Balanced scoring leads women’s basketball team to 63-49 win over Saint Mary’s
All five starters scored in double figures, as the Olivet College women’s basketball team defeated Saint Mary’s (Ind.) College, 63-49, tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.
January 18, 2017
OLIVET, Mich. – All five starters scored in double figures, as the Olivet College women's basketball team defeated Saint Mary's (Ind.) College, 63-49, tonight at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. With the win, the Comets snapped a 15-game losing streak, including seven against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponents.
THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet 63, Saint Mary's 49
Location: The Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Mich.
Records: Saint Mary's 1-15 overall, 0-8 MIAA; Olivet 1-15 overall, 1-7 MIAA
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In the first quarter, the Comets led by as many as seven points, 14-7, before the Belles scored the last basket of the quarter to make score 14-9.
- In the second quarter, Olivet led 16-12 until Saint Mary's made back-to-back three pointers to gain an 18-16 lead.
- There were then three tied scores, with the last one being 22-22.
- The Belles scored five straight points to go up 27-22.
- The Comets got a free throw to make the score 27-23 at halftime.
- Saint Mary's continued to hold the lead in the third quarter, leading by as many as six points, 31-25, at the 8:08 mark.
- Olivet then went on a 13-2 run to take a 38-33 lead.
- The Belles trimmed their deficit down to two points, 40-38, entering the fourth quarter.
- Saint Mary's scored the first basket of the final stanza to level the score at 40-40.
- The teams then put points on the scoreboard on five straight times with the ball, resulting in a 49-44 Comet lead at the 6:55 mark.
- The Belles answered with a 5-0 run over the next minute and 42 seconds to tie the game at 49-49.
- Those would be the final points for Saint Mary's, as Olivet ended the game on a 14-0 run.
- In that stretch, the Belles were 0-for-14 shooting, while the Comets made 5-of-9 baskets.
FOR THE COMETS
- Freshman Jazmin Hildebrand posted a double-double, 16 points and 14 rebounds, to lead Olivet.
- Senior Jillian Nickels and sophomore Olivia Ricketts each scored 11 points.
- Seniors Leeza Fortner and Katie McKinnon had 10 points apiece, while dishing out six and five assists, respectively.
FOR THE BELLES
- Gabby Diamond netted 13 points to lead Saint Mary's.
- Ally Steve had 12 points.
- Kelsey Ronan came off the bench to score 10 points.
- Ronan and Erin Maloney each grabbed seven rebounds.
- Maloney also recorded eight assists.
UP NEXT
- Olivet plays host to the Trine (Ind.) University Thunder for a basketball doubleheader Saturday at The Cutler Event Center. The women's game tips-off at 3 p.m., followed by the Comet men against the Thunder at approximately 5:30 p.m.