Basketball teams set for MIAA Tournament play

The Olivet College men's and women's basketball teams are gearing up for the 2010 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament this week.

The women's team (7-18, 6-10 MIAA) is the No. 7 seed and will travel to play No. 2 seed Calvin College Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. The winner advances to play the winner of the Albion versus Saint Mary's game in the semifinals Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

The Knights swept the regular season games between them and Comets. Calvin defeated Olivet, 78-54, on Dec. 19, 2009, in Olivet and 63-46 on Jan. 23, 2010, at Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids.

The men's team (13-12, 8-6 MIAA) has earned the No. 4 seed and will host No. 5 seed Albion College Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. inside The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The winner will advance to play the winner of the Alma versus Calvin game in a semifinal contest. Friday night's semifinals and Saturday's championship game will be played at the highest remaining seed after Wednesday's first round games.

Olivet and Albion split their two regular season meetings. In the first meeting on Jan. 6 at The Cutler Event Center, the Britons beat the Comets, 84-71. Olivet returned the favor and defeated Albion on its home court, 73-65, on Jan. 30.

Tickets for the first round games are general admission and are $5 each. MIAA students are free when they present their school ID card. Non-MIAA students and Olivet faculty and staff tickets are $3 each.

Both first round games will be broadcast live on campus radio station, WOCR 89.7, and on the Olivet College Web site at www.wocrfm.com.