CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 3, 2012
Women's Basketball Headed to Round of 16 of NCAA III Tourney After Win over
Stevens-Point;
Baseball Posts 1-2 Record During Three-Game Stand at Centre College;
Softball Opens Season With Doubleheader Sweep Over Centre College
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Calvin 76, UW-Stevens Point 71
By Mark DeHaan
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH - For the fifth time in school history and for the first
time since 2007, the Calvin women’s basketball team is headed to the Round of
16 of the NCAA III Tournament. Calvin punched its ticket to the Round of 16
with a scintillating 76-71 second round NCAA III Tournament victory over
Wisconsin-Stevens Point Saturday evening inside Van Noord Arena. Ranked fifth
nationally, Calvin (27-1) will face second-ranked Chicago (27-0) in a Round of
16 game next Friday at a site to be announced Sunday. The Calvin/Chicago game
will feature a rematch of an NCAA III Tournament game between the two Midwest
foes from a year ago that Chicago claimed by a 67-62 score in Grand Rapids.
In its win over 12th-ranked Stevens Point, Calvin jumped out to a 7-2 lead on
five points by junior Carissa Verkaik four minutes into the game.
Wisconsin-Stevens Point (24-5) responded over the next seven minutes with an
11-5 run to take the 13-12 lead.
With just over six minutes left in the opening half, the Pointers took their
largest lead of the game at on a three-point shot by senior Cassie Bandow at
20-16.
A 5-1 Calvin run tied the game at 21-21 with with just under five minutes
remaining. Both teams continued to play tight defense, and after the final five
minutes of the half, the teams found themselves deadlocked at 30-30.
Verkaik had 12 points and six rebounds at the half for Calvin. The Pointers
were led on offense by Bandow and senior Brittni Buechel, both with seven
points.
The second half went much like the first, with both teams struggling to build
on any leads that they may have gained. Calvin jumped out to a 35-30 lead out
of the break and the slight advantage until just over 11 minutes to go when the
Pointers took their first lead of the second half at 46-45 on a three-pointer
by junior Sam Barber.
Stevens Point then built its lead up to five points at 50-45, but a
three-point shot by Carissa Verkaik ended the Pointers momentum, and Calvin
tied the score at 50-50.
With 3:51 remaining, the Pointers built another lead, this at 67-63. UWSP held
the lead until just over two minutes left when Calvin senior Courtney Kurncz
hit an NBA-range three-point shot to give the Knights a 70-69 lead.
With the momentum now in their favor, the Knights built on their lead with a
pair of defensive stops and a strong showing at the free-throw line to ice the
win.
Calvin was led by Carissa Verkaik with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and six blocks.
Junior Julia Hilbrands added 19 points off the bench for the Knights, while
Kurncz chipped in nine points, eight rebounds, and four boards.
“The first half, it was really physical – we just kind of hung in there,” said
Calvin Head Coach John Ross. “We just dug deep (in the second half) and we were
real determined– I'm really proud of my players.”
The Pointers were led by Barber, who scored 22 points, added 11 rebounds, and
five assist. Bandow added 12 points and four assists for Stevens Point while
junior Brooke Allen scored nine.
“I thought the kids battled hard. It was a great basketball game. I am
extremely proud of my team, they left everything out there on the floor, and we
have absolutely nothing to hang our heads about,” said Stevens Point Head Coach
Shirley Egner. “(Calvin) was the better team and (they beat us) on their
floor.”
Calvin is now 17-13 all-time in NCAA III Tournament play including 9-4 on its
home floor.
BASEBALL
DANVILLE, KY – The Calvin baseball team opened its season with a 1-2 showing
as the Knights played three games on the campus of Centre College on Saturday.
Calvin opened the day with a doubleheader split against Defiance College,
dropping the opener 6-1 before coming back to take the nightcap 14-2. Calvin
then fell in its third and final game of the day, dropping a 10-2 contest to
host Centre.
In the 6-1 loss to Defiance, sophomore Jeff Victor took the loss despite
allowing only one run over four innings of work. Defiance scored once in the
fourth, twice in the fifth and three times in the sixth while holding the
Calvin offense to four hits. Calvin’s only run came in the fifth as junior
Tyler Tos singled and later scored in a wild pitch.
In game two against Defiance, Calvin reaped the benefits of 11 walks issued by
the Defiance pitching staff. Calvin also collected nine hits including three of
the bat of Tos. Freshman Austin Evenhouse also belted a two-run RBI double
while junior Ben Cok, senior Scott Tipton and junior Jack Jorgenson all had two
runs batted in.
Sophomore lefthander Grant VanderWall was credited with the win, striking out
four and walking one while freshman Nate Schepers tossed three innings of
strong relief.
In the loss to Centre, freshman Grant VanPutten collected a pair of hits as
did sophomore Johnathan VanByssum but it was not enough to withstand a 10-hit
attack by Centre. The Colonels struck for seven runs in the first two innings
while Centre pitcher Joe Nash struck out 14 Calvin batters.
Calvin will now break until March 16 when it face Norwich in the opener of its
spring trip to Tucson, Arizona.
SOFTBALL
DANVILLE, KY – After having a pair of games against Mount St. Joseph canceled
on Friday, Calvin came out of the gates with energy on Saturday, sweeping a
twinbill from host Centre College. Calvin (2-0) claimed the opener 11-7 and
then took the nightcap 6-3.
In game one, sophomore Lina Avila belted a grand-slam homerun while freshman
Trista Brownlee was credited with the pitching victory.
In game two, Avila went the distance in the pitching circle for the Maroon and
Gold to close out the sweep.
Calvin returns to action on March 17 when it faces Gustavus Adolphus in the
opener of its spring break trip through Tucson, Arizona.
Received on Sun Mar 4 00:00:53 2012
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