Women’s basketball team loses to Carnegie Mellon, 58-56, in championship game of Hoops for Hope Classic

The Olivet College women's basketball team let a 16-point lead slip away, as Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) University rallied to beat the Comets, 58-56, in overtime in the championship game of the Ohio Wesleyan University Hoops for Hope Classic inside the Branch Rickey Arena in Delaware, Ohio. For their efforts, junior Darcell Williams (Muskegon/Reeths-Puffer) and sophomore Olivia Yarrell (Lansing/Sexton) were named to the all-tournament team.

In the first half, Olivet led by as many as 12 points with 15 seconds remaining before the break when freshman Kati Stickney (Union City) made a lay-up. The Comets extended their lead to 16 points, 50-34, at the 10:40 mark of the second half. The Tartans chipped away at their deficit and took their first lead, 54-53, with 1:13 left in regulation on a pair of free throws. Junior Kaitlin Oleksyn (Kalamazoo/Parchment) sent the game to overtime when she drained a free throw with 30 seconds showing on the clock.

In the extra session, the two teams combined to make 2-of-14 shots, including a 1-for-10 performance by the Comets. Olivet went ahead by two points, 56-54, at the 1:26 mark. A three-pointer put Carnegie Mellon ahead, 57-56, and a free throw provided the final margin.

For the game, the Comets had a balanced scoring attack, led by Oleksyn's career-high 13 points. Junior Caitlin Thilo (Onondaga/Eaton Rapids) came off the bench to score a season-high 12 points. Junior Stephanie Spehar (South Lyon) posted a double-double, 11 points and game-high 12 rebounds. Yarrell added 10 points and seven rebounds. Olivet won the rebounding battle, 53-38.

The Tartans were led by Ali Aunkst with 23 points. Brit Phillips contributed 14 points, while Rachelle Roll grabbed a team-leading 11 rebounds.

Olivet resumes its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association schedule Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010, when it makes the short trip to play Albion College. Game time at Kresge Gymnasium is 7:30 p.m.