The Alma College women's basketball defeated Olivet College, 78-77, in double overtime Wednesday evening at Cappaert Gymnasium in Alma. The victory, the third in the team's last four games, improved the Scots to 3-1 in MIAA play (4-7 overall), good for a second place tie with Hope College. Olivet dropped to 2-2 in the MIAA and 6-7 overall on the 2008-09 campaign.

In a game won with grit and heart, the first half saw the Comets with a pair of 10-point leads, with the last time being 28-18 at the 6:52 mark. However, Alma fought back and trailed by just two points, 33-31, at halftime. The teams were pretty even from the field in the first half, with Alma shooting 43% and Olivet checking with 42% in the initial frame.

In the second half, the Comets stretched its lead back out to 10 points twice, including 49-39, with 12:09 left in regulation. But the Scots did not quit and even led by three points on two occasions down the stretch. Olivet sent the game into overtime tied at 63-63 when they hit two free throws with five seconds left.

After the Comets scored the first four points of the first extra period, a layup and three-pointer for the Scots between a Olivet layup made it a one-point game, 69-68. After Olivet had a free throw opportunity, the Scots forced the second extra period with a free throw of its own.

Aftr Olivet tallied the first basket in the second overtime, Alma knocked down a three-pointer, but the Comets came back and took a three-point lead, 77-74. The Scots scored the final four points of the second overtime, including the game-winning free throw by G Heather Keenan (Sr., Charlotte, MI/Charlotte) with 19 seconds remaining.

All five Alma starters reached double figures. Keenan led the way with 20 points, followed by F Meagan Hoblet (Cadillac, MI/Cadillac) with 15 and F Sydney Beckwith (Weidman, MI/Beal City), G Lacey Best-Rowden (Jr., Lansing, MI/Waverly) and F Kathryn Bigelow (Jr., Alma, MI/Alma) all with 11. Hoblet grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, while Bigelow dished out nine assists for the game.

Alma returns to league action Saturday when it travels to St. Mary's College to take on the MIAA rival and first-place Belles at 3 p.m.