Women’s basketball team opens season with 58-52 win at Defiance

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Olivet College women's basketball team opened its 2011-12 season with a 58-52 win at Defiance (Ohio) College tonight inside the Karl H. Weaner Center in Defiance, Ohio.

The first 11 minutes and 10 seconds of the game was back-and-forth with six tied scores. After the last one at 16-16, the Comets scored 10 consecutive points for the first double figure lead of the game. Olivet extended their lead to as many as 13 points twice, including 35-22 at halftime.

The Comets stretched their lead to 15 points by scoring the first basket of the second half. The Yellow Jackets fought back and cut their deficit down to four points, 41-37, over the next six minutes. Olivet pushed its lead back to as many as 11 points and Defiance would not get any closer than four points the rest of the game.

For the game, the Comets shot 40.4 percent (23-of-57) to 34.5 percent (19-of-55) for the Yellow Jackets. Olivet also won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding Defiance 46-34. Sophomore Kelsey Campbell (Olivet) scored 14 points, dished out four assists and made five steals. Junior Brittany Brown (Inkster/John Glenn) also reached double figures with 10 points. Brown and junior SoQuitta DeShazor (Flint/Harmody) each grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Erica King scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Yellow Jackets. Jessie Arnold came off the bench to score 13 points. Kim Comden pulled down nine rebounds.

Olivet (1-0) will compete in the Anderson (Ind.) University Invitational this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19. On Friday night, the Comets will play the host Ravens at 8 p.m., and on Saturday afternoon, they will play University of Cincinnati-Clermont (Ohio) at 2 p.m.