Women's basketball team defeats Marygrove, 78-42

The Olivet College women's basketball team defeated Marygrove College, 78-42, tonight in the first round of the 2003 Comet Classic at the Upton Center. The Lady Comets advance to play Davenport University, a 79-57 winner over Concordia University, in the championship game on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

After Marygrove took a 10-8 lead, senior guard Kim Strange (Ellsworth High School) nailed a three-pointer for an 11-10 Comet lead at the 14:38 mark. After that basket, Olivet never relinquished its lead. In the first half, the Comets stretched their lead to as many as 17 points with 1:41 remaining on a layup by junior guard Emily Fix (New Buffalo/Comstock Park High School). The 36-point margin of victory was Olivet's biggest lead of the second half.

The Comets were led by Strange and sophomore centers Courtney Ivan (Belleville High School) and Amanda Johnston (Mt. Morris/Genessee High School) with 14 points apiece. Ivan and Johnston grabbed five rebounds for Olivet. Senior guard Molly Lipton (Ann Arbor/Pioneer High School) and junior forward Jamie Hutchison (Freeland High School) contributed eight and seven points, respectively.

"I have told our players that we have a good chance to win every time that we have three or four players reach double figures," said third-year Head Coach Deanna Richard. "We had it happen tonight. As well, everyone did a great job rebounding the ball. It was evident with eight different players grabbing at least four rebounds apiece."

Following tomorrow's contest, Olivet is idle until next Friday-Saturday, Dec. 5-6, when it participates in the Hope College Subway Shootout. On Friday evening, the Lady Comets will play the host Lady Dutch in their Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener at 6 p.m.