Women’s basketball team leads wire-to-wire in 52-40 win over Trine

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College women's basketball team defeated Trine (Ind.) University, 52-40, this afternoon in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contest at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Olivet led the game wire-to-wire. In the first half, the Comets raced out to a pair of 14-point leads, with the last time being 22-8, at the 7:18 mark. Olivet settled for an eight-point lead, 33-25, at the break. In the second half, the Comets extended their lead to as many as 15 points, 43-18, with 15:18 left when senior Caitlin Thilo (Onandaga/Eaton Rapids) drained her fourth 3-pointer of the game.

The Thunder then went on a 9-1 run to cut their deficit down to seven points, 44-37, at the 6:02 mark. Junior Debbie Nikodemski (Rockford) then made a free throw to complete a three-point play to push Olivet's lead back to double digits for the rest of the game.

For the game, the Comets shot 39.6 percent (19-of-48) from the floor to Trine's 34.9 percent (15-of-43) shooting. Olivet also made one more triple and three more free throws than the Thunder.

Thilo was a spark off the bench, leading all scorers with 15 points. She was a perfect 4-of-4 from behind the arc and also canned three free throws for her 15 points. Nikodemski was the only other Comet in double figures with 10. Junior Alysia Cole (Roseville) scored eight points and grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds. Freshman Rachael Wagner (Clinton Twp./Fraser) recorded a game-high four assists.

Liz Gehrig scored 14 points to lead Trine. Megan Engle added seven, while Danielle Senf pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

The Comets travel to play MIAA rival Albion College Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.