Junior Jalisa Olive provides spark off bench, embraces role

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When the Central Michigan women’s basketball team opened up its 2011-12 season on Nov 11., junior guard Jalisa Olive made her first start since freshman year.

She played 24 minutes and had two assists against Northwestern in this season’s opener, but in her next game at Robert Morris she found herself coming off of the bench, something she has been doing since.

That’s because of the emergence of freshman guards, Jessica Green and Crystal Bradford.

“That is what we need right now,” said head coach Sue Guevara. “She’s a junior coming off the bench and she has really provided a lift.”

For some upperclassmen, being taken out of the starting lineup in favor of freshmen would be tough, but according to Guevara, it’s something Olive has learned to embrace.

“I think that when we were in Alaska, Jalisa had an epiphany,” Guevara said. “She really began to understand what her role was. She has accepted that role and now she comes in and makes a major difference.”

Olive scored seven points in Central’s first win of the season against Alaska-Anchorage on Nov. 24.

In the Chippewas 58-49 win over Wichita State Wednesday night, the 5-foot-4 guard entered the game with eight minutes to go in the first half and her team trailing 26-16.

That would change a few minutes later when her back-to-back threes cut the Shocker lead to just two. From there, the Chippewas continued their 16-0 run, leading 32-26 at halftime.

“The bench was huge for us tonight,” Guevara said after the game. “Jalisa and Skylor (Miller) came in and really gave us a spark on offense and defense. Jalisa’s back-to-back threes made a big difference.”

She finished with a season-high nine points.

As the calendar turns to December it appears that Olive will continue to come off the bench and the Chippewas hope she can continue to contribute the way she has in the last two games. So far, the signs are good.

“She has a great attitude about it,” Guevara said. “She’s playing with a ton of confidence right now and I think that’s great.”