Owls grind out road win at Olivet

OLIVET, Mich. — The Kenyon College women’s basketball team earned a gritty road victory on Friday night, defeating the University of Olivet 62–59 inside the Cutler Event Center. The win moves the Owls to 3-1 on the season, while the Comets drop to 1-2.

Senior Anissa Hardy and sophomore Alyssa Horsley powered Kenyon’s offense, each finishing with 14 points. Hardy was highly efficient, shooting 5-for-8 from the floor and 4-for-5 at the line while adding eight rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Horsley matched her scoring output with a balanced line of seven rebounds, two assists, and a block. Sophomore Kiana Mollabashy added nine points, knocking down 2-of-4 from deep and going 3-of-4 at the stripe, while also contributing three rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal.

Both teams matched each other shot for shot early, entering the first break tied 12–12. Kenyon’s offense found more rhythm in the second frame, highlighted by a pair of threes from Horsley and strong paint presence by Hardy, who got a pair of layups and rebounds. Kenyon carried a 30-26 lead into halftime before extending the advantage to 46-36 by the end of the third quarter.

Olivet opened the fourth quarter with urgency although Kenyon held its largest lead of the game with 13. Olivet began chipping away at the Owls’ lead behind back-to-back jumpers by Madelyn Burdis and multiple free-throws from Kaylee Bush. Olivet continued with a 10–2 run, narrowing the deficit to 54-46 with under four minutes remaining.

From there, Kenyon leaned on its composure. Mollabashy buried a key three from the left wing with 2:17 remaining, pushing the Owls ahead 54-46. Olivet refused to fade, trimming the margin to 58-53 inside the final minute after Kinsley Hatfield drilled a deep three and Bush followed with a pair of baskets. Bush then added another layup to bring the Comets within three. With no other choice, Olivet sent Kenyon to the line. Horsley split a pair, but Hatfield answered with a quick layup to make it 59–57. The Owls continued their trips to the stripe, where Senior Grace Murphy knocked down one of two and Hardy sealed the win with two clutch free throws in the closing seconds. A final Olivet three-point attempt missed at the horn, securing Kenyon’s third win of the season.

Both teams posted identical shooting lines, each going 22-of-63 (35%) from the field. The Owls earned the edge from beyond the arc, shooting 5-of-16 (31%) compared to Olivet’s 2-of-15 (13%), a difference that ultimately proved decisive

Kenyon won’t have much time to rest, returning to action less than 24 hours later. The Owls travel to Kalamazoo College for a 2 p.m. matchup on Saturday to close out their weekend road swing.

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