ADRIAN, Mich. - Today the Calvin women's basketball team went on the road where it fell to the Bulldogs of Adrian 60-57. After today's game the Knights moved to 12-10 overall and 8-5 in MIAA play.
 
After a slow first quarter where the Knights were outscored 15-1 Calvin looked to bounce back. Senior Valerie Dirkse (Vienna, Va./Marshall) scored the first points of the second quarter before freshman Gabby Halliwill (Charlotte, Mich./Lansing Catholic) knocked down a three-pointer.
 
Sophomore Katelyn LaRue (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and freshman Jamie Custer (Galena, Ohio/Worthington Christian) gave the Knights a huge boost when they both knocked down two shots from behind the arc while Sophie Sensenig (Grayslake, Ill./Westlake Christian) also contributed some points. On defense, the Knights slowed down the rolling Bulldogs offense and by the end of the half Calvin had cut the 14-point deficit to just one point.
 
In the third quarter, both sides traded the momentum and the lead as they matched each other basket for basket. Dirkse continued to cause problems for the Adrian defense down low while Custer hit her third three-pointer of the game.
 
Entering the fourth quarter still trailing by one Calvin surged ahead 45-40, using an 8-3 run capped off by a 3-pointer by Halliwill with eight minutes left. Adrian responded with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 47. Calvin later led 55-53 on a pair of free throws by sophomore Chloe Wiegers (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) but the Bulldogs countered with a pair of free throws of their own and then a go-ahead basket with a minute left to take a 57-55 lead. Adrian converted three free throws inside the final 19 seconds with a potential game-tying three-point shot by Calvin in the final seconds off the mark. 

Calvin shot just 33.3 percent from the floor while Adrian connected on 47.4 percent of its field goal attempts. 

Calvin out rebounded Adrian 32-29 with 19 of those rebounds coming on the offensive end of the floor.
 
Dirkse, LaRue, and Halliwill all finished the game with 10 points while junior Anna Fernandez (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) recorded three steals.
 
COACHES COMMENT: "Congrats to Adrian," said head coach Mark Christner, "They played harder from the jump. Disappointing results for sure for us. Not a lot of time beforee we get back to work on Monday."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Wednesday, February 12th when they welcome Albion to Van Noord Arena for their final home game of the regular season. Tip-off is set for 7:30PM.