CSR (Calvin Women defeat St. Mary's)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2006 (Part One)

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

NOTRE DAME, IN * With a 76-64 win over conference-opponent St. Mary's (10-12, 8-5 MIAA) this afternoon, the Calvin Knights (18-2, 11-1 MIAA) are on a six-game win streak and stand in second place in the MIAA, one game behind leading Hope. Ranked 14th in the nation on this week's D3hoops.com Top-25 poll, Calvin put up a strong offensive game over a St. Mary's team which battled its way up in league standings over the last couple weeks.

Prior to today's game, the Belles were on an impressive three-game win streak in conference play and had moved into fourth place in the MIAA, an accomplishment that raised the stakes for today's match-up.

Calvin did not hold back in the first three minutes of play, starting the game with a 9-0 scoring run that was capped off by a three-point goal by sophomore Lindsey Peuler (Grandville/Grandville). Another sophomore three-pointer, this time from Charis Larson (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) put the Knights up by ten points only 4:30 into the game, 14-4. After the Belles strung together a few uncontested points and a three pointer from Shelly Bender for a 10-2 run, the Knights' lead was cut to two, 16-14.

Peuler answered with two more threes in the next three minutes, and with points from junior Lisa Winkle (Grand Rapids/South Christian), the Knights reestablished a then-point lead, 26-16. A St. Mary's jumper follwed by a three-pointer put the Belles within five at 26-21, but senior Sarah Winkle (Grand Rapids/South Christian) and Larson answered with the same combination to put Calvin up 31-21. The Winkle sisters then made consecutive baskets to distance Calvin 14 points at 35-21, the largest lead of the half, which allowed Calvin to glide to a 35-23 half-time score.

Though St. Mary's fought hard offensively in the second half and managed to get within 9 points of Calvin three different times, Calvin was still thirteen points ahead after 6:30 of play, thanks to ten points by freshman Marcia Harris (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian). With ten minutes left, freshman Kristi Brummel (Grand Rapids/South Christian) sunk a three that made the score 55-41 Calvin. After Peuler capitalized on two free-throw attempts to give Calvin a 15-point lead, St. Mary's went on a short 7-0 run that put them within eight points with six minutes left to play. A three-pointer by freshman Kelly Trewhella (Rockford/Rockford) distanced Calvin by double-digits again, 60-49. In the last 3:30 of the half, Calvin scored 12 points to the Belles' 13, with every one of the Knights' points coming from the free-throw line. Shooting 12 out of 14 free-throws during that time, the Knights defeated St. Mary's 76-64 and remain undefeated in play against the Belles (26-0!
 since 1997).

Harris led Calvin with 19 points and was 7-8 from the line. Lisa Winkle had 18 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks; Peuler scored 13 points, Trewhella had 8, and Larson and Sarah Winkle scored 6 apiece, with Sarah Winkle knocking down 11 boards. With her nine rebounds this afternoon, Lisa Winkle moves into second place on the career rebound list, having a total of 633 rebounds.

Leading St. Mary's was Bridget Boyce with 19 points and Alison Kessler with 17 points.

Calvin returns to action next Wednesday, February 8, with a home game against conference opponent Tri-State. The game will begin at 5:15 p.m.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Feb 4 18:10:59 2006