Alma Women's Basketball team hosted Olivet College on Saturday afternoon, and dropped a very close decision to the Comets. After the 52-49 loss, the Scots are now 5-18 (4-10 MIAA) in 2009-10, while Olivet improved to 6-9 in the league and 7-17 overall this season.

The game was close throughout, as both teams shot well in the beginning of the contest, and Olivet had a 19-17 advantage with 9:52 remaining in the initial frame. The biggest lead of the contest came at the 1:40 mark of the first half, when Alma's Sr. F Meagan Hoblet (Cadillac, MI/Cadillac) hit a lay-up for a 29-22 advantage.

The Comets had achieved their biggest lead of the half, 19-13, at 11:29, but the Scots went on a 16-3 run to take their seven point lead. Olivet connected on a three-pointer late in the half to cut the Alma lead to 31-27 as both teams headed into halftime. For the first 20 minutes, the Scots shot 67% (14 of 21), while the Comets were good on 38% of their attempts (eight of 21). However, Olivet drained six from beyond the arc, a number which kept the visitors close.

Alma took a 34-31 lead early in the second half, when Sr. F Kathryn Bigelow (Alma, MI/Alma) hit a three-pointer.  Olivet answered 44 seconds later when Michelle Hein also connected from beyond the arc. The Comets scored the next four points and increased their lead to five, 42-37, with 12:34 remaining in the game.

The visitors were able to regain a six point advantage at 45-39 just 1:17 later, but the Scots came back as well, and cut it to 46-45, when So. C Aubrey Maxa (Saginaw, MI/Swan Valley) hit a jumper, with 9:48 left in the game. The contest was at 48-47 Olivet with 8:09 remaining, but both teams hit a bit of a dry spell from that point.

Olivet outscored the home team by a margin of 4-2 as Alma fought hard to make up the difference, but the Scots just could not make up the difference the rest of the way. A last second three-point attempt by Sr. G Lacey Best-Rowden (Lansing, MIWaverly) came up short, and the Comets walked off the court with the road win.

After a strong first half shooting, the Scots struggled in the final frame, as they connected on eight of 30 attempts (27%), while the Comets were not much better at 36% (nine of 25). Hoblet led the way for the Scots with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Jr. F Sydney Beckwith (Weidman, MI/Beal City) was next with 10 points. Bigelow contributed seven points and team-highs in assists (six) and steals (two).

Alma will play again on Wednesday evening, when they travel to Trine University. Tip-off against the Thunder is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.