Women’s basketball team wins wild 60-55 overtime game at Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win a 60-55 overtime decision over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Kalamazoo College this afternoon inside the Anderson Athletic Center.

• Final Score: Olivet 60, Kalamazoo 55 (OT)
• Location: Anderson Athletic Center; Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 5-13 overall, 2-7 MIAA; Kalamazoo 0-18 overall, 0-9 MIAA

• In the first quarter, the Comets led by five points 7-2 at the 6:18 mark. The Hornets fought back and took their own five-point lead, 17-12, at the end of the quarter.
• Olivet scored the first seven points of the second quarter to take a 19-12 lead. Kalamazoo did not score its first points of the quarter until there were four minutes left. The basket evened the score at 19-19. The Comets answered with another 7-0 spurt to push their lead back to seven points. Two Hornet layups made the score 26-23 with 27 seconds left before halftime. A free throw by freshman Kinsley Hatfield pushed Olivet's advantage to four points, 27-23, at the intermission.
• The Hornets stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring the Comets 15-5 to take a six-point lead, 38-32, at the start of the final quarter. Kalamazoo extended its lead to double digits for the first time, 42-32, with 7:11 left in the game.
• Olivet went on a 16-3 run over the next six minutes to go ahead 48-45. The Hornets drained two free throws to close the gap to one. Junior Lily Connelly connected on two free throws to go up three, 50-47, with 39 seconds showing on the clock. A three-pointer for the Hornets tied the game. Following a timeout to advance the ball to the frontcourt, the Comets turned the ball over with 4.5 ticks left. A missed shot for Kalamazoo sent the game to overtime.
• To start overtime, Olivet scored the first five points on a three-pointer by freshman Jessica Jewell and jump shot by senior Rachel Swartz. The Hornets responded with four points before two free throws by Connelly put Olivet ahead by three points, 57-54, with 32.3 seconds remaining.
• After a timeout, the Hornets missed a game-tying three-pointer from the top of the key. Connelly grabbed the defensive rebound and was fouled. She made both free throws to make the score 59-54 with 19 ticks on the clock. With 7.4 seconds left, Kalamazoo split two free throws. Connelly pulled down another defensive rebound before making 1-of-2 free throws to create the final score.

• Connelly shared game-high honors with 16 points.
• Hatfleld joined her in double figures with 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
• Swartz finished with nine points, nine rebounds, six blocks, four assists and three steals. The six blocks are tied for the second-most in a game since the 2002-03 season. She also moves into third on the all-time blocks list with 99.

• Laila Vincent topped Kalamazoo with 16 points.
• Kaelyn Arlington scored 11 points, including the three-pointer to force overtime.
• Sara English added 10 points.
• Arlington pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

• Olivet stays on the road to play Albion College next Wednesday, January 25. Tip-off at Kresge Gymnasium is 6 p.m.