Women’s basketball team lets halftime lead slip in 62-56 defeat at Adrian

ADRIAN, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team let a halftime lead slip away in a 62-56 loss to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Adrian College tonight at the Merillat Center.

Final Score: Adrian 62, Olivet 56
Location: Merillat Center; Adrian, Michigan
Records: Adrian 7-13 overall, 4-8 MIAA; Olivet 2-17 overall, 0-11 MIAA

• In the first quarter, the Comets led by 11 points, 15-4. The Bulldogs scored the final five points of the quarter to trail by six, 15-9, to start the second quarter.
• Olivet pushed its lead back to double digits, 19-9, early in the second stanza. Adrian answered with 10-3 run to close the gap to three points, 22-19. The Comets countered with a 5-2 run to double their advantage. The teams traded points to end the quarter, and Olivet lead 29-24 at halftime.
• In the third quarter, the Comets extended their lead to eight points on three occasions. After the last time at 40-32, the Bulldogs put the final seven points on the scoreboard in the third period to make the score 40-39 to start the fourth quarter.
• Senior Alicia Bullaro drained a three-pointer for the first three points of the fourth stanza. Adrian scored seven straight points to take its first lead of the game at 46-43. Olivet responded with a basket to cut its deficit to a point. A 7-0 Bulldog run made the score 53-45 around the midpoint of the final quarter. The Comets fought back to make it a three-point game twice at 55-52 and 57-54. Olivet did not get any closer.

• Four starters scored in double figures.
• Sophomore Zoee Zatarga led the way with 16 points.
• Freshman Courtney Balazs made her first collegiate start and tallied 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting.
• Bullaro netted 13 points.
• Junior Rachel Swartz posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. She also had four blocks to give her 47 this season and move into second on the single-season list. The record is 49 by Stefanie Lang during the 2014-15 season.

• Chelsea Palmer tallied a game-best 21 points and 12 rebounds.
• Jordan Phillips contributed 17 points.

• Olivet hosts Calvin University Saturday in the first game of a basketball doubleheader at the Cutler Event Center. The women's game tips-off at 1 p.m., followed by the Comet men against Calvin at 3 p.m.