Women’s basketball team loses to MIAA co-leader Hope, 82-43

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College women's basketball team dropped an 82-43 decision to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association co-leader Hope College tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Olivet led by four points, 10-6, on the nationally-ranked Flying Dutch. Hope then used a 5-0 run to take a 11-10 lead and did not relinquish it for the rest of the game. The Flying Dutch's 27-point lead, 49-22, at halftime was their largest of the half. The Comets would get no closer than 25 points for the rest of the game.

Junior Alysia Cole (Roseville) paced Olivet with 11 points and six rebounds. Playing in front of the home crowd for the final time, senior Tiffany Thelen (Lansing/Waverly) scored 10 points. Senior Kaitlin Oleksyn (Kalamazoo/Parchment) dished out three assists.

Thirteen Hope players scored at least two points each. Carrie Snikkers led all players with 18 points and seven rebounds. Erika Bruinsma was the only other player in double figures with 10 points.

The Comets will close out the regular season portion of their schedule Saturday when they travel to play Alma College at 3 p.m.