NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Kalamazoo College women's basketball team lost its season opener 58-52 in overtime at Manchester University on Friday.
Kalamazoo trailed by as many as nine points (21-12) with 8:20 remaining in the first half. The Hornets used a 7-0 run over the next three minutes to cut the deficit to two (21-19) before entering halftime down five (31-26).
Kalamazoo took its first lead since the opening minutes of the game with 12:49 left in the second half (37-36). The host Spartans regained the lead with 6:36 to play, but the Hornets were able to even the score at 47-47 with 2:24 on the clock. Neither team was able to score down the stretch sending the game to overtime.
Kalamazoo scored the first bucket in overtime before Manchester scored seven straight points to take a 54-49 lead with 40 seconds remaining. Kalamazoo cut the deficit to two (54-52) with 31 seconds left, but the Hornets missed shots on their final two possessions to end the comeback effort.
Neither team shot well in the contest as Manchester (29.1) held a slight edge over Kalamazoo (28.4) in shooting percentage. Manchester made 1-of-8 three-pointers while Kalamazoo sank 4-of-19. The host Spartans were 25-of-37 at the free throw line while Kalamazoo made 10-of-14. Manchester held a 49-45 advantage in rebounds.
India Hoskins led Kalamazoo with a career-high 20 points with three assists and three rebounds before fouling out in overtime. Emily Lindsay scored 13 points with five rebounds.
Claire Slaughter led the Hornets with eight rebounds. Grace Smith grabbed six rebounds while scoring five points with two assists. Morgan Overstreet also had six rebounds while Perri (Weiderman) Nicholson had five rebounds.
The Hornets return to action at Manchester on Saturday with a 5 p.m. game against No. 12 Carthage College. The Lady Reds lost 64-56 to No. 16 Ohio Northern earlier on Friday.