Women’s basketball team snaps four-game losing streak

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College women's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack and forced a season-high 31 turnovers en route to a 61-49 victory over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Kalamazoo College tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The win also snapped the Comets' four-game losing streak and evened their MIAA record to 3-3.

In the first half, there were six lead changes and three tied scores. Following the last tie at 17-17, Olivet scored six straight points to equal its largest lead of the half. Kalamazoo got a basket as the half ended to make the score 23-19 at the break.

In the second half, the Comets turned up their defensive pressure and built their first double digit lead, 36-25, of the game at the 12:28 mark. The Hornets cut their deficit down to five points four times but would not get any closer. Olivet regained a double figure lead in the closing minute and it stayed there for the rest of the game.

Kalamazoo shot better from the floor, 42.6 percent (20-of-47) to 34.9 percent (22-of-63) for the Comets. The difference in the game was Olivet scored 21 points off the 31 Hornet turnovers, while Kalamazoo scored just three points off 12 Comet giveaways.

Junior Debbie Nikodemski (Rockford) was one of four Olivet players to reach double figures and led all players with 16 points. She also had eight rebounds and six assists in 29 minutes. Junior Alysia Cole (Roseville) scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Seniors Stephanie Spehar (South Lyon) and Caitlin Thilo (Onondaga/Eaton Rapids) each contributed 11 points.

For the Hornets, Carly Zeitlin had a team-leading 13 points. Courtney Kaplan and Michelle Maiuri finished with nine points apiece. Nicole Antoine pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Olivet will travel to Holland to play MIAA co-leader Hope College Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.