CKSR (Basketball Teams Split in Indiana on Opening Night)

(Editor's note: This report was sent out last night but due to technical
difficulties, it did not forward through to the Calvin sports email list)

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

BASKETBALL TEAMS SPLIT IN INDIANA ON OPENING NIGHT

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Calvin 48, Manchester 43

MANCHESTER, IN – Calvin survived an upset bid by host Manchester Tuesday
night,securing a 48-43 victory in its season-opener. Ranked sixth by one
nationalpoll and fifth in another, Calvin trailed 21-12 at halftime and shot
just 35percent overall but used a stingy defensive effort over the final 10
minutes ofthe game to gain the win.

Junior center Carissa Verkaik (Holland/Holland Christian HS) was key to
theCalvin comeback, recording her 26th collegiate double-double with 20points
and 14 rebounds to go with seven blocked shots. Of her 20 points, 14came in the
second half.

Calvin trailed 28-16 early in the second half but then began to steadily
chipinto the Manchester lead. Jumpers by sophomore Kirstin Tripp
(Brighton/BrightonHS) and Verkaik brought Calvin within four at 36-32. Verkaik
then scored fourstraight points to bring the Knights within a point at 39-38
and senior JillThomas (Grand Rapids/West Catholic HS) followed with a triple
that gave Calvina 41-39 lead.

Manchester came back to take a 43-42 lead with 2:52 remaining but Calvin
respondedby feeding Verkaik inside for back-to-back buckets that gave the
Knights a46-43 lead.

A pair of three-pointers by Manchester in the 30 seconds were off the mark
andCalvin freshman Breanna Verkaik sealed the win with a pair of free throws
withtwo seconds remaining.

“It wasn’t a pretty performance but it was a gritty performance and we’ll
takethe win,” said Calvin women’s basketball coach John Ross who recorded his
180thcollegiate victory in the win. “Manchester is a well-coached team and this
isnot an easy place to play. We could have folded but we showed heart in
comingback to win on the road. We need to get better. There’s no question about
thatbut a win is sure better than a loss and we’ll take this game and move
forward.”

Calvin held Manchester to just four points over the final 10 minutes of
regulation.The host Spartans shot just 29.7 percent overall and committed 18
turnovers.

Calvin returns to Indiana this weekend as it will compete in a tournament
atAnderson University. Calvin will face the University of Cincinnati-Clermont
onFriday in a first round tournament game at 6 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Anderson 73, Calvin 60

ANDERSON, IN—The Calvin men’s basketball squad dropped its 2011-2012
seasonopener to the Ravens of Anderson University on Tuesday night.
Andersoncame out aggressive right from the tip and outscored the Knights 7-2 in
thefirst three minutes. The first seven points were all scored by
seniorforward Andrew Bowman, who finished with a game-high 24 points and 8
rebounds.The Ravens never looked back, as Calvin never took a lead in the game
played atO.C. Lewis Gymnasium. Andersonextended its lead to 44-29 with a layup
from forward Brock Morrison at thebuzzer before halftime. In the first twenty
minutes, the Ravens shot anefficient 57.6% from the field compared to Calvin’s
37.9%. 12 first halfturnovers did not help the Knights’ cause.
The Knightstrimmed the lead to ten after a mid-range jump shot from junior Matt
DeBoer atthe 14:59 mark in the second half; however, Anderson answered with a
7-0 run toextend the lead to 57-40. The Knights eventually fell bya score of
73-60, dropping their record to 0-1 on the season. Coach KevinVande Streek
noted inexperience and 21 total turnovers as major factors in theloss.
Junior pointguard Bryan Powell and sophomore forward Mickey DeVries provided
nice sparksoff the bench as they finished with 14 and 9 points respectively.
DeVries alsopulled down seven rebounds in his regular season debut in a Calvin
uniform.Junior Tom Snikkers also reached double figures with 12 points.
Calvin willnow prepare to host its own Calvin Tip-Off Tourney Friday and
Saturday at VanNoord Arena. The Knights will face Grace Bible College at 7:30
p.m. Fridaynight with D’Youville and Willamete set to battle in the first game
at 5:30p.m.
Received on Wed Nov 16 11:14:58 2011