Women’s basketball team routs Saint Mary’s, 92-55

Audrey Graham (Battle Creek/Lakeview) and Jen O'Neil (Auburn Hills/Avondale) scored 25 and 20 points, respectively, to lead the Olivet College women's basketball team to a 92-55 rout of Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Saint Mary's (Ind.) College tonight at the Angela Athletic Center in Notre Dame, Ind.

O'Neil scored the first basket of the game and the Comets (8-5, 4-0 MIAA) never looked back. Olivet's biggest lead of the half was 17 points, 31-14, when senior guard Karine Campbell (Ionia) made a three-pointer at the 7:52 mark. At halftime, the Comets held a 39-28 lead.

Over the first eight minutes, nine seconds of the second half, Olivet used a 27-6 run to take a 32-point lead, 66-34. The Comets stretched their lead to as many as 41 points, 90-49, with 2:12 left in regulation.

For the game, Olivet connected on 30-of-66 (45.5 percent) shots from the floor and 22-of-27 free throws. The Comets turned the ball over 14 times and made 16 steals on 25 turnovers by Saint Mary's.

Graham was seven-of-18 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the free throw line. O'Neil made six-of-10 shots, including three-of-five from behind the arc, and five-of-seven free throws. Joining them in double figures were sophomore Amy Brackenwagen (Grand Ledge) and junior Callie Reed (Howell) with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Brackenwagen and Graham grabbed seven rebounds each. O'Neil also recorded a team-high six steals.

The Belles (5-8, 3-2 MIAA) were led by Alison Kessler with 13 points and five rebounds. Nicole Beier and Bridget Lipke added 12 points apiece.

Olivet is back in action Saturday, Jan. 7, when it hosts Adrian College in the second game of a basketball doubleheader. The Comet men's basketball team plays Hope College at 3 p.m., followed by the women's game at approximately 5 p.m.