Women's basketball team defeated by Saint Mary's, 74-56

The Olivet College women's basketball team closed the regular season portion of its schedule with a 74-56 loss at Saint Mary's (Ind.) College this afternoon at the Angela Athletic Center in Notre Dame, Ind.

The Comets (9-15, 7-9 MIAA) led by six points, 8-2, in the early stages of the game. Saint Mary's came back to take a 13-12 lead with 13 minutes left in the opening half. Olivet grabbed the lead back on a layup by freshman Ameina Ross (Lansing/Everett) but the Belles answered with their own layup to take the lead back for the rest of the half. Saint Mary's held a 28-25 lead at halftime.

In the first 10 minutes of the second half, neither team led by more than four points and there were six tied scores. Following the last tie at 46-46, the Belles went on a 12-0 run to take a commanding 58-46 lead. Olivet got no closer than eight points in the final 6-1/2 minutes of the game.

Senior Jaime Kowalczyk (Wyandotte/Roosevelt) was the only Comet in double figures with 14 points. Ross finished with nine points, followed by sophomore Gabrielle Federau (Okemos) and junior Lauren Fishwick (Trenton) with eight points a piece. Federau also grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds.

Alison Kesler was one of three Saint Mary's players in double figures with a game-high 29 points. Erin Newsom and Katie Rashid had 16 and 14 points, respectively. Newsom pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Olivet will travel to play the Belles in the first round of the 2008 MIAA Tournament Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.