Outstanding shooting from behind the arc ignited Calvin to victory as the Knights shot 61.5% from behind the three point line in the first half and 52.4% on the night. The Knights never trailed in the game.
Calvin jumped to an early 10-0 lead when junior Nikki Zimmerman (Traverse City West HS), starting her seventh consecutive game, connected on her first of four three pointers. She finished the night a perfect 4 for 4 from three point range. Calvin extended its lead to 14 when sophomore Kristi Brummel (Byron Center, MI/ South Christian), who was moved out of her starting role to provide a spark off the bench, did just that and hit her first of three field goals from behind the arc.
Calvin tore apart the Albion defense in the first half as 7 different players had scored in the first ten minutes of play. Katie Elder kept Albion in the game with 9 first half points off the bench, but Calvin shot 8 for 13 from downtown. A Brummel steal and assist to freshman Brook Van Eck (Lowell, MI/ Lowell) gave Calvin its biggest lead of the half, 16 points, heading into halftime.
Calvin, who has been plagued with turnover trouble all season, turned the ball over only 6 times and committed only 5 fouls in the first half.
In the second half, Lisa Winkle (Grand Rapids, MI/ South Christian), who had darted to the training room in the first half after rolling her ankle, assured everyone her injury wasn't serious when she stole the ball and drove the length of the court for an easy lay up just seconds into the second half.
The Knights continued to fire from the three point arc in the second half. They lead by as many as 26 when freshman Allison Griswold (Webberville, MI/ Lansing Christian) hit back to back three pointers, one of which came off of a Albion turnover which ended up in Griswold's hands.
Albion's season scoring leader, senior Jessica Babcock, finally came to life in the second half, putting up 9 second half points, but it was too little too late for Albion who fell to 6-7 (1-4 MIAA).
Calvin shot 55.2% from the field, including 52.4% (11 of 21) from behind the arc. Calvin recorded 24 assists, while both teams matched with 36 rebounds. Calvin, despite only 6 first half turnovers ended with 16 total turnovers; the lady knights scored 24 points off of 20 Albion turnovers.
Winkle notched her 34th collegiate double- double early into the second half and finished the game with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore Marcia Harris led the team with 14 points. Zimmerman finished with 12 points and Griswold, who was perfect on the night including 3 for 3 from the arc, put up 11. Brummel finished 3 of 6 from the three point line for 9 points.
Babcock led Albion with 14 points and Megan Garvey put up 12 off the bench. Albion was held to a 41.3% field goal percentage and were 2 of 10 from three point range.
Calvin will travel to South Bend, Indiana to face Saint Mary's College Saturday at 3:00pm. Saint Mary's fell to Olivet 82-63 and dropped to 3-2 in MIAA play.