Lady Comet basketball team defeats Savannah Art & Design, 63-57

Olivet College sophomore centers Courtney Ivan (Belleville High School) and Amanda Johnston (Mt. Morris/Genessee High School) combined to score 38 points to lead the Lady Comets to a 63-57 victory over Savannah (Ga.) College of Art & Design in the consolation game of the Hope College Subway Shootout. For her efforts, Johnston was named to the all-tournament team.

In the first 6:10 of the game, Olivet outscored the Bees 15-3 and never trailed again in the first half. At halftime, the Comets led 32-31 as they made 16 free throws to just six by Savannah.

Olivet built a nine-point lead at 42-33 with 14:06 left in the game. The Bees battled back and took their first lead of the game at 46-44. Following several lead changes and a 54-54 tie with just under five minutes left, the Comets scored seven straight points to seal the victory.

Johnston led Olivet with 20 points, followed by Ivan with a career-high 18 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the free throw line. She also grabbed seven rebounds. Senior guard Molly Lipton (Ann Arbor/Pioneer High School) contributed 11 points.

The Lady Comets are next in action on Wednesday, Dec. 10, when they host Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association foe Kalamazoo College. Tip-off at the Upton Center is 7:30 p.m.