Swartz and Zatarga lead women’s basketball team to 58-29 win over Great Lakes Christian

OLIVET, Mich. – Playing a home game for the first time this season, the Olivet College women's basketball team defeated Great Lakes Christian College, 58-29, in a non-conference contest this evening at the Cutler Event Center. Junior Rachel Swartz posted a double-double, 16 points and 13 rebounds, and sophomore Zoee Zatarga scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Comets.

Final Score: Olivet 58, Great Lakes Christian 29
Location: Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Michigan
Records: Great Lakes Christian 2-8 overall, Olivet 2-7 overall

• The Comets led by six points, 10-4, before a three-point play for the Crusaders made the score 10-7 at the end of the opening quarter. Olivet scored the first seven points of the second quarter to extend its lead to double digits for the first time. Great Lakes Christian fought back and trimmed its deficit twice. After the last time at 19-14, the Comets used an 8-0 run over the final 4:22 of the quarter to lead 27-14 at the halftime break.
• Olivet kept the run going to start the third quarter, scoring the first eight points to lead by 21 points 35-14, at the 6:50 mark. There was not much scoring for several minutes, and the Comets eventually led by 23 points, 41-18, with 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
• The Crusaders made the last basket of the third stanza and first basket of the fourth quarter to trail by 19 points. Great Lakes Christian would not get any closer for the rest of the game. Olivet's 29-point margin of victory was its largest advantage of the game.

• For the game, the Comets posted a 42.9 field goal percentage (24-of-56) compared to 17.4 percent (12-of-69) for the Crusaders. Olivet made two baskets from behind the arc, while Great Lakes Christian was 0-for-22. The Comets also drained eight free throws to five for the Crusaders. Olivet also had a 56-36 advantage in total rebounds.
• Zatarga made 6-of-13 baskets and 6-of-8 free throws for her 18 points. She also grabbed nine rebounds.
• Swartz canned 8-of-13 baskets for her 16 points. All 13 of her rebounds were off the defensive glass.
• Sophomore Savannah Pavoni dished out six assists.
• Senior Alicia Bullaro scored six points on a pair of three-pointers.
• Freshman Courtney Balazs also had six points to go along with seven rebounds.

• Mystic Striker led the Crusaders with 12 points and nine rebounds.
• Sakrura Nakano was next with six points.
• Lailah Dixon and Randi Fitzgerald each pulled down seven rebounds.

• The Comets travel to play Trine (Ind.) University Saturday afternoon. Tip-off from the MTI Center in Angola, Indiana, is 3 p.m.