Box Score By Gina de Haan
On Wednesday evening the Calvin women's basketball team hosted conference opponent Alma College. This was the second meeting between the two MIAA teams this season. In the first matchup of the year, the Knights defeated the Scots 76-53.
The undefeated Calvin women's basketball team, ranked sixth in the nation by D3hoops.com, defeated the Scots 76-38. The Knights have now won 22 consecutive games, matching the longest win streak in school history originally established by its 1995-96 team.
In Wednesday's victory over Alma, senior Hannah Acre scored the first points of the contest, sinking a three to give the Knights an early lead that they would maintain for the remainder of the game. Kayla Engelhard followed with a three-pointer of her own. A jumper by Acre, a pair of free throws by Kally Verkaik, and a field goal by Anna Timmer gave Calvin a ten-point lead (12-2) just under six minutes into the game.
At halftime the Knights held a 35-17 lead. In the first half, Anna Timmer shot an impressive 6-6 from the floor and 3-3 from the free throw line, leading the Knights with fifteen points.
Calvin scored eighteen of its first half points in the paint.
In the second half the Knights used defensive pressure to frustrate the Scots. Calvin's defensive energy sparked their offensive play.
With 13:30 left to play, Tiffany Karger sunk a three-point bucket that kicked off a twelve-point run for her team. Engelhard and Kally Verkaik contributed a jumper and a free throw plus a pair of threes, respectively. The scoring streak gave the Knights a thirty-three-point lead (59-26) over the Scots with just over ten minutes remaining in the game.
Anna Timmer was the high scorer of the game, finishing with seventeen points while also grabbing five rebounds. Kayla Engelhard and Kally Verkaik followed with twelve points apiece. Engelhard led the Knights with seven boards. Hannah Acre chipped in nine points. Breanna Verkaik also added four points, dished out eight assists, and grabbed five rebounds. Calvin's bench contributed thirty-seven points.
"I'm really happy to get a win against Alma," said Calvin women's basketball coach John Ross. "Alma has players that love the game of basketball and they're always going to give you a battle. I was happy to pull out the win."
The Knights are proud of their record-tying accomplishment, but are staying focused on playing well as a team every game. "We're just worried about one game at a time and we have to get ready for Saint Mary's now," says Ross. "It's great that we've accomplished this goal, but we also have a lot more goals that we want to accomplish and don't want to just focus on just this success."
On Saturday the Knights will travel to Notre, Dame Indiana to take on the Belles of Saint Mary's (3-19 overall, 1-12 MIAA) in another MIAA matchup. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.
