SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The Kalamazoo College women's basketball team started its week-long holiday break on a high note Friday evening when the Hornets defeated Marygrove College on the campus of Lawrence Tech, 66-53.
Aside from a 3-2 lead by Marygrove early in the game, Kalamazoo led throughout the game in its entirely and much of that was due to the play of Grace Smith.
Smith recorded a double-double in the first half alone, and ended the game with 18 points and 21 rebounds, both game highs. It was Smith's third double-double of the season.
After regaining the lead for good at the 9:10 mark of the first quarter, the Hornets never looked back. Leading 22-13 heading into the second quarter, Kalamazoo saw its lead grow as large as 13 in the first half before heading to halftime with a 39-31 lead.
Marygrove made a push in the third quarter as it cut the lead to six with 6:30 remaining in the period, but a 9-0 run over the next three minutes gave the Hornets breathing room as they prepared for the final quarter of play.
Kalamazoo continued to push in the fourth quarter as its lead grew as large as 22 on the way to the win.
Also scoring in double figures for the Hornets were Claire Slaughter (10), Emily Kozal (13) and Kelsey Adamski (13). Slaughter ended the game with seven rebounds.
The Kalamazoo defense managed to hold Marygrove to just 26 percent shooting in the game, while the Hornets shot 39 percent from the floor.
Kalamazoo will take a week off for the holidays before resuming the 2015-16 on the road at Earlham on Dec. 29.