GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today the Calvin women's basketball team welcomed the Bulldogs of Adrian for another MIAA matchup. The Knights put on one of their best shooting performances of the year which propelled them to the 73-60 victory.
After today's game the Knights moved to 15-6 overall with a 9-3 MIAA record while Adrian fell to 8-11 overall and 3-8 in MIAA.
The Knights came out hot in the first quarter as they jumped out to a quick lead. In a game where it became apparent free throws would play a big role, Calvin went 5-6 from the line while also shooting 50 percent from the field. Some big moments from the Knights, including a defensive rebound and putback from Katelyn LaRue (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and a baseline three-pointer from freshman Lauren Vanderstelt (Plainwell, Mich./Plainwell) allowed them to finish the quarter with a 16-9 lead.
Calvin kept things rolling in the second as Valerie Dirkse (Vienna, Va./Marshall) fought through contact to convert a layup before sinking the free throw to complete the three-point play. Five minutes into the quarter LaRue knocked down a three-pointer and two minutes later Anna Fernandez (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) hit a three of her own to extend the Calvin lead. With RyAnn Rohrer (Ludington, Mich./Ludington), Hannah Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Sally Merrill (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) also getting in on first half scoring the Knights headed into halftime with a 33-19 lead.
On defense, Calvin held Adrian to just a 25.0 percent shooting percentage while forcing nine turnovers and recording seven blocks.
To open the second half Calvin kept its foot on the gas as Dirkse found a wide open Fernandez who knocked down a three-pointer from the right wing. Chloe Wiegers (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) got in on the scoring when she connected on a driving layup and on the next possession Fernandez hit her third three-pointer of the afternoon. LaRue and Merrill also got in on the three-point party as Calvin went 4-5 behind the arc in the third quarter to give them a 62-42 lead.
In the fourth quarter the Knights continued to keep the pressure on the Bulldogs as they scored at will. With a big lead late in the game Calvin was able to get every player on their roster into the game before walking away with the 73-60 win.
Calvin finished the game with a 45.9 shooting percentage while holding the Bulldogs to just a 39.6 shooting percentage. They also tied a season high in team three-pointers with eight. Defensively, the Knights forced 16 turnovers and finished with nine blocks and five steals.
Fernandez was the leading scorer among all players with 17 points and a career high of four three-pointers while LaRue was close behind with 16 points. Rohrer finished with 12 points with Wiegers and Sall both chipping in 6 points.
COACHES COMMENTS: "I thought we had great balance today," said head coach Mark Christner. "I think Anna [Fernandez] and Katelyn [LaRue] were really assertive on the wings and I thought we had really great looks from three which it felt good to make today. I thought we did enough good things, happy to walk away injury free, and looking forward to another week ahead."
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7th, when they head to Albion to take on the Brits in their final road game of the regular season.
