Connelly helps women’s basketball team rally past Great Lakes Christian, 60-53

DELTA TWP., Mich. – Junior Lily Connelly scored a season-high 22 points, as the Olivet College women's basketball team overcame a nine-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat Great Lakes Christian College, 60-53, in a non-conference contest today at the Doty Center.

• Final Score: Olivet 60, Great Lakes Christian 53
• Location: Doty Center; Delta Twp., Michigan
• Records: Olivet 3-9 overall, Great Lakes Christian 2-12 overall

• The Crusaders led 9-2 at the 5:18 mark of the first quarter. The Comets came back with five straight points to close the gap to two points twice, including 11-9 at the end of the quarter.
• To start the second quarter, Olivet used a 6-2 run to take its first lead of the game, 15-13. The teams traded baskets to create three tied scores at 15-15, 17-17 and 19-19. In the final minute of the quarter, Great Lakes made three free throws before a three-point play by freshman Kinsley Hatfield evened the score at 22-22 at halftime.
• In the third quarter, the Crusaders built a nine-point lead, 36-27, with 3:55 left. Back-to-back three-pointers and two free throws by Connelly cut the Comets' deficit down to one point, 36-35. The Crusaders drained two tosses from the charity stripe to push their lead back to three points. Connelly answered with a triple to tie the game at 38-38. After GLCC split two free throws, sophomore Clara Shoales went 2-for-2 at the line to put Olivet ahead at the 1:01 mark. The Crusaders scored the last two points of the third period to take a 41-40 lead.
• At the start of the fourth quarter, junior Madison Bailey drained a three-pointer for a 43-41 Comet lead. Following a GLCC to tie the game, back-to-back jump shots for Shoales aided the Comets to a 47-43 lead.
• The Crusaders scored a basket. Shoales' free throw, sophomore Courtney Balazs' basket and Connelly's two free throws helped Olivet take a 52-45 lead. GLCC came back with a two-pointer, but Bailey responded with a three for a 55-47 Comets' advantage. The same scenario happened, again, as the Crusaders had a two-point basket answered with a Shoales' triple.
• For the game, both teams made 19 baskets and 14 free throws. The difference in the game was Olivet drained 8-of-25 three-pointers compared to 1-of-11 for the Crusaders.

• Connelly made 6-of-19 baskets, with 4-of-10 from behind the arc, and 6-of-6 free throws for her 22 points. She also had five assists and three steals.
• Hatfield and Shoales each scored 10 points. Hatfield's points were a season-best, and Shoales matched her career-high.
• Balazs grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, while scoring seven points and dishing out five assists.

• Randi Fitzgerald and Sakura Nakano scored 13 points apiece.
• Shaddia Greer added 11 points and 11 rebounds.
• Leah Yanko had 10 rebounds.

• The Comets are off until Friday, December 30, when they host College of Wooster. Tip-off at the Cutler Event Center is 2 p.m.