RICHMOND, Ind. – The Earlham College women's basketball team ended the 2015 calendar year on a high note as the Quakers defeated Kalamazoo 67-61 on Tuesday.

The entire first quarter was played within a four-point window as Earlham's largest lead was 6-2 four minutes into the contest. The Quakers would lead by three after the first quarter, and continued to add to the lead as junior Hannah Franklin and senior Kasin Spay both nailed three-pointers making the score 25-19 with five minutes to play in the second quarter.

Leading 35-27 at halftime, Earlham's lead blossomed to 11 points when junior Maya Luney scored two of her 12 points with 5:01 to play in the third quarter. After a bucket from Spay to open the fourth quarter, Kalamazoo (3-7) went on a 7-2 run, making the score 53-48 with 7:10 to play.

The Hornets got the deficit down to three points on two occasions, but a three-pointer from Spay with a minute to play gave Earlham a six-point edge it would not relinquish.

Spay led all scorers with 23 points. The Muncie, Ind., native also dished out six assists and grabbed five rebounds. Luney, despite playing only 12 minutes due to foul trouble, tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Grace Smith led Kalamazoo with 17 points in defeat. Kelsey Adamski also chipped in 15 points.

Earlham shot 36 percent (23-64) for the contest while Kalamazoo hit 21-63 shots for 33 percent. The Quakers also held a slight edge in rebounding at 48-40. Perhaps the difference in the game came from beyond the arc as Earlham connected on five triples while holding Kalamazoo to a 1-15 mark from distance. The Quakers dished out 14 assists while the Hornets had seven.

The win snaps a seven-game losing skid for Earlham. The Quakers continue Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) play on Jan. 2 at Manchester. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.