Women’s basketball team comes from behind to beat Alma, 52-49

The Olivet College women's basketball team overcame a four-point halftime deficit to beat Alma College, 52-49, this afternoon at Cappaert Gymnasium in Alma.

In the first half, Olivet led by as many as six points after junior Stephanie Spehar (South Lyon) drained back-to-back 3-pointers to make the score 19-13. The Scots came back with a 6-0 scoring spurt to tie the game. After junior Kaitlin Oleksyn (Kalamazoo/Parchment) canned a 3-pointer to put Olivet back ahead, Alma ended the half with a 12-5 run to take a 31-27 lead into the locker rooms.

Sophomore Olivia Yarrell (Lansing/Everett) scored the first four points of the second half to tie the game at 31-31. The teams then exchanged 3-pointers before Yarrell made a free throw to put the Comets ahead by one point, 35-34. Olivet did not relinquish its lead for the rest of the game.

Alma made seven more baskets than the Comets. The difference in the game was Olivet made nine triples to two for the Scots. Spehar and Yarrell scored 13 points apiece to lead the Comets. Senior Gabrielle Federau (Okemos) grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, as Olivet out-rebounded the Scots, 35-29, including 11-6 on the offensive glass.

Olivet will end the regular season portion of its schedule next Wednesday when it travels to play Saint Mary's (Ind.) College. Game time is 7:30 p.m.