Women's basketball team defeats MSJ, 73-59, in championship game of 2008 College of Mt. St. Joseph Tip-off Tournament

The Olivet College women's basketball team defeated the host Lions, 73-59, this afternoon in the championship match of the 2008 College of Mt. St. Joseph Tip-off Tournament at the Harrington Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sophomore Caitlin Thilo (Onondaga/ Eaton Rapids) was named the tournament MVP, and senior Sarah Mangold (Sterling Heights/Bishop Foley) joined her on the all-tournament team.

The first half was a back and forth with neither team leading by more than four points. The teams were tied at 20-20 at halftime. In the second half, the Comets went up by four points, 31-27, with 15:18 remaining.

MSJ came back to tie the game at 31-31 and eventually take its own four-point lead, 42-38, with just over 11 minutes left in the game. Over the next five minutes, Olivet went on a 21-3 run to take a 59-45 lead. The Lions trimmed their deficit down to eight points, 61-53, but they would not get any closer.

Thilo finished with a game-high 21 points, including 10-of-13 shooting from the free throw line. Senior Emily Brown (Muskegon/Mona Shores) added 11 points, while junior Gabrielle Federau (Okemos) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Lauren Schaller and Megan Smith each scored 16 points to lead MSJ. Smith also had a team-high eight rebounds.

The Comets will be back in action next Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 29-30, when they host the 2008 Comet Classic. Olivet will play Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) University Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The other first round game features Notre Dame College of Ohio vs. Ohio Wesleyan University at 5:30 p.m.