CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2003
MEN'S BASKETBALL
There was only one way that the Calvin men's basketball team wanted to start its 2003-04 campaign*and that was with a win. The Knights achieved their goal, scoring a 109-71 win over Grace Bible College in the opening round of the Calvin Tip-Off Tournament.
Calvin will face Ohio Northern University in the championship game, as the Polar Bears knocked off Ohio Wesleyan University 62-48 in the first game from the Calvin Fieldhouse.
The Calvin lead swelled to 13 points with 8:21 left in the first half as sophomore point guard Jeremy Burgin (Lindstrom, MN/Chisago Lakes) converted a lay-up. The Knights did not let up, outscoring the Tigers 19-3 over the last 6:21 of the half, en route to a 48-23 halftime lead.
The second half featured many of the reserves for the Knights, as Calvin was able to extend its lead as big as 42 points. Junior Dan Aultman (Ludington/Mason County Central) led the way for the Knights, scoring 18 points, grabbing five rebounds, and blocking four shots. Senior Kevin Broene (Grand Rapids Christian) added 15 points while sophomore Brian Rooney (Centennial, CO/Denver Christian) chipped in 11 points and four rebounds. Senior Ryan Smalligan (East Grand Rapids) and junior Josh Vriesman (Denver, CO/Denver Christian) each grabbed a game-high nine rebounds with Smalligan adding nine points.
The Knights out-rebounded the Tiger 59-37 and forced Grace into 19 turnovers. Calvin was also efficient at the free-throw stripe converting 24-29 opportunities for an 82.8 percent clip.
Calvin will face Ohio Northern at 3:00 p.m., following the conclusion of the consolation game between Grace Bible College and Ohio Wesleyan University, scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
NAPERVILLE, IL - The collegiate coaching debut of Calvin women's basketball coach John Ross proved to be a winning success as the Knights toppled host North Central 62-48 Friday evening in a first round game of the Holiday Inn North Central Tip-Off Tournament.
Junior guard Kristen McDonald of Grand Rapids West Catholic High School played a key role in the Calvin victory as she pumped in a career-high 23 points and dished out six assists. McDonald scored 14 of her points in the second half and connected on 10-of-12 attempts at the free throw line overall. Freshman forward Lisa Winkle (South Christian HS) also had a successful collegiate debut as she scored 12 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds for the Knights.
"It was a great way to open the season," said Ross who previously served as an assistant men's basketball and as men's and women's tennis coach at Earlham College the last four years. "We struggled in the opening minutes of both halves but we came through when we needed to. Kristen McDonald shot the ball real well and I though (junior) Lisa Nanninga (Grand Rapids Christian HS) did a great job off the bench defensively on their post player Britt Jensen."
A pre-season All-American candidate, Jensen finished the game with 10 points but had just eight field goal attempts while Nanninga contributed six points and three rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.
Calvin led 31-20 at halftime on the strength of 45.8 percent field goal shooting in the first half. The Knights trailed 16-12 with 10:11 remaining in the opening half but then responded with a 10-0 scoring run to take a lead it would never relinquish.
North Central closed to within three at 37-34 with just over 13 minutes remaining and then crept to within three again at 43-40 with just 8:53 to go. Calvin then rattled off eight unanswered points with McDonald scoring four in the spurt to allow the Knights to regain control.
Calvin finished the game with a 31-30 rebounding edge and connected on 18-of-26 attempts at the charity stripe while holding the Cardinals to 37.0 percent field goal shooting overall.
Calvin returns to action tomorrow when it faces Coe College of Iowa in a second round tournament game scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Fri Nov 21 22:36:27 2003
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Fri Nov 21 2003 - 22:36:28 EST