Ranked third in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 poll and first in the season’s first Division III Great Lakes Regional poll, Calvin was slow to take a substantial lead as Tri-State held as much as a three-point lead and played even with Calvin through the first nine minutes of the half, when the teams were tied 14-14. The Knights then put up a combined effort to go on a 10-0 run which was capped off by a three-point shot from sophomore Sarah Partridge (East Lansing/East Lansing) that put Calvin ahead 24-14. This lead was maintained through the remainder of the half, Calvin leading 30-20 at halftime.
Though the Knights increased the distance with five unmatched points to begin the second half, Tri-State whittled away the fifteen point margin to seven with a 10-2 scoring run that made the score 37-30 at the 14:30 mark. Calvin reestablished itself by answering with a 12-0 run of its own which included back-to-back three pointers from freshman Allison Griswold (Webberville/Lansing Christian). Calvin’s next seven points came from sophomore Kristi Brummel (Byron Center/South Christian) and gave the Knights an 18-point 54-38 lead. The last points of the game came from Calvin senior Lisa Winkle (Grand Rapids/South Christian) and gave Calvin the 58-44 win.
Sophomore Marcia Harris (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) led all scoring with 13 points. Winkle contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds, good for her 41st collegiate double-double. Griswold and Brummel had eight points apiece.
Tri-State’s Kelly Rogers had 10 points and four rebounds, Sara Hivley added eight points and four rebounds, and Rachel Grove had eight points.
The Knights now prepare for Saturday’s match-up against conference-rival and nationally-ranked Hope College at 12:45 p.m. as part of Calvin’s Homecoming festivities.