UOlivet begins MIAA play against Hope

OLIVET, Mich. – The University of Olivet women's basketball team started off its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with a 77-49 setback to Hope College today inside the Cutler Event Center.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Hope 77, Olivet 49
• Location: Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 2-4 overall, 0-1 MIAA; Hope 7-2 overall, 2-0 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first quarter, the Flying Dutch led 5-2 at the 5:55 mark. Back-to-back baskets by senior Lily Connelly put the Comets ahead 6-5. Hope answered with a 7-1 spurt to take a 12-7 lead in the final minute of the quarter. Sophomore Madalynn Terry drained a three-pointer to make the score 12-10 before two free throws for the Flying Dutch made the score 14-10 at the end of the opening period.
• Hope stretched its lead to eight points on two occasions in the first five minutes of the second stanza. After the second time at 23-15, the Comets scored seven straight points to their deficit down to one point. The Flying Dutch responded with two baskets before Olivet made two layups to make the score 27-26. The Flying Dutch drained back-to-back three-pointers to take a seven-point lead, 33-26, at halftime.
• Hope outscored the Comets, 44-23, in the second half, including 27-14 in the third quarter to pull away for the 28-point win.

FOR THE COMETS

• Connelly led all scorers with 21 points. She also had four rebounds, five assists and two steals.
• Sophomore Kaylee Bush contributed eight points.
• Sophomore Christina Malackanich grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

UP NEXT

• The Comets play their next six games on the road. The first one is in one week, Saturday, December 14, against Alma College. Tip-off from Art Smith Arena is 3 p.m.