On Wednesday evening, the Alma College Women's Basketball team hosted Olivet College in a key MIAA match-up at Art Smith Arena. As expected, the game was close but in the end Olivet was able to come away with the 72-58 victory. The Scots now have a league mark 2-4 and 3-11 overall, while the Comets are now 5-2 in the MIAA and 9-5 in 2012-13.

The Comets led 2-0 and 3-2 early, but when Alma So. G Mallory Pruett (Ishpeming, Mich./Ishpeming) hit a jumper for a 6-4 lead at 16:29 lead, the home team would trail the rest of the first frame. The Scots led 20-13 at 9:33 and then had their biggest advantage at 28-20 with 3:32 left after a lay-up by Jr. F Mary Schlicher (Lewiston, Mich./Johannesburg-Lewiston).

However, Olivet would finish the first half on a 8-0 run and the two teams would go into halftime tied at 28-28. Pruett led the Scots with eight points in the first 20 minutes and Olivet was tied despite committing 16 turnovers. The Scots shot 33% (10-30), while the Comets were at 42% (10-24).

The game remained close through the beginning moments of the second half and the Scots held their final lead at 37-36 when Sr. F Danielle Hicks (Marshall, Mich./Marshall) hit a jump shot at the 16:00 mark. Over almost the next eight minutes however, the Comets went on a 23-7 run to take a 60-43 advantage with 8:38 left in the game.

Still down by 17 with 2:18 remaining, the Scots didn't quit and after a 10-2 run, trailed by nine at 67-58 after a lay-up by Hicks with 53 seconds left. However, Olivet settled down and made some free throws and was able to walk off the court with the 72-58 win.

Pruett paced the Scots with 14 points, while Schlicher added 10 points and two blocked shots. Hicks added eight points, six rebounds and a team-best five assists and Jr. F Bailey Gooding (Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord) contributed nine boards, seven points and four steals.

The Scots continue their season on Saturday afternoon, when they host Adrian College at Art Smith Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.