UOlivet loses heartbreaker at Bluffton, 77-75, in season-opener

BLUFFTON, Ohio – The University of Olivet women's basketball team battled in a 77-75 loss to Bluffton (Ohio) University in its season-opening game tonight at the Sommer Center.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Bluffton 77, Olivet 75
• Location: Sommer Center; Bluffton, Ohio
• Records: Olivet 0-1 overall, Bluffton 1-0 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Beavers jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first four minutes and 16 seconds of the game. The Comets chipped away at their deficit and eventually took their first lead of the game, 13-12, with 3:20 left in the first quarter. The teams traded baskets to swap the lead four times. Bluffton scored the final three points of the stanza to take a 19-17 lead into the second period.
• The early part of the second featured both teams exchanging baskets. After the Beavers took a 23-21 lead, Olivet used a 9-0 run to gain the largest lead for either team at 30-23. Bluffton fought back to level the score at 34-34 with 1:35 remaining in the quarter. The Comets made a basket before the Beavers drained two free throws and made a layup to take a 38-36 lead at halftime.
• Bluffton took a five-point lead, 47-42, at the 7:01 mark of the third quarter. Olivet countered with a 5-0 run over the next two minutes to tie the score. The Beavers answered with five quick points to go back on top by five, 52-47, with 4:24 left in the period. The Comets responded with a 6-0 spurt. Bluffton made a basket in the final seconds of the quarter for a 54-53 lead to begin the fourth quarter.
• There were five lead changes in the first 90 seconds of the final quarter. The fifth one put Olivet ahead 59-58. The Comets then went on a 5-1 run to take a 64-59 lead at the 7:23 mark. The Beavers came back with a 9-0 spurt for a four-point advantage, 68-64, with 4:44 remaining in the game.
• Two Olivet layups leveled the score at 68-68. Bluffton scored four of the next six points to go up 72-70. Junior Kaylee Bush drained a three-pointer from the left side of the court to put the Comets ahead 73-72. The Beavers had a steal and fastbreak layup to take a 74-73 lead with 43.8 seconds left. After a time out, freshman Ava Lord made a layup to hand the lead back to Olivet, 75-74, with 33 ticks showing on the clock. Bluffton connected on a three-pointer at the top of the arc to make the score, 77-76, with 11.6 seconds remaining. The Comets had a couple chances to score the tying basket but missed each attempt.

FOR THE COMETS

• For the game, Olivet posted a 48.4 field goal percentage (30-of-62) compared to 39.5 percent (32-of-81) for the Beavers. The difference in the game was Bluffton had 20 offensive rebounds, which led to 17 second chance points. The Comets had six offensive rebounds and six second chance points.
• Junior Christina Malackanich led all players with 19 points and grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds.
• Senior Kinsley Hatfield joined her in double figures with 17 points, including three triples.
• Lord contributed 14 points and three assists.
• Bush added 13 points.

UP NEXT

• The Comets host North Park (Ill.) University next Wednesday, November 12. Tip-off from the Cutler Event Center is 7 p.m.