| Carissa Verkaik was a perfect
8-for-8 from the foul line in Calvin's win at
Chicago. Calvin athletics photo by Jeff Febus |
Carissa Verkaik scored 20 points and blocked four shots, while No. 5 Calvin shot 7-for-14 from three-point range to knock off No. 2 Chicago 68-50 and advance to the Elite Eight in front of a raucous crowd at the University of Chicago's Ratner Center.
Calvin led by 10 at the half before the Maroons opened the half on a 12-3 run to cut the lead to 33-32. Chicago remained within striking distance until the midway portion of the half, where Verkaik hit a jumper, then Jill Thomas stole the ball and fed Verkaik, who was fouled and hit both free throws to push the lead to double digits. The Knights led by as many as 21 en route to handing the Maroons their first and only loss of the season.
Calvin will face St. Thomas tomorrow in a battle of one-loss teams. The Tommies defeated Tufts 50-47, holding the Jumbos to 4-for-23 shooting from three-point range. Kellie Ring's steal and two free throws with 15 seconds to play gave the 12th-ranked Tommies a three-point lead, and Tufts was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer.
Carthage and Illinois Wesleyan set up a neutral-site meeting, their fourth of the season, as the Lady Reds defeated Centre and the Titans' Olivia Lett beat the buzzer to lift Illinois Wesleyan past Mount Union 70-69. Carthage defeated Centre 71-61 behind 24 points from Cailee Corcoran.
George Fox and Mary Washington took care of their sectional semifinal opponents to set up a battle of undefeated teams on Saturday. George Fox overpowered Bowdoin 71-55 behind Hannah Munger's double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds). The Bruins shot 73 percent in the second half (16-for-22) and improved to 30-0. Mary Washington finished the game on a 10-0 run to defeat Lebanon Valley 46-41. Jenna McRae had 14 points, including several free throws down the stretch to push the Eagles to victory.
Top-ranked Amherst had little trouble with York (Pa.), ending the Spartans' Cinderella run with a 79-55 win. The Lord Jeffs will play Emmanuel, which defeated King's 67-56 without Paige Carlin. Carlin averaged 11 points per game this season. Fiona O'Dwyer poured in a game-high 24 points, including the 1,000th of her collegiate career, to lead the Saints.