Carissa Verkaik Named MIAA Player of the Week in Women’s Basketball
Monday, January 09, 2012
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Calvin center Carissa Verkaik its Player of the Week in women’s basketball for games played through January 7. Verkaik, a junior from Holland (Holland Christian HS), averaged 17 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots in leading the Knights to a pair of wins that moved them into sole possession of first place in the MIAA. She scored 21 points and added seven rebounds in just 19 minutes of action in an 81-29 rout of Kalamazoo, then came back with a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds as Calvin defeated Hope, 72-59, in a battle for first place. Verkaik, who is being honored as Player of the Week for the second time this season and eighth time in her career, made 13 of 20 shots from the field (65 percent) and all seven of her free throws for the week.
Calvin Women’s Basketball Team Claims 72-59 Win Over Hope
Saturday, January 07, 2012
In a meeting of nationally-ranked teams, Calvin claimed a 72-59 victory over rival Hope Saturday afternoon at Calvin’s Van Noord Arena. Ranked fourth in the most recent d3hoops.com Top 25 poll, Calvin outrebounded Hope 46-30 and connected on 20 of 27 attempts from the free throw line to pull away for the win. Calvin (13-0 overall, 6-0 MIAA) received a career-high 16 points and seven assists from freshman Kayla Engelhard while senior Courtney Kurncz and junior Carissa Verkaik both had double-doubles. Kurncz had 15 points and 10 rebounds while Verkaik posted her 32nd collegiate double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Julia Hilbrands also had 10 points to go with eight rebounds. Hope was led by senior Maddie Burnett with a game-high 18 points.
Women’s Basketball Defeats Kalamazoo 81-29 - Sets Up Showdown For First Place With Hope
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
KALAMAZOO - Calvin rolled to an 81-29 victory at Kalamazoo Wednesday night, setting up a showdown for first place in the MIAA standings with rival Hope on Saturday. Hope defeated Olivet 66-52 Wednesday night. Calvin and Hope are both 5-0 in league play heading into Saturday’s rivalry showdown set to begin at 1 p.m. at Calvin’s Van Noord Arena. Ranked fourth nationally, Calvin (12-0 overall), connected on 50 percent of its field goals in the first half, en route to taking a 39-7 halftime lead. Calvin connected on a season-high 11 three-point shots in the contest led by senior Leah Mattson who was 3-of-4 from downtown for a nine-point outing. Six different players for Calvin connected on triple tries. Junior Kelsey Irwin added two more three-pointers to build her team-leading season total to 28. Irwin now has 101 three-pointers in her Calvin career. Junior Carissa Verkaik led Calvin in scoring with 21 points to go with seven rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals.
