Women’s basketball team falls to Indiana South Bend, 69-53, at 2010 O.C. Thanksgiving Tournament

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College women's basketball team fell to Indiana University South Bend, 69-53, today in the first day of the 2010 Olivet Thanksgiving Tournament at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The Comets will play Aquinas College tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m.

In the first half, Olivet got behind by as many as seven points, 18-11, with 6:38 left before the break. The Comets closed the half with a 12-5 run to the tie the score at 23-23 at halftime.

Senior Kaitlin Oleksyn (Kalamazoo/Parchment) stole the inbounds pass to start the second half and scored a layup for Olivet's first lead of the game. After the teams traded baskets, the Comets took their largest leads of the game at five points, including 35-30, with 14:06 left in the game. Over the next nine and half minutes, the Titans held Olivet without a basket and went on a 31-1 scoring spurt to take a 61-36 lead at the 4:31 mark. The Comets scored the final eight points of the game to create the 16-point margin of defeat.

Junior Debbie Nikodemski (Rockford) led Olivet with 11 points, while Oleksyn contributed 10 points. Junior Alysia Cole (Roseville) scored nine points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

For IU South Bend, Katie Hacker led all scorers with 19 points, including 13 in the decisive 31-1 run. Lizzie Stapke and Ashley Hummer finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

In today's first game, Calvin College defeated Aquinas, 87-59. Calvin's Carissa Verkaik scored 22 points 10-of-15 shooting from the floor. She also had five rebounds, four blocks and four steals. Ally Wolffis was next with 15 points, while Julia Hilbrands came off the bench to grab 11 rebounds. Aquinas was led by Shelby Carter who had 15 points. Calvin will play IU South Bend tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.