Women’s basketball team loses season-opener to DePauw, 96-63

The Olivet College women's basketball team opened its 2007-08 season with a 96-63 loss to the host Tigers tonight in the opening round of the DePauw (Ind.) University/Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tipoff Tournament. The Comets will play Washington (Mo.) University in the consolation game of the tournament tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.

Olivet's only lead of the game was 3-0 when sophomore Nykole Pfaff (Goodrich/Powers Catholic) knocked down a three-pointer 10 seconds into the game. After falling behind by five points on two occasions early in the game, the Comets climbed back to tie the game at 16-16. From that point, the Tigers went on a 23-2 run to take their largest lead of the half, 39-18, at the 4:52 mark. DePauw, ranked second in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll', led 47-28 at halftime.

Olivet trimmed its deficit down to 16 points with 12:24 left on the clock after junior Sarah Mangold (Sterling Hts./Bishop Foley) nailed back-to-back three-pointers. The Tigers stretched their lead to as many as 33 points two times, including their final margin of victory.

Junior Emily Brown (Muskegon/Mona Shores) made her Olivet debut and scored a team-high 13 points. Junior Lauren Fishwick (Trenton), who started her first varsity game for the Comets, joined her in double figures with 12 points. Pfaff chipped in with 11 points. Brown along with sophomore Gabrielle Federau (Okemos) grabbed four rebounds each.

DePauw was led by Gretchen Haehl, who scored a game-high 18 points. Jenna Fernandez and Cassie Pruzin pulled down seven rebounds a piece, as the Tigers out-rebounded the Comets, 41-27.

Following tomorrow's game, Olivet will be idle until next Friday and Saturday, when it hosts the 2007 Comet Classic. On Friday night, the Comets will play Concordia University at 8 p.m. The first game of the day features Aquinas College playing Rochester College at 6 p.m.