Calvin Women’s Basketball Team Moves Up To #2 in D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll
Friday, January 04, 2013
D3hoops.com Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll
The Calvin women’s basketball team has risen up to the number-two spot in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. The poll was released Wednesday evening. Calvin had been ranked third in the previous four polls but moved up a spot this week with DePauw University holding down the top spot. Calvin and DePauw are part of five teams from the Great Lakes Region that are in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll as Hope is ranked sixth, Ohio Northern ranked 12th and Mount Union ranked 13th. Calvin will travel to Trine University on Saturday for a 3 p.m. contest. The game will feature a live audio broadcast and a live stats scoreboard.
Calvin/Trine Audio Broadcast Link
Calvin/Trine Live Stats Scoreboard
Men’s Basketball Defeats Adrian 56-50 in MIAA Opener
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – The Calvin College men’s basketball team hosted #7 Adrian College in the MIAA conference opener for both teams. The Knights defeated the Bulldogs 56-50 in a defensive battle at Van Noord Arena. Powell and Kruis led the way for Calvin with 14 points. Snikkers scored 12 points and hauled in eight rebounds. Lewis led the way for Adrian in defeat with 17 points. Calvin out-rebounded Adrian 39-31 in the contest. The Knights shot 87 percent from the charity strip (13-15). Adrian (11-1) will travel to DeVos Fieldhouse to face Hope on Saturday, Jan. 5. Calvin (10-2) will travel to Kresge Gymnasium to face the Britons of Albion College.
Jordan Brink Named MIAA Player of the Week in Men’s Basketball
Monday, December 31, 2012
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Calvin guard Jordan Brink its Player of the Week in men’s basketball for games played through December 30. Brink, a sophomore from Dyer, Ind. (Illiana Christian HS), averaged 17.5 points and 6.0 rebounds as the Knights won the Elmhurst, Ill. Bluejay Classic. He fired in a career-high 27 points, including a perfect 7-of-7 from 3-point range, and grabbed seven boards in just 23 minutes of action as Calvin routed Ripon, Wis., 87-62, in the championship game. He scored 22 of his points, including six 3-pointers, in the first half. Brink, who is being honored as Player of the Week for the first time in his career, shot 59 percent from the field (13 of 22) and 75 percent from 3-point range (9 of 12) for the tournament. Brink was named to the all-tournament team at the Elmhurst Blue Jay Classic. Earlier this year, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Tournament Thanksgiving weekend. Calvin returns to action on Thursday in a key MIAA opener as the Knights (9-2) host an Adrian College team that is 11-0 and ranked 12th nationally. Thursday’s game at Van Noord Arena is slated to start at 7:30 p.m.
Men’s Basketball Claims Elmhurst Bluejay Classic Title with 87-62 Win Over Ripon College
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
ELMHURST, ILL. – The Calvin men’s basketball team captured the Elmhurst Bluejay Classic championship with a 87-62 win over Ripon College, Wis. late Saturday afternoon. Senior Tom Snikkers (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) and sophomore Jordan Brink (Dyer, Ind./Illiana Christian) were named to the all-tournament team. Brink and Snikkers led Calvin scoring 27 and 21 points respectively. Senior Matt De Boer (Hudsonville/Covenant Christian) scored 12 points in 15 minutes. Calvin shot a season-high 63.2 percent from beyond the arc in the contest. The Knights’ defense held Ripon to a mere 29.7 percent shooting from the field. Ripon senior forward Taylor Koth (Cedarburg, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) led the Red Hawks with 18 points in defeat. Calvin finishes the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 9-2 record. The Knights open up MIAA play with a game against the undefeated and nationally ranked Adrian Bulldogs on Thursday, Jan. 3 at Calvin’s Van Noord Arena. The game is slated to start at 7:30 p.m.
Women’s Basketball Moves to 10-1 on Year with 67-54 Win over Concordia of Wisconsin
Saturday, December 29, 2012
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The third-ranked Calvin women’s basketball team claimed a 67-54 victory over Concordia of Wisconsin Saturday afternoon to improve to 10-1 on the season.The Knights used strong post play to claim the win as senior Julia Hilbrands notched a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds off the bench while senior Carissa Verkaik had 18 points and 8 boards while battling foul trouble. Calvin led 46-27 at halftime and led by 21 points at 65-43 with 3:52 to play before Concordia used a late scoring spurt to make the final margin of victory 13 points. Calvin will return to action on January 5 when it travels to Trine for a 3 p.m. MIAA contest.
Men’s Basketball Defeats Wabash 83-56 in Bluejay Classic
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
ELMHURST, ILL. – The Calvin College men’s basketball team traveled to the west suburbs of Chicago Friday morning for the Bluejay Classic hosted by Elmhurst College. In December of 2010, Calvin split a pair of games at the same tournament. This time around, the Knights were determined not to fall in the first game. Calvin defeated Wabash College, Ind. 83-56. Kruis led the Knights with 15 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Bryan Powell (Wyoming/Wyoming Park) chipped in 12 points. Four Knights finished with eight points. Calvin will move on to the Bluejay Classic final against Ripon College, Wis. The game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. EST start on Saturday.
Women’s Basketball Picks Up 78-32 Victory at Colorado College
Saturday, December 29, 2012
COLORADO SPRINGS, Col. - The third-ranked Calvin women’s basketball team claimed a 78-32 victory at Colorado College Friday night. The Knights are now 9-1 on the season and have won eight consecutive games. Calvin led 41-16 at halftime, limiting the host Tigers to just six first half field goals while forcing 22 turnovers. Calvin kept the pressure on in the second half to close out the win as Colorado College shot just 16.7 percent over the final 20 minutes of play. Calvin used its inside game to its advantage as seniors Carissa Verkaik and Julia Hilbrands scored 10 points apiece. Sophomores Breanna Verkaik and Abby VanderWoude along with senior Ally Wolffis had eight points apiece. Senior Kelsey Irwin added a pair of triples to build her career total to 149.
Women’s Basketball Claims 84-47 Victory at Olivet Behind Dominating First Half Effort
Saturday, December 22, 2012
(Photo by Sandy Palmatter)
OLIVET - The third-ranked Calvin women’s basketball team put on a dominating first half performance - en route to an 84-47 victory over an on-the-rise Olivet squad Saturday afternoon at the Cutler Events Center. Calvin (8-1 overall, 4-0 MIAA) led 45-14 at halftime and never looked back in cruising to the win. The 14 points allowed marked Calvin’s best defensive performance in a half this year and marked the fourth time this season that the Knights have held the opposition under 20 points in the first half. On the offensive end. Calvin shot 48.7 percent from the floor through the first half of play led by senior Carissa Verkaik (Holland/Holland Christian HS) who tallied 19 first half points including 12 of Calvin’s first 21. A preseason All-America selection, Carissa Verkaik finished the game with 24 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots, connecting on 9-of-18 from the floor and 3-of-5 from three-point range. Senior Julia Hilbrands (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) came off the bench to drop in 10 points and grab six rebounds while sophomore Maria DeKuiper (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian HS) had nine points in a reserve role.
Calvin College Ice Hockey Coach and Goalie Named to ACHA National Selects European Travel Team
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
By Mark DeHaan
In his 17 seasons at the helm of the Calvin College ACHA hockey team, Head Coach Mike Petrusma has built an impressive resumé. Under Petrusma’s direction, the Knights have amassed an overall record of 337-117-7, appeared in the Final Four in 1993, 2003, 2004, and 2006, winning the National Championship in 2004. Petrusma was named the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference Coach of the Year in 2006, but, despite his established success, hadn’t received much national recognition – until this year. 
Petrusma, along with senior goaltender Trevor Boardway, were recently selected to be part of the 2012 ACHA Division III National Selects Team. The National Selects Team, which consists of three coaches and 24 players from around the country, will travel to Europe for ten days over Christmas break and play six games against semi-professional and professional teams.
Women’s Basketball Knocks Off Saint Mary’s 77-56
Saturday, December 15, 2012
By Mark De Haan
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A ten-day layoff for the Calvin women’s basketball team ended on Saturday as the Knights played host to the Belles of Saint Mary’s. Calvin struggled early, but four first half three-pointers from senior Kelsey Irwin (Fraser, Fraser HS) jump started the Knights’ offense en route to a 77-56 victory. Carissa Verkaik led Calvin with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Engelhard added 14 points while Irwin chipped in 12. Irwin moves into third on the career three-pointers made list with 145 for her career. The Belles were led in defeat by junior Shanlynn Bias (Griffin, Ind./Griffin HS) who scored 14 points. Paul added 12 points for Saint Mary’s.
The Knights are now 3-0 in the MIAA and 7-1 overall, while Saint Mary’s drops to 1-4 in league play and 3-7 overall. Calvin’s next game is Saturday, December 22 against the Comets of Olivet. Olivet is currently tied with Calvin and Hope atop the MIAA at 3-0 in league play.
