GRANVILLE, Ohio (Dec. 19) – Abby Cooch scored 22 points and added nine rebounds as the Denison women’s basketball team escaped with a 73-70 win over the University of Olivet in non-conference play at Livingston Gymnasium Thursday evening.
The win improves Denison to 7-3 overall. The loss was the second straight overtime defeat for Olivet, who falls to 2-7 overall.
Denison seemed poised for a comfortable win after putting together a strong opening quarter. The Big Red drained six three-point field goals in the opening quarter to take a 23-12 advantage after 10 minutes of play. Adelyn Moore and Violet Mitchell both drained a pair of first quarter triples. A layup by Maeve Perry bolstered the Denison lead to 23-12 as the two teams headed into the second quarter.
Olivet countered with a strong shooting quarter of its own in the second quarter. The Comets shot 72.7 percent from the field with eight makes in 11 attempts during the frame. Olivet made three triples during the quarter. Cooch was able to help Denison extend its lead back to double digits when her step back three-point field goal made the score 35-25 at the 2:58 mark. Cooch added another three-point field goal to help Denison carry a 40-35 advantage into halftime.
The second half was competitive throughout as the two teams traded scores for most of the final 20 minutes. Olivet scored the first six points of the third to take a 41-40 lead at the. 7:05 mark. The Big Red responded with a 7-0 spurt to build a 47-41 advantage. A layup by Bryana Woodard finished the run at the 5:07 mark. However, the Comets kept pushing and a late triple gave the visitors a slight 54-53 advantage entering the fourth.
The fourth featured seven lead changes. Olivet led by three points with 3:01 left but Denison used layups by Cooch and Mitchell to regain a one-point edge. Olivet regained a lead late but Denison was able to force overtime with a late basket by Cooch.
The Big Red scored the first four points of overtime and held on for the victory. Olivet had a last gasp three-point attempt to tie but the shot missed the mark.
Mitchell and Moore joined Cooch in double figures scoring. Mitchell tallied 13 points and chipped in eight boards. Moore scored 10 pints while Maddie Goodman contributed eight points. Perry added six points and seven rebounds in just nine minutes off the bench.
Denison found a way to win despite a tough shooting night. The Big Red converted 32.5 percent from the field and nine-of-34 from three-point range. Denison outrebounded Olivet by a 49-43 margin. The Big Red had a plus-six advantage in turnovers.
Lily Connelly led Olivet by filling the stat sheet with 24 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and five steals.
Up Next: Denison travels to Florida for the St. Pete Classic on Dec. 29-30. The Big Red will face a pair of nationally ranked foes in sixth-ranked Bowdoin and 23rd ranked Johns Hopkins on consecutive days. The two games will be played in St. Petersburg, Fla. at St. Petersburg Catholic High School.
