Alma, MI – Alma College Women's Basketball continued MIAA conference play on Wednesday night, when they welcomed in Calvin University to
Art Smith Arena. The Scots roared back from a double-digit deficit to claim the win, 71-67. The win over a Knights team who was receiving national polling votes, snaps a nine-game losing streak in the all-time series.
Calvin came out firing in the opening minutes, jumping out to a 15-6 lead in the first quarter. The lead hit double digits following an Alma timeout, even ballooning to 12 points at 21-9. The Scots closed on a 7-3 run, and trailed 24-16 at the end of the first quarter. Alma opened the scoring in the second quarter, cutting the Calvin lead to five. A push by the home team dropped the deficit down to one possession at 26-23. However, Calvin pulled away to nine-point lead, pushing ahead by 11 points at the halftime break, 42-31 the score.
It was Calvin who would open the third quarter on a burner, immediately getting out to their largest lead of the game at 50-34. Alma pulled off an 8-0 run, but the Knights allowed the home side to come no closer, closing the quarter with the score at 56-48. The visitors scored the first points of the fourth quarter, their lead growing to 11 points. However, it was Alma who gradually found offensive success, and stops on defense. The Scots cut the game down to one possession with a little over five minutes to go at 59-56. After a made jumper from Calvin, Alma pulled within one point at 61-60, and a
Sarah Ebel go-ahead three gave the Scots their first lead of the night at 63-61. The hosts found several crucial makes down the stretch, and a pair of
Kate Starkey free throws with 4.9 seconds to play iced the game, allowing Alma to run out with a statement win.
Molly Deurloo led Alma's scorers with 24 points, also recording four rebounds.
Kate Starkey had 15 points and two rebounds, and
Sarah Ebel put together a 12 point, five rebound game.
Alma improves to 7-6 on the season, and 3-1 in MIAA play. The Scots are back in action on Saturday when they host Trine University.
