Lourdes jumped out to a double digit lead, saw Olivet battle back to take its only lead of the game in the fourth quarter, then rebounded with a 12-2 run to defeat the Comets 76-69 on Saturday afternoon at the Cutler Event Center in Olivet, Mich.
 
"With the scored tied at 62, our players did a great job of coming together defensively and building our energy off of key defensive stops that propelled our offense," head coach Summer Quesenberry said after the game.
 
The Gray Wolves started quickly, shooting better than 50% from the floor in the opening period while holding Olivet to just 3-of-16 shooting during the time frame.  Lourdes scored 15 of the game's first 18 points in a seven-minute span, and maintained the 12-point advantage, 21-9, after 10 minutes.
 
The lead grew to 16, 27-11, less than two minutes into the second quarter and remained in double figures most of the remainder of the half until Olivet went on an 8-1 run, and pulled to within nine, 38-29, at the break.
 
The Comets continued to battle back throughout the third quarter, pulling to within two, 47-45, with approximately three minutes remaining in the stanza, but Lourdes fought off the rally and pushed the lead back to six, and eventually led 52-47 heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
After Lourdes scored the first four points of the fourth to extend the lead back to nine, Olivet ran off nine straight points to tie the game at 56 with eight minutes to play.  Again the Gray Wolves responded, pushing the lead back to six.
 
Seven unanswered points by the hosts gave the Comets their only lead of the game, 63-62, with just under five minutes to play, but the advantage lasted just 16 seconds as Jesse Fidler (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold H.S.) answered at the other end.  This time Lourdes would not relinquish its lead the rest of the way.  The lay-in sparked a 14-3 run that allowed the Gray Wolves to pull away down the stretch. 
 
Kalena Harris (Toledo, Ohio/Maumee H.S.) led Lourdes with 20 points while Daja Whiteside (Auburn Hills, Mich./Avondale H.S.) and Fidler each added double-doubles.  Whiteside had 13 points and 12 boards while Fidler tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds. 
 
Taylor Geib (Ravenna, Ohio/Ravenna H.S.) also pulled down 10 rebounds for the Gray Wolves as Lourdes outrebounded Olivet 57-31, including 23-14 on the offensive end.  Lourdes capitalized on the offensive glass, turning the rebounds into 20 second chance points, which helped overcome 33 turnovers. 
 
"We did a great job pulling down 23 offensive boards," Quesenberry added.
 
Katie McKinnon led Olivet (0-3) with 26 points, while Stephanie Cochran added 15 more.  The Comets shot just 28.8% from the field for the game.
 
"The opportunity for our team to play in a tight game with five minute to go in the fourth quarter and win the ball game provides yet another important step in our continued growth as a team and further development of our culture," Quesenberry concluded.
 
Lourdes (2-7) will come home on Wednesday evening to return to Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play, hosting Madonna.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. with the game carried live on BCSN.