Women’s basketball team defeats Concordia, 69-60, in home-opener

Freshman Ameina Ross (Lansing/Everett) scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Olivet College women's basketball team to a 69-60 victory over Concordia University tonight in its home-opener and first round of the 2007 Comet Classic at the Upton Center in Olivet. The Comets (1-2) advance to play Aquinas College in tomorrow's second round game at 3 p.m. Aquinas defeated Rochester College, 99-51, in the other first round game.

Olivet built its lead to as many as eight points in the first half, the last time being 25-17 with 6:09 left on the clock. Concordia went on an 8-0 run to tie the game. Both teams traded baskets; however, a three-pointer for the Cardinals put them ahead, 33-32. After Ross answered with a basket to give the Comets a 34-33 lead, Betsy Barlow answered by making a layup and free throw for a 36-34 Concordia lead at halftime.

The Cardinals opened the second half with a 14-5 run to take an 11-point lead, 50-39, with 13:20 left in the game. Over the next six minutes, 41 seconds, the Comets then outscored them, 15-3 to take a 54-53. The run was capped by a three-pointer by junior Lauren Fishwick (Trenton). Olivet did not relinquish its lead for the rest of the game, extending it to as many as nine at the final buzzer.

Ross made eight-of-13 baskets and eight-of-12 free throws for her 24 points. She also grabbed seven rebounds in 25 minutes. Fishwick and sophomore Nykole Pfaff (Goodrich/Powers Catholic) each scored 11 points. Senior Jaime Kowalczyk (Wyandotte/Roosevelt) grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds.

Shannon Hull led the Cardinals with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Following tomorrow's game, Olivet will be idle until Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, when it participates in the Montana State University-Northern (MSN) AmericInn Classic in Havre, Mt. On Friday night, the Comets will play MSN, and on Saturday, they will play Carroll (Mt.) College.