ALMA, Mich. - Today the Calvin women's basketball team continued its MIAA schedule when it traveled to take on the Scots of Alma. 
 
The Knights came out hot straight out of the gate as Anna Fernandez (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) recorded the first points of the game. A minute later sophomore Chloe Wiegers (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) notched some points of her own before Katelyn LaRue (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) added two three-pointers to give Calvin the 11-2 lead. Senior duo Allie Mayes (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) and Sophie Sensenig (Grayslake, Ill./Westlake Christian) each converted on jumpers from behind the arc as Calvin ended the quarter with a 21-12 lead.
 
In the second quarter, the Knights kept things rolling as they continued to score relentlessly on the Scots. Freshman pair Jamie Custer (Galena, Ohio/Worthington Christian) and Gabby Halliwill (Charlotte, Mich./Lansing Catholic) both got in on the three-point action to extend the Calvin lead. 
 
On the defensive side of the floor, the Knights continued to assert their dominance as they held Alma to just a 29.0 percent shooting percentage while also recording five blocks. At the end of the first half, Calvin led the Scots 39-26.
 
As the second half got underway, Alma looked to dig itself out of the hole. The Scot locked in on defense as they held the Knights to just a 12.5 shooting percentage, their lowest of the game. By the end of the third quarter Alma had cut the Calvin lead down to just seven points.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Scots continued to push towards a comeback. However, despite closing the gap to as little as three points, the Knights managed to fend them off and walk away with the 54-50 win. 
 
After today Calvin improves to 5-5 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play while Alma fell to 3-5 and 1-1 in conference play.
 
LaRue led the way for the Knights as she finished with eleven points. Fernandez finished the game with eight points while Sensenig chipped in seven. Calvin finished the night with eight team blocks with senior Valerie Dirkse (Vienna, Va./Marshall) recording three and sophomore Hannah Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) recording a season high five blocks.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Growth for this group tonight," said head coach Mark Christner. "Our first half was as well as we have played this year. Give Alma credit, they tightened some things up and we did just enough. Winning on the road is hard. We've had similar games on the road this year; but I thought our fortitude defensively got us a big result."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Thursday, December 19th when they return home to take on Lakeland University. Tip-off is set for 7PM.