Women’s basketball team loses to Albion, 66-57

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College women's basketball team lost 66-57 to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival Albion College tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Albion led the game wire-to-wire. In the first half, the Britons built a 12-point lead, 29-17, before settling for a 34-23 lead at halftime. In the second half, Albion led 48-37 with 11:43 left in the contest. Over the next two minutes, Olivet scored eight straight points to trim its deficit down to three points, 48-45.

The Britons answered by stretching their lead back to seven points on two occasions with the last time being 56-49 at the 6:50 mark. The Comets closed to within point, 56-55, and had a chance to tie the game with a free throw, but the shot was missed. Albion made 10-of-12 free throws in the final 3:48 to seal its win.

For the game, both teams made 20 baskets. The difference was the Britons made one more basket from behind the arc and were 23-of-26 from the charity stripe to 15-of-22 for Olivet. The Comets were also out-rebounded, 47-32.

Junior Debbie Nikodemski (Rockford) led Olivet with 13 points to go along with four steals and three assists in 31 minutes. Junior Alysia Cole (Roseville) and senior Tiffany Thelen (Lansing/Waverly) each contributed 10 points. Cole also pulled down a team-leading nine rebounds.

Albion was led by Patty Rewa, who posted her ninth double-double of the season with game-highs in points (18) and rebounds (13). Autumn Haggadone was next with 16, followed by Brett de Bear and Melissa Shaw with 13 and 12, respectively.

The Comets are now off until next Wednesday, Feb. 9, when they host MIAA leader Calvin College at 7:30 p.m.