By Gina de Haan

On Wednesday evening, the Calvin women's basketball team hosted the Comets of Olivet. The conference contest was the second time this season that the two MIAA teams have met. In their first meeting, Calvin defeated Olivet 83-73.

A strong first half performance by the Knights helped the home team to a 91-68 victory over Olivet. The win boosts Calvin to its fifteenth 20-win season, the ninth under the direction of head coach John Ross.

Although Olivet was first to score, Calvin's solid shooting early in the game gave the Knights an early lead. Eight minutes into the first half, Breanna Verkaik knocked down a three-point basket that kicked off a twenty-point run for the Knights. Verkaik and Kayla Engelhard sunk two more triples apiece during the run, while Kally Verkaik and Anna Timmer also contributed points. Following this offensive surge, the scoreboard read 31-9 in Calvin's favor.

The Knights headed into the locker room at halftime with a comfortable lead, up 55-25 over the Comets.

Breanna Verkaik, Engelhard, and Anna Timmer were key first half players for the Knights, scoring twelve points apiece. Verkaik was 4-6 from the floor and 4-5 from 3-point range, while Engelhard was 3-5 from the floor, 2-4 from 3-point range, and 4-4 from the free throw line; Timmer scored ten of her points in the paint.

Although Olivet outscored Calvin 43-36 in the second half, the Comets were not able to make up for the Knights' first half dominance.

Breanna Verkaik led the Knights in scoring, finishing with twenty-one points; Verkaik, along with Hannah Acre, also snagged a team-high five rebounds. Kayla Engelhard finished with nineteen points, six assists, and two steals. Anna Timmer chipped in fourteen points and four steals. Tiffany Karger and Acre added eleven points each.

Engelhard reached the one-thousand-point plateau in the conference contest, making her the fourteenth player in Calvin women's basketball history to do so. Engelhard now has 1,002 career points.

Stefanie Lang led Olivet with 25 points.

"We had another strong game," said Calvin women's basketball coach John Ross. "We moved the ball well and hit some early threes. When we can hit a couple early ones from outside, it helps open up the rest of the offense. Olivet has a strong team. They had us on the ropes last month at their place so we were very focused on coming out with energy and focus tonight. I thought we accomplished both goals."

On Saturday, the Knights will travel to Adrian College to take on the Bulldogs (6-3 overall, 2-8 MIAA). Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.

CALVIN ALL-TIME WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CAREER SCORING LIST

2,236 – Carissa Verkaik 2009-2013

1,721 – Lisa Winkle, 2003-2007

1,550 – Marcia Harris, 2005-2009

1,332 -- Kerry Walters, 1995-1999

1,288 -- Sarah Ondersma, 1987-1991

1,285 -- Sharon Boeve, 1982-1985

1,261 – Mindi Andringa, 1997-2000

1,194 -- Eileen Boonstra, 1977-1981

1,170 – Kristen McDonald (2001-2005)

1,146 -- Judy Wasmer, 1982-1985

1,103 -- Pam Wubben, 1990-1994

1,007 – Julie Post, 1984-1988

1,003 – Brook Van Eck, 2006-2010
1,002 – Kayla Engelhard, 2011-2015

CALVIN 20-WIN SEASONS

1988 - 21-5
1996 – 23-4
1997 – 23-4
1998 – 23-5
1999 – 24-6
2000 – 23-7
2004 – 23-4
2005 – 25-5
2006 – 23-5
2007 – 28-2
2010 – 24-5
2011 – 25-5
2012 – 28-2
2013 – 23-4
2015 – (currently 20-0)