Women’s basketball team falls to Calvin, 67-40

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College women's basketball team fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association leader Calvin College, 67-40, tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The Knights sit one-half game ahead of Hope in the league standings, while the Comets are in fifth-place, one game ahead of Trine.

The first 10 minutes of the game was a back-and-forth affair. The Knights built a 4-point lead, 6-2, before Olivet went on a 9-2 run to take a 3-point lead, 11-8. Calvin answered with a 9-2 run to regain a 4-point lead, 17-13. The Comets battled back to tie the game four times with the last time being 23-23 at the 3:40 mark.

The Knights scored the final eight points of the half to take a 31-23 lead into the locker rooms. Calvin kept the defensive pressure up in the second half and led by as many as 29 points, 63-24, with 2:14 left in the game.

Senior Tiffany Thelen (Lansing/Waverly) came off the bench to score 12 points to lead Olivet. Junior Alysia Cole (Roseville) grabbed a team-leading 10 rebounds.

For the Knights, Carissa Verkaik posted a double-double with game-highs in points (18) and rebounds (11). She also blocked three shots. Logan Marsh and Ally Wolffis joined her in double figures with 10 points apiece.

The Comets are back in action Saturday afternoon at Kalamazoo College. Game time is 3 p.m.