Despite the visiting Olivet College Comets coming on strong at start of the women's basketball game on Dec. 30, Lawrence Technological University was eventually able to grab and hold on to the lead in the first half. All through the second half the Blue Devils maintained at least a four point advantage. LTU went on to win 64-59 and handed the NCAA Div III team its fourth straight loss.
LTU and Olivet exchanged leads until the Blue Devils tied the game at 12-12 with 11:35 to go in the first half. Then sophomore guard Danyel Strauss' two-pointer gave the Lady Blue Devils the lead for good. LTU built up a 13 point lead with 2:17 left in the half. Then the comets started to come back when the half-time buzzer sounded with the Blue Devils ahead 35-27.
Olivet continued to put points on the board early in the second half but could not catch up to the Blue Devils. LTU shot 45.8 percent from the floor compared to the Comets' 35.5 field goal percentage. The Lady Blue Devils also sank 16 of 20 free throws for an 80 percent average while the Comets managed a 55 percent average making 11 out of 20 attempts.
LTU had two players score in double digits. Freshman guard Allison Bicknell scored 18 points with one assist and freshman forward Jordan Strauss posted 10 points with two assists. Junior guard Brenda Davis led with three assists and junior forward Jackie Hood led with four steals. Freshmen Jazmine Brown and Jill Carland each had a total of eight rebounds.
"Everyone contributed and everyone worked hard," said LTU's head women's basketball coach Mary Pinkowski. "This was a good confidence builder. A game like this can make or break a season. Players see that if they work hard they can win. If they lose, they might think we worked hard and we still loss. This win gives them confidence to go back to conference play."
The Lady Blue Devils' next game will be at Madonna University, Jan. 3. The next home game will be Jan. 5, against the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Tipoff will be at 1 p.m. The men's team will play following the women's game with tipoff scheduled for 3 p.m.
