UOlivet drops close game at Albion, 67-61

ALBION, Mich. – The University of Olivet women's basketball team fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College, 67-61, this afternoon at Kresge Gymnasium.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Albion 67, Olivet 61
• Location: Kresge Gymnasium; Albion, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 5-17 overall, 2-11 MIAA; Albion 9-13 overall, 7-6 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Albion made a three-point basket to start the game. The Comets answered with five straight points. Both teams countered with 7-0 runs to keep the score at two-point differential, 12-10. An 8-0 Briton burst put them ahead by six points, 18-12, with 2:28 left.
• Olivet scored five of the final eight points of the quarter to trail by four points, 21-17, to begin the second quarter. The Comets fought back to close the gap to one point before an Albion basket at the halftime buzzer made the score, 33-30.
• To open the third quarter, sophomore Kaylee Bush drained a three-pointer from the top of the arc to level the score. The Britons responded with a wide-open triple to take the lead back. Albion pushed its lead to four points before two Olivet baskets tied the score at 39-39. The Britons ended the period with a 12-5 run to gain a seven-point cushion.
• The Comets scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to trim their deficit down to a point. Albion went back up three points before an Olivet basket made it a one-point game, 53-52. Bush converted a backdoor layup to put Olivet ahead. The Britons made a three-pointer and layup to regain a four-point lead, 58-54.
• After grabbing an offensive rebound, Bush drained a three-pointer to close the gap to a point. Albion answered with a three-point basket, but senior Clara Shoales converted a layup with 30.1 seconds left to make the score 61-59. The Britons sealed the win by making 6-of-6 free throws compared to one Olivet basket in the final 23 seconds.

FOR THE COMETS

• Senior Lily Connelly scored 21 points to move into 10th on the UOlivet career scoring list with 848 points. She also grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out four assists. In addition, Connelly had three steals and is now tied for second among the career leaders with 172.
• Sophomore Christina Malackanich netted 15 points and pulled down a career-best 15 rebounds.
• Bush finished with 14 points.

UP NEXT

• Olivet's next game is Wednesday, February 12, at Saint Mary's (Ind.) College. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.