Women's basketball defeats Adrian, 52-48

The Olivet College women's basketball team overcame a 15-point first half deficit to knock off Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Adrian College, 52-48, this afternoon at the Upton Center. The victory also snaps the Lady Comets' seven-game losing streak, and an eight-game MIAA losing skid.

Olivet (7-12, 1-8 MIAA) had a 7-6 lead at the 16:14 mark of the opening half. Over the next 10 minutes of the game, the Lady Bulldogs (6-12, 2-7 MIAA) went on a 20-4 run for their biggest lead of the half, 26-11. The Comets battled back to trail by 11 points at halftime when sophomore center Amanda Johnston (Mt. Morris/Genessee High School) made a free throw to complete a three-point play with 0.3 seconds left.

The Comets outscored Adrian, 18-7, in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and tied the scored at 38-all when senior guard Kim Strange (Ellsworth High School) nailed a three-pointer. After a 44-44 tie, Johnston made back-to-back layups for a 48-44 Olivet lead with 3:15 left in the game. Junior guard Emily Fix (New Buffalo/Comstock Park High School) sealed the victory by making four free throws in the last 1:15 of the game.

Johnston was the lone Comet in double figures with a game-high 15 points. Freshman point guard Sheena West (Kalamazoo Plainwell High School) contributed nine points, and sophomore center Courtney Ivan (Belleville High School) grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

Olivet begins a four-game road trip on Monday, Feb. 2 when it plays at Saint Mary's (Ind.) College. Tip-off from the Angela Athletic Center is 7:30 p.m.

Corrie Helldobler and Mandi Lemmons led the Bulldogs with 12 points apiece. Amanda Rainsberger pulled down a team-best seven rebounds.