GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Tonight, the Calvin women's basketball team celebrated its 2025 senior class by welcoming the Brits of Albion to Van Noord Arena. After getting out to a hot start the Calvin never looked back as it went on to pick up the victory and improve to 13-10 overall and 9-5 in the MIAA.
 
In the first quarter the Knights showed off their defensive skills as they held Albion to just six points and seven turnovers. On the other end of the floor, the Knights were powered by sophomore Katelyn LaRue (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) who went 3-3 from behind the three-point line. Senior Valerie Dirkse (Vienna, Va./Marshall) chipped in one bucket down low as Calvin ended the quarter with an 11-6 lead.
 
Calvin continued to put defensive pressure on the Brits in the second quarter as the Knights held them to just an 8.3 shooting percentage and only giving up five points. Junior Anna Fernandez (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) and freshman Gabby Halliwill (Charlotte, Mich./Lansing Catholic) each made baskets from behind the three-point line while senior Sally Merrill (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) recorded her first points of the evening down low. Just before halftime LaRue nailed another shot from beyond the arc to extend Calvin's lead to 32-11.
 
The Knights put up their best shooting performance of the game in the third quarter where they posted an impressive 50.0 shooting percentage. In the fourth quarter, the Knights continued their dominance as every player on the Calvin roster recorded minutes in the 62-37 victory.
 
Calvin finished the game with a 36.9 shooting percentage and 21 points off second chance efforts. The Knights also set a season high as a team in three pointers as they knocked down 11 from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Knights recorded 10 blocks with Hannah Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) recording four. Dirkse contributed three blocks and 14 rebounds while Senior Sophie Sensenig (Grayslake, Ill./Westlake Christian) recorded two blocks.
 
LaRue finished as the Knights leading scorer as she posted a career high of 24 points and went 6-8 from behind the three-point line. Fernandez recorded 16 points.
 
After the game the Knights honored their five seniors in the 2025 class: Dirkse, Sensenig, Merrill, Allie Mayes (East Lansing, Mich./Covenant Christian) and Grace Rosser (Allendale, Mich./Allendale).
 
COACHES COMMENT: "Really nice response from our team," said head coach Mark Christner. "I think we were all a little disappointed by our effort on Saturday, so it was good to see us bounce back. I thought we did a really good job defensively, managed the game well, just did a lot of good things. 
 
This senior group has been great, and they have really been through a lot together. From Allie, who gave us great minutes throughout her career, to Sally and Grace who kind of joined us midway through their careers and have added a great bit of depth to our lineup. Sophie is one of the most pleasant people you could probably be around and will be an amazing teacher. Valerie has been fun to coach; she is a great competitor and a great teammate. I'm grateful for all five of them and to the contributions they have made to our program." 
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Kalamazoo on Saturday, February 15th. Tip-off is set for 1PM.