Women's basketball team defeats Kalamazoo, 74-64

The Olivet College women's basketball team defeated Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Kalamazoo College, 74-64, today at the Upton Center in Olivet. In the win, senior Amy Brackenwagen (Grand Ledge) dished out eight assists to become Olivet's career leader. She now has 290 assists to break the previous record of 289 by Kris Post from 1988-92.

The Comets (3-5, 2-0 MIAA) fell behind by 11 points on two occasions with the last time being 24-13 with 10:02 left before halftime. Olivet slowly chipped away at its deficit and took its first lead of the game, 34-34, when junior Lauren Fishwick (Trenton) made a jumper. The Hornets quickly tied the game at 34-34, but back-to-back layups by senior Jaime Kowalczyk (Wyandotte/ Roosevelt) and sophomore Nykole Pfaff (Goodrich/Powers Catholic) put the Comets up four points, 38-34. A free throw by Kalamazoo's Nymade Cooper made the score 38-35 at halftime.

In the second half, the Comets stretched their lead to as many 16 points, 60-44, with 12:31 left in the game. The closest the Hornets would get was seven points, 70-63, with just over two minutes remaining. Brackenwagen's record-breaking assist came on the final basket for Olivet, which was a layup by Kowalczyk.

Kowalczyk finished the game with a season-high 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor. Fishwick added 13 points, while junior Emily Brown (Muskegon/Mona Shores) scored 10 points. Off the bench, sophomore Gabrielle Federau (Okemos) had nine rebounds, including four off the offensive glass.

Cooper led the Hornets with a double-double, 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Olivet is back in action next Wednesday, Dec. 19, when it travels to play Madonna University at 7 p.m.