The Scots Women's Basketball team hit the road on Saturday afternoon and came away with a thrilling 72-68 overtime when against Calvin at Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids. The victory, the first at Calvin in six years (1/25/03), improved Alma to 4-6 in the MIAA and 6-12 overall, while the Knights dropped to 5-6 in the league and 10-8 on the season.

The Knights jumped out of the gate fast, scoring 11 seconds into the game and led for most of the first frame, leading 15-9 midway through. The Scots cut it to 17-16 at the 7:07 mark on a three-point basket by Jr. G Lauren Hasler (Mt. Pleasant, MI/Sacred Heart) and then tied the game at 22-22 on a jumper by Sr. G Heather Keenan (Charlotte, MI/Charlotte) with 5:20 left in the half.

Less than a minute later the Scots took a 24-22 lead on a jumper by Hasler and eventually led by eight at 32-24 in the final minute of the half, completing a 15-2 run. Calvin scored the last basket of the half, but Alma went into halftime with a 32-26 advantage. The Scots shot 39% (13 of 34) from the field in the first half, while the Knights were also good on 39% of their shots, going 10 of 26.  

Alma came out strong in the second half and increased the lead to 11 at 37-26 at the 18:33 mark. But the Knights were not going to go down without a fight and proceeded to go on a 16-4 run of their own to re-take the lead at 42-41 with 9:50 left in the game. The game was a see-saw affair for the next two minutes and teams were tied at 47-47 at the 7:59 mark.

The Scots went on an 8-0 run to take a 55-47 lead with 5:32 left and led 62-54 at the 2:15 mark. The home team never quit however and outscored Alma 8-0 over the remaining minutes of regulation and tied it at 62-62 a piece when Amber Benthem hit a free throw with nine seconds left. After a missed jumper by Keenan, the teams headed into overtime.

The teams traded baskets early in the extra frame and were still tied at 66-66 with 2:58 left in overtime. Alma was able to get a four-point lead when So. G Stephanie Bradshaw (Livonia, MI/Livonia) made a lay-up to make the score 70-66 at the 2:06 mark. 20 seconds later, the Knights made it 70-68 and after the teams each missed a couple of jumpers, Alma Jr. C Meagan Hoblet (Cadillac, MI/Cadillac) iced the game. Hoblet was fouled and proceeded to sink two free throws with seven seconds remaining and the Scots got off the court with the 72-68 overtime win.

For the game, Alma finished at 38% shooting (29 of 64), including seven of 17 from beyond the three-point line, while Calvin closed out the game at 39% from the field, going 22 of 69 and five of 19 from beyond the arc. The Scots, the MIAA leaders in defensive blocked shots, added six more on Saturday afternoon. Calvin had the advantage on the boards by a 48-42 margin.

Hoblet was the team leader in points with 17 and added six rebounds and two blocked shots, while Bradshaw chipped in with 15 points. The team leaders in rebounds were Keenan and Jr. F Kathryn Bigelow (Alma, MI/Alma) with nine a piece. Fr. C Aubrey Maxa (Saginaw, MI/Swan Valley) contribued 12 points and two blocked shots, while Hasler had 11 points, including three from beyond the arc. Bigelow also had two blocks, while Keenan and Jr. G Lacey Best-Rowden led the Scots with six assists a piece.

Alma next plays on Wednesday evening when they host Kalamazoo College in a 6:00 p.m. MIAA tilt at Cappaert Gymnasium.