GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today the Calvin women's basketball team fell to Asbury 62-44 in its first game of the Trine Invite.

After today's game Calvin moved to 5-5 overall with a 2-2 MIAA record while Asbury improved to 7-5. 

Right from start it was a tight matchup as both teams scored on offense early and often. Freshman Hannah Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and sophomore RyAnn Rohrer (Ludington, Mich./Ludington) quickly made their presence in the paint known and scored multiple buckets apiece in the first quarter.

As the second quarter got underway the Knights held a slight advantage with a 15-14 lead. However, Asbury seemed to have made adjustments during the break and overtook Calvin shortly after. Asbury outscored the Knights 22-7 in the second quarter to give them the 37-21 lead at halftime.

Despite trailing, the Knights were shooting 47.4 percent from the field while holding the Eagles to 41.9 percent. Calvin struggled with ball control in the first half as they had 18 turnovers which had resulted in 16 of Asbury's points.

In the third quarter the Eagles continued to build on their momentum and led by as much as 23 points five minutes in. However, thanks to back-to-back three pointers from sophomore Sami DeKuiper (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) and junior Allie Mayes (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) the Knights seemed to find their footing and began to dig their way out of the hole. By the end of the quarter Calvin had cut the lead down to 13.

In the fourth quarter Asbury came alive to fend off the Knights who fell 62-44.

Katelyn LaRue (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) led the way for Calvin on offense with 8 points while Emma Witte (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Sall both finished with 7 points. Sophie Sensenig (Grayslake, Ill./Westlake Christian), Rohrer, and Mayes all finished with 5 points with Valerie Dirkse (Vienna, Va./Marshall) contributing 4 points. DeKuiper finished up with 3 points.

COACHES COMMENT: "All credit to Asbury," said head coach Mark Christner. "Their defense made us uncomfortable all game, We have to figure out our team ethos and learn how to play together through the hard. Good news is that we have another opportunity tomorrow."

UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow when they take on Geneva (Pa.) at 1PM on the second day of the Trine Invite.