Women's basketball team loses to Saint Mary's, 77-69

Olivet College sophomore center Amanda Johnston (Mt. Morris/Genessee High School) scored a career-high 32 points but it was not enough as the Lady Comets fell to Saint Mary's College, 77-69, this evening at the Angela Athletic Center.

The Belles led by as many as eight points twice in the first half, including 20-12 at the 8:12 mark. The Lady Comets (7-13, 1-9 MIAA) battled back with a 10-2 run to tie the score. Saint Mary's had a 28-24 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Belles built an 11-point lead, 37-26, lead in the first 2:53. Olivet scored 12 straight points to take its first lead since the 15:01 mark of the first half. After a 49-49 tie, Saint Mary's scored the next points of the game, and never relinquished the lead for the rest of the contest. The Comets managed to close to within five points with 55 seconds left.

Johnston scored her 32 points on nine-of-15 shooting from the floor and 14-of-15 from the free throw line. She also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and dished out a team-best four assists. Junior guard Emily Fix (New Buffalo/Comstock Park High School) added 16 points.

Olivet is idle until Saturday, Feb. 7 when it travels to play Alma College. The game is a part of women's/men's basketball doubleheader. The women will tip off at 3 p.m., followed by the men's varsity game at approximately 7:30 p.m. Between the varsity games, the men's junior varsity teams will square off.

Katie Miller paced four Saint Mary's players in double figures with 15 points. Anne Hogan chipped in with 12 points, followed by Bridget Lipke and Amanda Creachbaum with 11 and 10 points, respectively.