Calvin University

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin women's basketball team continued to work through its early MIAA conference schedule as it defeated the Britons of Albion by a score of 66-50 at Van Noord Arena. After tonight the Knights improve to 2-0 in the conference and 5-4 overall while Albion records its first loss of the season to move to 7-1.
 
The first quarter was low scoring for both squads as they worked to find some flow on offense and battled for momentum. There were five early lead changes in the first seven minutes before buckets from senior Emma Witte (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Chloe Wiegers (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) gave Calvin a slight three-point advantage over Albion.
 
In the second quarter, the Knights found their offensive rhythm as they shot an impressive 52.9 percent from the field while simultaneously going 3-3 from beyond the arc. Calvin also increased their ball movement as they recorded seven assists and outscored Albion 21-10 in the quarter to head into halftime with a commanding 33-19. Senior Anna Fernandez (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) accounted for ten points in the first half with Hannah Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and RyAnn Rohrer (Ludington, Mich./Ludington) each chipping in six points.
 
Calvin continued to find good production on the offensive end in the third quarter. Junior Katelyn LaRue (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian), who hadn't scored up until this point, gave the Knights a big boost as she scored eight points in the third. Hannah Sall nailed a couple mid-range jumpers and finished a layup through contact down low to notch seven points and Calvin retained a 52-36 lead over Albion at the end of the quarter.
 
Looking to dig themselves out of the hole the Britons turned up the intensity on defense in the fourth quarter. Their full court press rattled the Knights and forced turnovers as Albion started the quarter by going on a 7-0 run. With three minutes left in the game, a three pointer from the Brits cut what once was a twenty-point Calvin lead down to just nine points. However, thanks to some free throws from Fernandez and junior Chloe Wiegers (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) down the stretch the Knights were able to remain in the driver's seat and eventually walked away with the 66-50 victory.
 
Calvin dominated down low as it outrebounded Albion 40-29 and scored 34 points in the paint compared to the Brits 26. The Knights recorded 18 assists as a team with Wiegers leading the way with four.
 
Fernandez finished as the leading scorer for Calvin with 16 points while Hannah Sall recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. LaRue finished the evening with 10 points while Rohrer notched eight points and 10 rebounds.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "I thought we did a really nice job defensively," said head coach Mark Christner. "When the game gets a little hairy like it did at the end tonight you've got to be able to have some poise but we'll learn and get better from it. I'm pleased with our group as we move to 2-0 in the league and we have to protect the home court which we did."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Monday, December 29th when they travel to Brunswick, Maine to compete in the Bowdoin Coastal Classic. Calvin will take on Tufts University at 4PM in its first matchup.