CSR (Women's Basketball Wins at Buzzer/Men's Basketball Falls at Buzzer)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 13, 2008

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin 65, Adrian 64
(written by Bruce VanBaren '09)

GRAND RAPIDS -- Marcia Harris (Grand Rapids/ Grand Rapids Christian) took over
Wednesday night’s game against Adrian scoring a career high 32 points with 16
of her last 18 coming in the final 5:13 of play. But it was Sarah Partridge
(East Lansing/East Lansing) who decided the game, hitting a buzzer beater to
give the Knights a 65-64 win over the Bulldogs during “Think Pink” night,
an event to raise breast cancer awareness, at the Fieldhouse.

After Emily Ottenhoff’s (Palos Heights/ Chicago Christian) missed shot was
tipped out of bounds by Adrian with 2.1 seconds remaining, Nikki Zimmerman
(Traverse City/ Traverse City West) found Partridge who was left alone on the
far side of the lane for the game winner.

 “I was supposed to set a pick for [Harris],” said Partridge. “We had a
miscommunication and she had two or three [players] on her so I rolled out to
the block and [Zimmerman] found me. I don’t really know how, I think I yelled
her name.”

“I don’t know where that ball floated in from, we totally botched that
play,” said a jubilant Calvin coach John Ross after the game. “[Partridge]
botched that screen and the ball ended up in her hands and she made the shot.
I'm glad it all worked out.”

Calvin overcame a ten point half time deficit and was out rebounded 42-33 and
out shot 43% to 40%, but still escaped with the win to remain in third place in
the MIAA standings and clinch a first round home game in the MIAA tournament.

“We didn’t deserve this one,” said Ross. “There was a few choice words
said at halftime. I’m not a negative coach, but I challenged them and got on
them and they responded.”

Harris, who had scored seven points in the first half, responded to Ross’
challenge by igniting for 25 second half points. Harris led the Knights back
from the ten point halftime deficit and her reverse layup with 3:15 to play
gave the Knights their first lead of the game.

Calvin also survived a very sloppy first half in which it committed 15
turnovers and trailed 9-0 until Wendy Zigterman’s (Western Springs, IL/
Timothy Christian) basket nearly eight minutes into the game put Calvin on the
board.

Ross elected to go to a full court press and it turned the game around.

The Bulldogs committed nine turnovers in eleven possessions which surrounded
an 8-0 Calvin run and the Knights tied the game on Harris’ free throw with
10:42 to play in the first half.

“Leah Morrison (Chelsea/ Chelsea) came in and got us back into the game with
that press,” said Ross.

Morrison who has been a starter on the junior varsity team has dressed with
the varsity team for several games, but tonight’s game was the first time she
saw significant playing time. Ross was especially pleased to get production
from Morrison because of the plethora of injuries his team is facing.

“I don’t think anybody has any idea how hurt half these kids are,” said
Ross. “We’ve been working fundamentals, but we’re tired. We’re just
trying to get better everyday, I don’t know if we’re going to get
healthier.”

Calvin survived those injuries tonight, however, sticking with the Bulldogs
during twelve lead changes over the final four minutes of play. Partridge,
who’s buzzer beater decided the game, finished with nine points while
Zimmerman, Brooke Van Eck (Lowell/Lowell), Amber Benthem (McBain/ McBain
Northern Michigan Christian) and Kristi Brummel (Byron Center/ South Christian)
all finished with five points.

Zigterman was the seventh Knight to score, adding four points.
Megan Bowens, who outscored Calvin herself 9-0 in the first six minutes of
play, finished with 17 points while leading scorer Kim Olech finished with nine
as well as Anita Stamps, who came of the bench to add nine points. Olech was
the game high rebounded with 10 rebounds.

Adrian committed 29 turnovers to Calvin’s 19; 32 of those turnovers came in
the first half.

Calvin will travel to Olivet on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip-off and close out
the regular season at Tri-State next Wednesday. The MIAA tournament begins
Tuesday, February 26 and Calvin will host a first round game.

In addition to “Think Pink” night, it was also senior night at the
Fieldhouse. Calvin’s two seniors: Zimmerman and Zigterman were honored by
their teammates before the game. Zimmerman finished with five points, three
assists and three rebounds, while Zigterman went 2 for 3 from the field for
four points and also had three assists.

OTHER MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCORES WEDNESDAY
Hope 79, Olivet 58
Albion 84, Kalamazoo 42
Alma 74, Tri-State 57

MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 2-13-08 GAMES
Hope 13-0
Albion 11-3
Calvin 9-5
Adrian 6-7
Alma 6-7
Olivet 6-7
Saint Mary's 5-8
Tri-State 3-11
Kalamazoo 1-12

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Albion 56, Calvin 55

ALBION -- A three-point shot at the final horn enabled the host Britons of
Albion to extend their win streak to nine and move a game ahead of Calvin in
the MIAA standings Wednesday night.

The game-winner came from Albion senior D.J. Mocini who lofted a three-pointer
from the top of the key just before the final horn and found nothing but net.
The triple erased what had been a 55-53 Calvin lead as the Knights had taken
the advantage on a jumper in the lane by senior Derek Griffin with 5.1 seconds
remaining to break a 53-53 tie.

The loss snapped Calvin's four-game win streak and dropped the Knights (13-8
overall, 8-3 MIAA) two games behind league-leading Hope (10-1 MIAA) while
Albion (15-5 overall, 9-2 MIAA) remained a game back of the Flying Dutchmen.

Calvin tied Wednesday's game at 53-53 on a free throw by Griffin with 28
seconds remaining. Griffin missed the second free throw but junior Tyler
Zoerhof (Holland Christian HS) was able to grab the offensive rebound, setting
up Griffin's go-ahead score with 5.1 seconds left. After a timeout, Albion was
able to move the ball up the floor with Mocini receiving a pass near the top of
the key and firing in the game-winning shot.

"Heart-breaking really doesn't describe how bad this one hurts," said Calvin
men's basketball coach Kevin Vande Streek after the game. "This game was a
really tough battle for 40 minutes and to lose like this is very hard."

Calvin trailed at halftime 22-21 after leading by as many as seven points in
the first half. The Knights shot just 27.3 percent from the floor in the first
half. "We missed too many layups and shots in the paint in the first half,"
said Vande Streek. "If we make a few more of those, it might have been a
different game at the end."

Calvin was able to take a five-point lead at 43-38 on a three-point play by
junior Caleb Veldhouse (Sioux Falls, SD) with 8:08 remaining but Albion stormed
back with six unanswered points to take a 44-43 lead. The lead then changed
hands six times over the next seven minutes with Mocini providing the final
lead change of the night.

Calvin was led in defeat by Griffin (Whitehall HS) who scored a game-high 18
points on 7 of 13 shooting including 3 of 6 from three-point range. Sophomore
Josh Engelsma (Covenant Christian HS) also had a big game with 13 points and 12
rebounds for his first collegiate double-double at the varsity level. "I though
Derek Griffin was outstanding and Josh certainly had one of his best games as a
varsity player," said Vande Streek. "The thing that was encouraging to see from
Josh is the way he matched the physical play of Albion's front line tonight."

Engelsma helped Calvin enjoy a 44-32 rebounding advantage with junior Todd
Koetsier (Calvin Christian HS) snaring seven rebounds off the bench and
collecting three steals.

Albion was led in defeat by Drew Yancey with 14 points.

Calvin returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Kalamazoo at 3:00 p.m. in
the final regular season men's basketball game at the Calvin Fieldhouse.

OTHER MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL SCORES WEDNESDAY

Hope 70, Adrian 48
Kalamazoo 71, Tri-State 48
Olivet 65, Alma 63

MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 2-13-08 GAMES

Hope 10-2
Albion 9-1
Calvin 8-3
Tri-State 6-6
Adrian 4-8
Kalamazoo 4-8
Olivet 3-9
Alma 2-10

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Wed Feb 13 23:13:23 2008