Women's basketball team loses to Tri-State (Ind.), 84-67

The Olivet College women's basketball team fell to non-conference foe Tri-State (Ind.) University, 84-67, tonight at Hershey Hall in Angola, Ind.

In the first half, the Thunder led by as many as 20 points, 31-11, at the 7:13 mark. The Lady Comets battled back with a 15-2 run to cut the deficit to seven points when senior guard Molly Lipton (Ann Arbor/Pioneer High School) nailed back-to-back three-pointers. Tri-State also led, 43-28, at halftime.

The Thunder extended their lead to 22 points, 60-38, in the first seven minutes of the second half. Olivet closed to within seven points when back-up guard Gina Willard (Kent City High School) made two free throws with 2:09 left. Tri-State sealed the victory by canning 10-of-13 free throws in the final 1:21 of the game.

Sophomore Amanda Johnston (Mt. Morris/Genessee High School) came off the bench to lead the Comets with 20 points. She also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, including eight off the offensive glass. Lipton added 18 points, followed by junior forward Tonya Dawson (Marshall High School) with 12 points.

The Comets will begin the second half of their Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association schedule on Saturday, Jan. 24, when they travel to play Kalamazoo College. Tip-off from the Anderson Athletic Center is 3 p.m.