GRAND RAPIDS - The Calvin University women's basketball team used a dominant fourth quarter to defeat Albion 69-57 in the return to MIAA action on Wednesday at Van Noord Arena.

The first half was a defensive battle with the two teams tied 12-12 after the first quarter before Calvin (10-3, 3-2 MIAA) pulled ahead 27-22 at the half.

The Knights shot 27.8 percent from the field in the first two quarters, but Gabby Timmer (Caledonia, Mich./South Christian) and Sydney Cleary (Middleville, Mich./South Christian) each scored nine points in the half to push them into the lead. The Calvin defense also forced Albion (9-3, 4-1 MIAA) to shoot 28.1 percent overall with 10 turnovers.

The Britons came alive in the third quarter, outscoring their first-half total with 23 points to tie the game 45-45 heading into the final quarter. 

The Knights would wrestle control of the game back in the fourth quarter as they outscored the Britons 24-12. The offense shot 60.0 percent led by 17 combined points from seniors Leah Harris (Frisco, Texas/Lone Star) and Timmer. Defensively, Calvin held Albion to 4-23 shooting and forcing five turnovers to secure the win.

After being out-scored 14-8 in the paint in the first half, the Knights won that battle 26-18 in the second half as they shot 57.1 percent in the final two quarters and 40.6 percent for the game.

Timmer led all players with 22 points and 13 rebounds to go with three blocks and two steals. After a slow start, Harris scored 12 of her 19 points in the second half and added three steals. Cleary finished with 15 points and made all four of her attempts from beyond the three-point arc, while Valerie Dirkse (Vienna, Va./Marshall) came up big in the paint with 11 rebounds, four blocks and four assists to go with her seven points.

COACH'S COMMENT: "A great win for our team today," Calvin head women's basketball coach Mark Christner said. "We feel the top of the MIAA is pretty even, and Albion is a very good team. Our conversion in transition and playing through Valerie in the mid post in the fourth quarter created the separation we needed. And best news is we can play better. On to Alma!"

NEXT UP: Calvin women's basketball returns to action on Saturday, January 7, when it hosts Alma in a game scheduled to tip off at 1:00 PM.