The Women's Basketball team continued MIAA play on Saturday afternoon when they hosted Kalamazoo College at Art Smith Arena. The Scots dropped a close 52-48 decision to the Hornets to fall to 0-4 in league play and 1-12 overall. Kzoo improved to 1-3 in the MIAA and 2-9 on the 2010-11 season.

Poor shooting would haunt the Scots all afternoon and Kalamazoo took a 35-26 advantage into halftime after dropping 14 of 24 shots (58.3%), including four three-pointers. By contrast, Alma shot just 28.1% in a half where they did have three leads, the last being 21-20, at the 7:38 mark, when Fr. G Anna Mattson (Brighton, MI/Brighton) hit two free throws.

Kalamazoo never relinquished the lead in the final frame but the Scots kept it close and was in range for a victory several times. With 10:24 remaining in the game, Sr. F Sydney Beckwith (Weidman, MI/Beal City) put up a lay-up that made the score 40-38.

However, the Hornets were able to increase their lead back up to eight points, 46-38, with 6:51 left, and the Scots could not cut the deficit to less than three points the rest of the way. Kalamazoo hit some key free throws down the stretch to secure their first league win of the season.

Beckwith paced the Scots with 12 points, 11 rebounds and six steals in the loss, while So. G Danielle Hicks (Marshall, MI/Marshall) had a team-high 13 points and added six rebounds. Mattson finished the contest with 11 points and eight boards and Fr. F Sarah Stinson (Waterford, MI/Ketterin) contributed seven rebounds in the defeat.

The Scots resume league play on Wednesday, when they travel to Adrian College to take on the Bulldogs in a 7:30 p.m. game. JV will play before the Varsity. Alma's next home game is Saturday, January 15 at 3:00 p.m., when they host Calvin College at Art Smith Arena.