KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College women's basketball team won its season opener 58-53 over Dominican University (Ill.) on Friday.
Dominican led by as many as seven points early on and ended the first period up 15-9.
Kalamazoo recovered and scored the first 17 points of the second period to gain a 26-15 lead before taking a 28-23 lead into halftime.
The Hornets led by as many as 10 points early in the third period before Dominican cut the lead to three (39-36) with 3:30 left. Kalamazoo ended the period up five (43-38) and built the lead back up to 10 (52-42) with 5:43 left in the game.
Dominican chipped away again and made it a three point game (56-53) with 24 seconds, but Kalamazoo sealed the win in the closing seconds.
Kalamazoo shot 40 percent from the field while limiting Dominican to 34.4 percent. The Hornets held a 44-38 edge in rebounds, including 17-13 on the offensive end.
Grace Smith led Kalamazoo with a career-high 20 points and seven rebounds.
Emily Kozal posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Kelsey Adamski finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Danielle Simon finished with a game-high six assists and four rebounds.
Kalamazoo returns to action Sunday at home against Mount Union University at 2 p.m.