By Mitch Blankespoor
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo College women's basketball team saw its seven game winning streak snapped Thursday, Jan. 9 with a 69-58 loss at the hands of the Olivet Comets. The loss was K's first of 2014. The last Hornet loss came against non-conference foe Oberlin (Ohio) on Nov. 30 of 2013.
"Our energy level was down right from the start," Kalamazoo Head Coach Katie Miller said. "We got frustrated trying to guard Stephanie Lang and some of the lob passes they [Olivet] were running. We let that affect us and how we wanted to play."
Olivet took a 19-8 lead early on and would lead by as many as 17 points in the first half. The Hornets went into halftime trailing 31-21, but had scored seven of the last eight points of the half.
The Hornets would cut the lead to eight points two different times in the first half, but would get no closer.
"We started to get some looks in transition," said Miller. "We started to run our offense like we should. Once we settled in, we did some good things."
Lang finished with a game-high 29 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Comets. Kalamazoo senior forward Nicole Antoine finished with 17 points and eight rebounds despite shooting just 8-23 from the field. Junior guard Morgan Overstreet was the other Hornet in double figures with 13 points while junior forward Perry (Weiderman) Nicholson finished with six points, eight rebounds, and four steals.
As a team, Kalamazoo shot 34 percent from the field while Olivet shot 36 percent. Kalamazoo held a slight advantage in free throws hitting 17 compared to 16 for the Comets. The largest statistical difference came in the rebounding department. Olivet grabbed 57 boards while Kalamazoo earned 38 rebounds.
The Hornets fall to 7-5 on the season and 3-1 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. Kalamazoo returns to action Saturday, Jan. 11 when K hosts Saint Mary's College (Ind.). Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in the Anderson Athletic Center.