GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today the Calvin women's basketball team took on the Bulldogs of Adrian at Van Noord Arena in an MIAA matchup. The Knights came out hot right from the start and never looked back as they picked up the win and moved to 7-7 overall and 3-2 in MIAA play.
 
Sophomore Katelyn LaRue (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) got things rolling for Calvin as she knocked down a shot from behind the arc for the first points of the game. Senior Valerie Dirkse (Vienna, Va./Marshall) and sophomore Lydia Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) used their height to their advantage as they both picked up points down low. With twenty seconds left in the quarter Dirkse slipped a pass through multiple Bulldogs defenders to Anna Fernandez (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) who finished the layup to make the score 13-5.
 
Calvin continued to produce on the offensive end as sophomore Hannah Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) got in on the scoring action and LaRue continued to add to her total. On defense, the Knights contained the Bulldogs attacks as they outscored them 14-11 in the second quarter while recording three blocks.
 
The Knights started the second half right where they left off as Fernandez got a steal and converted the fast break layup to set the tone. Not long after. Chloe Wiegers (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) knocked down a pair of free throws while Gabby Halliwill (Charlotte, Mich./Lansing Catholic), Allie Mayes (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing), and Sophie Sensenig (Grayslake, Ill./Westlake Christian) picked up their first baskets of the evening. 
 
Now, with a fifteen-point lead, Calvin headed into the fourth quarter where they put an exclamation point on the evening. Fernandez hit two more three's before Hallwill also got in on the three-point action as she converted from downtown. The Knights continued to hold strong on defense as when the final buzzer sound Calvin walked away with an impressive 68-45 win.
 
Calvin dominated on the defensive side of the ball as it forced Adrian into 27 turnovers while recording 14 steals. The Knights recorded 32 points off turnovers and held the Bulldogs to just a 34.8 shooting percentage.
 
Every player on the Knights roster saw playing time tonight as LaRue led the way with 15 points. Fernandez finished close behind with 14 points while Dirkse recorded 8 points. Calvin finished the game with seven blocks with Hannah Sall and Lydia Sall each recording three.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "One thing that has not abated us all season is our defense," said head coach Mark Christner. "While I think offensively in the first half, we had a bit of a struggle because their defense was playing really good. Our defensive performance helped us stabilize and stay in control. I thought we were able to play a nice second half to be able to put this one away."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action this weekend when they welcome Kalamazoo to Van Noord Arena on January 11th. Tipoff is set for 3PM.