Women’s basketball team loses to Hope, 92-63

The Olivet College women's basketball team was defeated by reigning Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and NCAA Division III national champion Hope College, 92-63, tonight at the Upton Center. The Flying Dutch (14-0, 6-0 MIAA), ranked No. 2 in the latest d3hoops.com poll, extended their winning streak to 44 games.

The Comets (6-7, 3-3 MIAA) never led in the game as Hope raced out to a 9-0 lead on a pair of three-pointers along with a layup and free throw. The Dutch led by as many as 19 points on three occasions in the first half. Hope held a 48-30 lead at halftime. In the second half, the Dutch built their lead to 32 points twice.

For Olivet, senior Audrey Graham (Battle Creek/Lakeview) had a team-high 23 points. Junior Amy Brackenwagen (Grand Ledge) contributed 10 points, while freshman Stevie Spetoskey (Clarksville/Lakewood) scored a season-high nine points. Senior Stephanie Smith (Waldron/Camden Frontier) pulled down a team-high four rebounds.

Fourteen different Hope players scored and each of them also grabbed at least one rebound. Jordyn Boles was the only player in double figures with 26 points on eight-of-10 shooting from the floor. Ellen Wood grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.

The Comets look to bounce back from the loss Saturday when they travel to play Alma College at 3 p.m.