Trine Takes Out Calvin 57-45 in MIAA Tournament Semifinals

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HOLLAND, Mich. – Trine proved to be too much for the Knights to handle on Friday afternoon in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals falling 57-45. Calvin moves to 20-6 with the 57-45 loss.

"Trine did a great job today," said head coach John Ross. "Trine did the things that they had to do to win today and we did not. We needed some shots to fall today and they just didn't."

The first quarter was a defensive battle as both teams forced turnovers. The game was scoreless until Trine's Ashley Elliot scored with 6:28 remaining in the quarter. Trailing 5-0, senior Tiffany Karger would put the Knights on the scoreboard with a layup. The teams would finish the first quarter tied at seven.

Trine jumped out to an early 8-0 run to start the second quarter, to lead 15-7. The Thunder would push the lead to 14 at the 3:23 mark of the quarter. The Knights would fight back and close the half on a 9-2 run. The run was highlighted by four points from senior Abby Springer. Calvin would go into halftime trailing 27-20.

The Knights would put a dent into the Trine lead, starting the third quarter on a 4-0 run. The Thunder would respond with a 10-0 run of their own to push the lead to 13 at 37-24. Trine would lead 43-27 at the end of the third quarter.

The Thunder would start the fourth quarter on a 10-6 run to lead 53-33 with 3:52 remaining. The Knights would go on a 7-0 run over the next minute to cut the lead to 13. Senior Kally Verkaik would cut the lead to 10 with 0:29 remaining, but that would be the closest the Knights would get.

Trine received 17 points from sophomore Hayley Martin, 12 points off the bench from Whitney Shaffer and 10 from Brandi Dawson.  Trine held a 42-33 rebounding advantage. Calvin had its biggest impact at the free throw line, connecting on 20 of 26 for a 76.9 percent clip but were just 3 of 26 from three-point range for a frigid 11.5 percent rate.

The Knights were led by Karger with nine points on Friday. Verkaik had a team-high 11 rebounds and a career-high six blocks.  Springer tallied five steals. The loss will likely end the careers of Karger, Verkaik, Springer and fellow seniors Jeanna Sybesma and Natalie Kmet.

"I am proud of my senior class," said Ross. "They have been a huge part of our success over the last four years. They have been great leaders, great students and wonderful Christian women. We are going to miss them."

With its 20-6 record, Calvin has recorded its 16th 20-win campaign in program history including its 10th under Ross who is in his 13th year as head coach.