Women’s basketball team falls to Elmhurst, 64-51

The Olivet College women's basketball team fell to Elmhurst (Ill.) College, 64-51 in the final game of the 2009 O.C. Comet Classic at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Elmhurst's 21-point halftime lead (35-14) was its largest lead of the opening 20 minutes of play. Olivet scored the first seven points of the second half to trim its deficit to 14 points. The Blue Jays responded, pushing their lead to as many as 24 points, 53-29, with 9:28 left in the game. The Comets did not get any closer than the final margin of defeat.

Freshman Mellissa Bageris (Milford) was the only Olivet player in double figures, as she had 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor, including three 3-pointers. Freshman Alison Focht (Walled Lake/Western) chipped-in with seven points. Senior Gabrielle Federau (Okemos) shared game-high honors with six rebounds. For the game, the Comets out-rebounded the Bluejays, 42-29.

Elmhurst had a balanced scoring attack, as 11 different players scored at least one point. Lyndsie Long led the way with 12 points. She also had a team-high six rebounds.

In the first game today, Calvin College defeated Siena Heights University, 86-73. For Calvin, Carissa Verkaik had her second straight double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Amber Benthem was next with 18, followed by Brook VanEck and Allison Wolffis with 10 each. For Siena, Shalaha Hubbard and Tanci Levit scored 22 and 21 points, respectively.

At the conclusion of today's second, the all-tournament team was announced. Verkaik was named the MVP. The other members were VanEck, Long, Hubbard and Olivet sophomore Olivia Yarrell (Lansing/Sexton).

The Comets are now idle until Wednesday, Dec. 9, when they open Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play at Kalamazoo College. Game time is 7:30 p.m.