Women’s basketball team begins MIAA play with 60-50 loss at Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Olivet College women's basketball team started the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) portion of its schedule with a 60-50 setback to Kalamazoo College this evening at the Anderson Athletic Center.

Final Score: Kalamazoo 60, Olivet 50
Location: Anderson Athletic Center; Kalamazoo, Michigan
Records: Kalamazoo 2-3 overall, 1-0 MIAA; Olivet 1-6 overall, 0-1 MIAA

• After the Comets scored the first basket of the game, the Hornets put 10 of the next 12 points on the scoreboard to go up 10-4. Olivet closed the gap to two points after sophomore Zoee Zatarga made a free throw to complete a three-point to make the score 12-10 at the 1:27 mark of the opening quarter. Kalamazoo drained a three-pointer for a 15-10 lead at the end of the quarter.
• The second quarter saw the Hornets go up by seven points, 19-12, with 7:20 left until halftime. Zatarga split two free throws 18 seconds later. From there, neither team scored any points for the next five minutes. Freshman Courtney Balasz drained a pair of free throws at the 1:57 mark to trim Olivet's deficit down to four points, 19-15. Two Kalamazoo baskets in the final minute of the quarter made the score 23-15 at the intermission.
• The Hornets pushed their lead to 12 points twice in the third quarter. After the last time at 36-24, the Comets battled back to get their deficit down to nine points on three occasions. A jumper put Kalamazoo ahead by 11 points, 43-32, to start the final quarter.
• In the fourth quarter, the Hornets extended their advantage to as many as 19 points, 54-35. Olivet outscored Kalamazoo, 15-6, over the final five minutes of the game to create the final 60-50 score.

• Junior Rachel Swartz led Olivet with 14 points and two steals.
• Zatarga contributed 12 points to go along with a team-best eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
• Balazs came off the bench to score seven points.

• Kaelyn Arlington posted a double-double, 15 points and 10 rebounds, to lead the Hornets.
• Kaytlyn Tidy netted 13 points.
• Jackie Brines also grabbed 10 rebounds.

• The Comets travel to play Albion College Saturday afternoon, with tip-off at Kresge Gymnasium set for 3 p.m.