upton Center in Olivet.

The Comets, 9-5 overall, are tied with Hope and Calvin colleges for first-place in the MIAA standings with a 5-0 mark. Olivet travels to play Hope next Wednesday (Jan. 11) night at 7:30 p.m., while Hope and Calvin will play each other next Saturday (Jan. 14).

The Bulldogs (4-9, 0-6 MIAA) raced out to an 11-3 lead with 15:15 left in the first half. The Comets answered with a 9-point run to take a 12-11 lead. The game was back and forth over the next six minutes as neither team led by more than two points.

After Adrian led 22-21, junior Callie Reed (Howell) put Olivet up 23-22 with a layup. The Comets did not relinquish that lead for the remainder of the half and game. Olivet extended its lead to as many as 28 points, 74-46, with 1:57 left in the game.

For the Comets, juniors Audrey Graham (Battle Creek/Lakeview) and Jen O'Neil (Auburn Hills/Avondale) posted team-high honors with 16 points apiece. Graham also dished out five assists, while O'Neil grabbed nine rebounds. Junior Stephanie Smith (Camden/Waldron Frontier) added 14 points. Reed contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 21 minutes.

Jenny Carlson and Thera McCall led the Bulldogs with 13 points each. Carlson also pulled down nine rebounds.