CSR (Calvin Men's Basketball Defeats Lewis & Clark in AZ Tourney/Verkaik Named MIAA Player of the Week)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR DEC. 28, 2009
Men's Basketball Defeats Lewis & Clark College 79-78
Carissa Verkaik Named MIAA Player of the Week in Women's Basketball
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin 79, Lewis & Clark 78
PHOENIX, AZ—The Calvin men’s basketball team has put together back-to-back
victories for the first time this season. The Knights did so in thrilling
fashion with a 79-78 victory over Lewis and Clark College (OR) Monday night on
the first day of competition at the Grand Canyon Cactus Jam. Monday’s game was
the first for Calvin since an 86-59 victory over Trinity Christian College (IL)
on December 18.
Calvin (4-5) led by as many as nine points in the first half but trailed 44-43
at halftime. The Knights then fell behind 57-50 six minutes into the second
half against the Pioneers (1-5) before mounting a steady comeback fueled by
back-to-back buckets by senior John Mantel that gave Calvin a 71-70 lead with
two minutes remaining. Senior Matt Veltema then delivered a clutch
three-pointer with two seconds left on the shot clock and 45 seconds left on
the game clock that gave the Knights a 74-70 lead.
Lewis and Clark then sandwiched a pair of layups around a pair of free throws
by senior Danny Rodts to close to within a point at 79-78 with 12 seconds
remaining. Calvin then misfired on the front end of a bonus opportunity with
11.4 seconds left, giving the Pioneers a chance to win the game. A last-second
three-point shot by Lewis and Clark was off the mark however, allowing Calvin
to gain the win.
Veltema led all scorers with 22 points, connecting on 7 of 9 from the floor
and 6 of 7 from three-point range to go with a pair of free throws. Mantel also
had 11 points and six rebounds while junior Brad Schyders had 11 points off the
bench.
Mantel currently has 999 points in his career and is bidding to become the
19th player in Calvin men's basketball history to surpass the 1,000 point
plateau.
Lewis and Clark was led by Kelly Edwards with 18 points while Josh Kollasch,
James Collins and Tyler Tsukazaki had 12 points apiece for the Pioneers.
Calvin returns to action on Tuesday when it faces Ohio Northern at 6 p.m.
(EST) on the second day of tournament competition.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named
Calvin center Carissa Verkaik its Player of the Week in women’s basketball for
games played through December 27.
Verkaik, a freshman from Holland (Holland Christian HS), scored 19 points and
added 14 rebounds, four blocked shots and four assists as the Knights posted a
59-56 victory over Madonna.
She has averaged 18.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, tops in the MIAA in
both categories, in leading Calvin to an 11-1 start. Verkaik is being honored
as Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Received on Mon Dec 28 21:02:01 2009