Women’s basketball team opens season with 78-59 loss against Defiance

The Olivet College women's basketball team opened the 2008-09 season with a 78-59 loss against Defiance (Ohio) College this afternoon at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. It was the first official basketball game in Olivet's new $5.1 million multi-purpose facility.

In the first half, the Comets built a seven-point lead, 16-9, when freshman Olivia Yarrell (Lansing/Sexton) made a free throw to complete a three-point play. The Yellow Jackets answered with a 13-2 run to take a 22-18 lead. Following the sixth tied score of the half at 31-31, Defiance outscored Olivet, 12-5, to take a 43-36 lead into the locker rooms. The Comets would get no closer than seven points in the second half, as the Yellow Jackets led by as many as 26 points.

For Olivet, Yarrell scored a team-high 10 points and was the only Olivet player in double figures. Senior Vallen VanZyll (Lowell) contributed nine points, while senior Lauren Fishwick (Trenton) had eight points. Junior Gabrielle Federau (Okemos) grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, seven offensive and seven defensive.

Defiance placed four players in double figures, led by Holly Stein with 18 points. Katie McNamara chipped in with 15 points, followed by Shavonda Price and Tasha Stucke with 12 and 10 points, respectively. McNamara had a team-leading six rebounds.

The Comets are back in action Tuesday, Nov. 18, when they travel to play Davenport University at 7 p.m.