Women’s basketball team falls to Hope, 48-36

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team fell to Hope College, 48-36, tonight at the DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland.

There were four lead changes early in the game. After the Flying Dutch led 9-8 with 12:33 left in the first half, they went on a 9-0 run to take a double digit lead. Hope's biggest lead of the half was the margin at the break, 27-14. The Flying Dutch their lead to 20 points, 34-14, at the 16:50 mark.

Olivet then went on a 16-3 scoring spurt to cut its deficit down to seven points, 37-30, with 8:06 left. Junior Sydney Radde (Stevensville/Lakeshore) started the run with a basket and Hope answered with a 3-pointer. The Comets then scored on five straight possessions – twice on jumpers by junior Brittany Brown and three times on jumpers by junior SoQuitta DeShazor (Flint/Hamady).

The Flying Dutch ended Olivet's run with an old-fashioned 3-point play to go back up by double digits. The Comets would not get any closer than nine points for the rest of the game.

For the game, both teams made 16 baskets, as Olivet shot 32.7 percent (16-of-49), while Hope shot a season-low 27.1 percent (16-of-59). The Flying Dutch made two more 3-pointers, 4-2, and 10 more free throws, 12-2, than the Comets. Olivet out-rebounded Hope, 41-37.

The Comets were led in scoring by sophomore Kelsey Campbell (Olivet), who had nine points. She also grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists. Brown and DeShazor each scored eight. Radde finished with a game-high nine rebounds.

Maddie Burnett topped the Flying Dutch with 15 points. Liz Ellis was next with 13. Megan Kelley and Rebekah Llorens grabbed six rebounds apiece.

Olivet hosts MIAA leader Calvin College Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.