The Kalamazoo College women's basketball team defeated Alma 52-40 on Saturday afternoon. The Hornets extended their winning streak to four games and have won six of their last seven. Kalamazoo is now 8-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Both offenses were stale to start; Kalamazoo held just a 3-0 lead about seven minutes into the game. The Hornets then jumped out to a 11-2 lead and after that they'd found their offense. They outplayed the Scots in the last 10 minutes of the first half 18-10, and went to the locker room with a commanding 29-12 lead.
Kalamazoo's dangerous duo of Emily Lindsay and Perri Nicholson were both feeling it in the first half and combined for 17 points on 7/11 shooting. Kelsey Adamski also had a solid first half including some very pretty finishes around the rim and put up six points and two rebounds.
The Hornets played some stifling defense in the first half. They forced Alma to shoot 18.8 percent and didn't allow them a single three ball as the Scots were 0/9 from downtown. Kalamazoo also racked up six first half steals and forced Alma into 16 first half turnovers.
Adamski hit a pair of back to back threes five minutes into the second half to put the Hornets up 41-19. After that the Hornets slowed down some on offense, but the defensive clinic never stopped. Alma's star player Reanna Zink, who is currently the fifth leading scorer in the MIAA at just below 14 points a game was held to a season-low six points on 3/12 shooting. This was largely due to a very impressive defensive performance by Perri Nicholson, who fronted Zink in the post and gave her fits all day. Nicholson wound up with five blocks and two steals. The Scots' 40 points was a season-low and seven less than their previous season-low which they recorded back on Nov.21 against Ohio Wesleyan.
Adamski wound up leading the team offensively with 16 points. She was attacking the rim and finishing all day. Lindsay and Nicholson both added nine points apiece. Nicholson also led the team with 14 rebounds. Suzanne Miller was a spark plug off the bench and recorded three points and three rebounds but more importantly was attacking the boards and the ball on both sides of the court. Claire Slaughter also had a nice game off the bench grabbing five rebounds.
The women's next game is Wednesday, Jan. 7 at home against conference opponent Saint Mary's (Ind.).