GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today the Calvin women's basketball team played their first game of the Calvin/Hope Classic as they welcomed Illinois Wesleyan to Van Noord Arena.
 
It was a fast paced game right from the jump as both teams looked to run an uptempo offense. Anna Fernandez (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) and Katelyn LaRue (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) each had quick starts as they drove through the Titan defense and got to the basketball. Senior guard Allie Mayes (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) also had a nice start as she chipped in five points while freshman Gabby Halliwill (Charlotte, Mich./Lansing Catholic) converted her first three-pointer of the game.
 
Entering the second quarter, Calvin trailed by one but it seemed as though the pace of play started to affect them. Illinois Wesleyan kicked things up a notch when they put on the press and forced the Knight to make costly turnovers. The Titans took full advantage of the situation as they went on a seventeen point run and finished the half leading Calvin 48-33.
 
In the second half the Knight attempted to dig themselves out of the hole as Hannah Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Sophie Sensenig (Grayslake, Ill./Westlake Christian) both came alive and chipped in several baskets a piece. Defensively, Valerie Dirkse (Vienna, Va./Marshall) and Hannah Sall each had two blocks while Halliwill and Jamie Custer () each had one. Unfortunately for Calvin, that did little to slow down the Illinois Wesleyan offense as the Titans went on the win 79-60.
 
Fernandez and Halliwill each finished the night with ten points while Dirkse finished with nine points. LaRue and Grace Rosser (Allendale, Mich./Allendale) each had six point while Lydia Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Sensenig each had five points.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Credit to Illinois Wesleyan," said head coach Mark Christner. "They know who they are as a team and they have a nice, athletic group. I thought we grew a fair amount as a team in one week. Important to be ready to go tomorrow."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow for day two of the Calvin/Hope Classic where they will take on Loras at 2PM.