Women’s basketball team defeats Defiance, 57-53, in home-opener

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College women's basketball team defeated Defiance (Ohio) College, 57-53, tonight in its home-opener at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. It was also the first win for first-year Olivet Head Coach Nicole Burford.

The Comets raced out to a 17-3 lead in the first 7-1/2 minutes of the game. Olivet extended its lead to as many as 17 points on two occasions, with the last time being 27-10 at the 6:27 mark of the first half. The Yellow Jackets closed the half with a 15-6 run to trail by only eight points, 33-25, at halftime.

In the second half, the Comets pushed their lead back to double figures at 43-33 with 10:07 remaining. Defiance then scored 17 of the next 22 points to take its first lead of the game, 50-48, with 4:19 left in the game. Olivet then got a basket to tie the game at 50-50 before the Yellow Jackets made a free throw for their final lead of the game 51-50.

Senior Caitlin Thilo (Onondaga/Eaton Rapids) knocked down a three-pointer to put the Comets up for good at 53-51. She also drained two free throws with 3.1 seconds remaining to create the four-point margin of victory.

Junior Debbie Nikodemski (Rockford) scored a team-high 12 points. Thilo joined her in double figures with 10. Nikodemski and Thilo also had four assists apiece. Junior Alysia Cole (Roseville) grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, as Olivet out-rebounded Defiance, 47-40.

For Defiance, Erica King scored a game-high 18 points. Kim Comden pulled down a team-leading 11 rebounds.

The Comets will travel to play Siena Heights University Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.