Women’s basketball team falls to Madonna, 62-54

The Olivet College women's basketball team fell to Madonna University, 62-54, tonight at the Activities Center in Livonia.

Early in the first half, the Comets (3-6) fell behind by nine points, 11-2. Olivet took its first lead of the game, 21-19, when junior Vallen VanZyll (Lowell) made a three-pointer with 8:04 left before halftime. The Crusaders (2-8) scored the next five points and did not trail for the rest of the first half. The Comets forced a pair of ties, 32-32 and 34-34 in the closing minute of the half but a three-pointer put Madonna up, 37-36, at the break.

In the second half, the Crusaders built a nine-point lead, 52-43. The closest Olivet would get the rest of the game would be five points on two occasions with the last time being 57-52.

The Comets were led by senior Amy Brackenwagen (Grand Ledge), who scored 12 points. Senior Jaime Kowalczyk (Wyandotte/ Roosevelt) chipped in with 11 points and grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds.

For Madonna, Tabatha Wydryck scored a team-leading 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-7 from behind the three-point arc. Caryn Inman added 13 points along with 10 rebounds. Christie Carrico had a game-high 11 rebounds.

Olivet is now idle until Saturday, Jan. 5, when it travels to play Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College. Tip-off from Kresge Gym is 3 p.m.