Women’s basketball team defeats Alma, 68-56

Behind a career-high 20 points from junior Kaitlin Oleksyn (Kalamazoo/Parchment) and 18 points from junior Stephanie Spehar (South Lyon), the Olivet College women's basketball team beat Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Alma College, 68-56, this evening at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. In addition, sophomore Olivia Yarrell (Lansing/Sexton) grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds.

In the first half, the Comets led by five points twice with the last time being 18-13 at the 11:09 mark. The Scots came back with a 14-4 run to turn the five-point deficit to a five-point lead, 27-22. The teams exchanged baskets in the final two minutes for a 29-24 lead at halftime.

Olivet started the second half with a 15-2 scoring spurt to take a 39-31 lead. The Comets would stretch their lead to 11 points on two occasions, including 62-51, with 2:38 left in the game. Alma got as close as six points, but Oleksyn made 6-of-6 free throws in the final 39 seconds to seal the win.

Oleksyn and Spehar combined to make 11-of-21 baskets and 14-of-14 free throws. Yarrell added 15 points to go along with her 14 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Senior Gabrielle Federau (Okemos) grabbed 13 rebounds, as the Comets out-rebounded the Scots, 43-25.

Meagan Hoblet was the only Alma player in double figures, scoring 11 points. She also pulled down a team-leading five rebounds. Lauren Hasler and Kathryn Bigelow had nine and eight points, respectively.

Olivet is back in action Saturday when it hosts Saint Mary's (Ind.) College in the first game of a women's/men's basketball doubleheader. The women's game will tip-off at 1 p.m., followed by the Comet men against Trine (Ind.) University at approximately 3 p.m.