Women’s basketball team lets second-half lead slip away in 66-46 loss to Siena Heights

The Olivet College women's basketball team let an 11-point lead slip away, as Siena Heights University rallied to beat the Comets, 66-46, in the second game of the 2009 O.C. Comet Classic inside The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. In the first game of the classic, Calvin College defeated Elmhurst (Ill.) College, 79-66. Calvin will play Siena Heights tomorrow at 2 p.m., followed by Olivet versus Elmhurst at 4 p.m.

Following a 2-2 tie, Olivet took the lead on a three-pointer by junior Michelle Hein (Jackson/Napoleon). The Comets led for the rest of the half, leading by as many as 10 points, 17-7, with 11:47 showing on the clock. The Saints closed to within two points, 26-24, with 2:13 left before freshman Kati Stickney (Union City) canned a three-pointer and jumper to make the score, 31-24 at halftime.

Olivet came out of the locker rooms and stretched its lead to 11 points, 35-24, on back-to-back layups by sophomore Olivia Yarrell (Lansing/Sexton). A basket by Stickney gave the Comets a 41-37 lead with 12:28 remaining in the contest. After that, Siena Heights took control of the game, outscoring Olivet, 29-5, in the final 12:28.

Yarrell led all scorers with 17 points. She was the only Comet in double figures. Freshman Mellissa Bageris (Milford) pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, as Olivet out-rebounded the Saints, 46-31.

Siena Heights placed four players in double figures, led by Shalaha Hubbard with 14. Chandler Levit added 12, while Lauren Crockett and She'Meika Nicholas chipped-in with 10 each. Levit and Erin Cassidy had five rebounds apiece.

In the first game, there were 11 tied scores and 14 lead changes before Calvin pulled away from the Bluejays in the final 4:07 left in the contest. Carissa Verkaik posted a double-double, 26 points and 13 rebounds, to lead Calvin. Brook VanEck contributed 20 points. Lyndsie Long scored 19 points for Elmhurst.