GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Tonight the Calvin women's basketball team welcomed the Quakers of Wilmington to Van Noord Arena for its first home game of the season. After taking an early lead, Calvin never looked back as it picked up its first win of the season.
 
In the first quarter, the Knights showed off a quick and efficient offense as they went on a 21-0 run. Freshman Gabby Halliwill (Charlotte, Mich./Lansing Catholic) provided a boost when she hit a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions before adding a floating jumper just before the quarter ended.
 
Senior Allie Mayes (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) kept the momentum with Calvin as she hit a three-pointer to start the second quarter. The Quakers scored their first points of the game on their next possession but that didn't slow down the Knights as Grace Rosser (Allendale, Mich./Allendale) got in on the scoring action with a three-pointer of her own. Down the stretch, Hannah Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Katelyn LaRue (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) got to work and added some buckets inside the paint to extend the Calvin lead to 37-14 at the half.
 
As the second half got underway, the Knights kept their foot on the gas as senior duo Valerie Dirkse (Vienna, Va./Marshall) and Sophie Sensenig (Grayslake, Ill./Westlake Christian) both fought through contact to convert down low. Junior guard Anna Fernandez (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) scored with just under two minutes left in the quarter to bring her point total to six before junior Emma Minderhoud (Grand Rapids, Mich./Covenant Christian) came in off the bench to make a layup and a free throw.
 
In the fourth quarter, Calvin continued to share the wealth as sophomore Ashley Raredon (Caledonia, Mich./South Christian) got her first points of the game off an assist from Dirkse. Freshman Lauren VanSumeren (Midland, Mich./Midland Dow) also had a breakout quarter as she converted on a three-pointer before adding five free throws down the stretch to give her a career high eight points. 
 
When the final buzzer sounded the Knights walked away with the 71-25 victory. Calvin outrebounded the Quakers 59-32 with 22 of those rebounds coming on the offensive side of the floor. The Knights got a big boost from their bench as they were responsible for 39 points in the victory.
 
Halliwill led the way for the Knights as she finished with twelve points while Rosser had a team high six assists. Defensively, Calvin used its height to its advantage as Lydia Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) recorded one block and Hannah Sall recorded one.

COACHES COMMENTS: "It is hard to win and it's always good to win," said head coach Mark Christner. "Last weekend we did not defend to our capability so today we wanted to get back to basics and established that end of the floor quickly. I still don't think that we have shot it to the best of our ability but we have some experienced post players who are making plays for us down low and on the glass. We have been put in a tough position due to some injury but it was nice to see some people really step up tonight when we needed them."
 
UP NEXT: Calvin will be back in action this weekend when it hosts the Calvin/Hope Classic at Van Noord Arena. The Knights first game of the tournament will be on Friday, November 15th against Illinois Wesleyan at 5 PM.