Wednesday evening the Alma College Women's Basketball team traveled to Olivet College for a MIAA match-up and dropped a 79-66 decision. The Scots leave the contest with a record of 5-6 in the league and 6-13 overall, while the Comets are now 9-3 in the MIAA and 14-7 in 2012-13.

"We did not come out well in the first half and that hurt us bad," remarked Alma Head Coach Keisha Brown. "We had a better second half but not enough to get us out of that hole. We need to regroup tomorrow and get back at it because the rest of our games are equally important for us to reach our goal."

Olivet jumped out to a 5-0 lead early in the game and would ride that advantage all through the first half. The Comets led 11-4 at the 15:53 mark but the tenacious Scots would chip away and cut the deficit to two twice. The final time was when Jr. G Brittney Deerfield (Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord) completed a three-point play to make the score 22-20 with 11:48 left in the frame.

However, the hot shooting Comets would go on a 8-0 late in the half to increase their lead to 11, a margin they would hold onto as they headed into the break with a 44-33 advantage. Olivet shot a sizzling 69% (20 of 29) in the first 20 minutes and despite 10 turnovers, they were able to keep Alma at bay. The Scots had nine players score in the half as they shot 36% as a team.

Both teams started slow in the second half but Olivet still held a 48-35 lead with 16:17 left in the game. Alma did cut the deficit to nine at 54-45 when Fr. G Courtney Waara (Negaunee, Mich./Negaunee) made a lay-up at 12:56. However, a 10-2 run by the Comets over the next two minutes gave them a 17-point advantage at 64-47 with 10:37 remaining.

Olivet worked on maintaining the advantage the rest of the way but the Scots kept fighting and after Sr. F Danielle Hicks (Marshall, Mich./Marshall) put in a lay-up, the deficit was 10 at 69-59 at the 6:23 mark. However, this was the Comets' night and they stayed steady the rest of the way and walked off the court with the 79-66 victory.

Jr. F Mary Schlicher (Lewiston, Mich./Johannesburg-Lewiston) led the Scots with team-highs with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Deerfield finished with nine points. Hicks contributed four boards, three steals and two assists, while Jr. C Sarah Stinson (Waterford, Mich./Kettering) had six rebounds and three steals.

Alma next plays on Saturday afternoon when they host Hope College at Art Smith Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.