CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2003
MEN'S BASKETBALL
DEFIANCE, OH -- Calvin rode the hot shooting hands of Ricky Shilts and Andy
Draayer Tuesday night in recording an 89-75 victory over Defiance College. The
Calvin victory marked its first-back-to-back win of the season and allowed the
Knights (4-4) to reach the .500 mark for the first time since the opening
weekend of the season.
A junior point guard from Kalamazoo Central High School who transferred to
Calvin from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Shilts poured in a Calvin
career-high 23 points in the win including four three-point field goals. A
sophomore forward from Denver, Colorado, Draayer was also red-hot from beyond
the arc as he connected on all four of his three-point attempts and was 5-for-5
from the field overall to notch a career-high 14 points off the bench. Draayer
had missed Calvin's first six games of the season due to an illness but
returned to the rotation in a victory over Trinity Christian College last
Saturday afternoon.
Draayer and Shilts were part of five Calvin players to reach double-digits in
scoring as junior Dan Aultman (Mason Country Central HS) matched a Calvin
career scoring high with 18 points while extending his double-figure scoring
streak to eight games while seniors Chris Prins (Escondido, CA) and Kevin
Broene (Grand Rapids Christian HS) chipped in with 13 points apiece.
Senior Ryan Smalligan (East Grand Rapids HS) also provided 10 rebounds and two
blocked shots while sophomore Jeremy Burgin (Lindstrom, MN) had a team-high six
assists and freshman Josh Meckes (Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS) eight rebounds
off the bench.
Leading 22-20 in the first half, Calvin went on a 17-6 scoring run as Shilts
connected on a pair of trifectas while Draayer also had one. The Knights led
52-39 at halftime after connecting on 8 of 17 three-point attempts (.471) in
the first half.
Calvin was able to build its lead up to 17 points on two occasions in the
second half but the Yellow Jackets fought back, closing to within eight points
on two occasions including 78-70 with just 4:58 remaining. Shilts then stepped
up and drilled a clutch three-point shot from the top of the key to provide
some breathing room and the Knights proceeded to knock down eight free throw
attempts in the final 2:35 to clinch the win.
"This was a really fun win for our team," said Calvin men's basketball coach
Kevin Vande Streek. "We had a lot of players contribute tonight and we started
to show glimpses of the type of team we can be. Defiance has a very good team
but I thought our defense was the difference in the game."
According to Vande Streek, the performance by Shilts was his best in a Calvin
uniform. "I don't think there's any question that Ricky had his best game as a
Calvin Knight this evening," said Vande Streek. "He really stuck in some big
shots for us in key situations. Ricky is starting to really fit in with our
team and he's feeling comfortable with his role. I've been urging him to step
up and take charge more and tonight he did just that."
Defiance was led in scoring by sophomore point guard Curty Croy and junior
shooting guard Aaron Lammers as both players finished with 21 points apiece.
Junior forward Matt Voland added nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds for
the Yellow Jackets.
Defiance finished with a 38.2 percent field goal clip on the evening while
seeing its five-game win streak come to an end. Calvin shot 43.7 percent
overall and connected on 11 three-point field goals on the game. The Knights
also connected on 16 of 21 attempts (.762) at the free throw line while
Defiance shot just 52.2 percent (12 of 23) from the charity stripe.
Tuesday's meeting was the 13th between Calvin and Defiance with the Knights
holding an 11-2 series edge. Calvin has also now won its last seven meetings
against Defiance.
Calvin will now break for first semester exams and will not return to action
until December 27 when it journeys to Southern California to face NAIA Division
I institution Christian Heritage University in the San Diego area.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin picked up its first victory at Aquinas since 1999 as the Knights rolled
to a 69-51 triumph over the Saints Tuesday evening at the Aquinas College
Fieldhouse. The victory was Calvin's third in a row against Aquinas including
its 12th in the last 14 meetings.
Calvin broke open a tight game with a 21-11 run over the final 10 minutes of
the first half en route to taking a 34-20 halftime lead. Calvin (4-3) kept the
pressure on in the second half, stretching its lead to as many as 25 points
before settling on the final margin of victory.
The Knights featured a balanced scoring attack in the win over the Saints as 10
players broke into the scoring column. Junior Kristen McDonald (West Catholic
HS) led the Knights in scoring with 13 points while also handing out four
assists and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Freshman Lisa Winkle (South
Christian HS) was next with 10 points and six rebounds while also blocking two
shots and collecting a pair of steals and two assists.
Senior Kim Wolthuis (South Christian HS) also had a superb all-around evening
for Calvin. Slowed by injuries during the pre-season and early portion of the
schedule, Wolthuis played a team-high 32 minutes on Tueday night and picked up
nine points on 4-for-4 shooting along with six rebounds and three steals.
Junior Lisa Nanninga (Grand Rapids Christian HS) was also strong off the bench
with nine points and four rebounds. Junior Rita Ouwinga (McBain Christian HS)
and sophomore Katherine Pettinga (South Christian HS) chipped in with seven
points apiece with Pettinga collecting four steals. Junior Lesa Holleman
(Chandler, MN) added a team-high five assists in 14 minutes of action.
Calvin shot 44.4 percent overall while holding Aquinas to a 32.7 percent field
goal clip. Jackie Braspenninx and Heather Orr led the Saints in defeat with 13
points apiece.
Calvin also outrebounded Aquinas 41-34 and connected on all seven of its free
throw attempts.
Calvin returns to action Thursday evening when it plays host to Davenport
University at 7:00 p.m. at the Calvin Fieldhouse.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Wed Dec 10 00:08:44 2003
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