CSR (Women's Basketball Upsets Top-Ranked Hope 56-55/Takes Sole Possession of MIAA Lead)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR JAN. 18, 2011
 
Women's Basketball Upsets Top-Ranked Hope 56-55 - Takes Sole Possession of
MIAA Lead
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin 56, Hope 55

By Sports Information Student Assistant Andrew Knot
 

In a clash of MIAA powers, Calvin topped top-ranked rival for the first time
in nine games.
The Knights prevailed 56-55 after Carrie Snikkers’ last second jump shot fell
short. Snikkers was guarded by the significantly shorter Jill Thomas.
“I just stood as tall as I could,” said Thomas of her defensive stand.
Calvin developed its lead thanks to a 20-2 run at the end of the first half.
The Knights trailed by nine with eight minutes remaining in the half. Calvin
capitalized in the paint, with lay-ups from sophomores Carissa Verkaik, Julia
Hilbrands, and Ally Wolffis. Calvin took a 20-2 run into half-time.
“[That run] gave us the confidence we needed to win the game,” said Verkaik.
But it was Thomas who stole the show with a buzzer-beating half-court shot to
give Calvin a 29-20 advantage at half-time. “It’s your instinct to let the ball
go when you see the clock get down like that. I actually didn’t think it was
going it,” said Thomas.
Her coach was more confident.
“From my angle, I knew it was in from the moment it left her hand,” said Coach
John Ross.
Hope responded with a run to open the second half. The Dutch tied the game at
31 just four minutes into the half. But Calvin responded well, Verkaik scored
six of Calvin’s next eight points to give the Knights a seven point lead.
“It was a game of runs. We responded to their runs and overcame them,” said
Thomas.
Still, Hope managed to tie the game and take a brief 49-47 lead with under
five minutes to play. Then the Knights responded with consecutive
three-pointers from Thomas and Kelsey Irwin, giving Calvin a five point lead at
56-51.
The Dutch cut the lead to one point after Snikkers was fouled on a reverse
lay-in. The deficit remained at one, however, when Snikkers missed what would
have been the game-tying free throw.
From there, Calvin’s defense held strong. Leah Mattison blocked a Liz Ellis
jump shot and Jill Thomas held her ground against Snikkers, last year’s
National Player of the Year.
“We said going into this game, ‘Let’s play Calvin basketball’” said senior
Courtney Kurncz.
The Knights did that, earning a victory with calm composure. “We stayed calm
all game. That’s the personality of this team,” said Ross.
Critical to Calvin’s victory was their perimeter shooting. The Knights shot
6-12 from beyond the arc and held Hope to 2-11 three-point shooting. Verkaik
lead the Knights with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. Jill Thomas
contributed 11 points and four boards.
Snikkers led all scorers with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
The victory advances Calvin to 7-0 in conference and 13-3 overall. It also
marks the second time that Calvin has upset the Dutch as a top-ranked opponent,
doing the same in 2007 in a 60-57 triumph at Hope’s DeVos Fieldhouse.
Calvin is now 25-4 all-time at Van Noord Arena and is 2-0 this year at home
against top-10 ranked opponents. Calvin also defeated (then) fifth-ranked
Carthage 69-59 on December 8 at home. Tuesday’s contest marked the 99th meeting
between Calvin and Hope since 1966. Calvin leads the all-time series 62-37.
Calvin hosts Trine on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

JOHN ROSS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEW:
http://www.calvin.edu/sports/audio/11/WomensBBall/JohnRoss011811.mp3
OTHER MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCORES TUESDAY
Albion 66, Alma 54
Adrian 60, Kalamazoo 50
Saint Mary's 74, Trine 53

MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 1-18 GAMES
Calvin 7-0
Albion 6-1
Hope 6-1
Saint Mary's 4-3
Olivet 3-4
Adrian 3-5
Trine 2-5
Alma 0-7
Received on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:38:02 -0500