The Knights remain undefeated in league play this season at 11-0 (18-1 overall) and won their 15th straight game despite having to claw out the victory. Calvin remains a game-and-a-half ahead of second-place Hope College in the MIAA. Albion falls to 6-6 in the MIAA and 11-9 overall for the season.
Calvin head coach John Ross was pleased with how his team handled playing in a tough environment. “Winning at Albion is one of the hardest things to do,” he said. “It is certainly one of the toughest places to play in Division III hoops and we came out and played very well to get the win.”
Albion led through much of the first half as the Britons used the shooting of Jessica Babcock to jump out to a leads of 12-6 and 18-12 at points in the first half. A short jumper by senior Lisa Winkle and a lay-up by Brooke Van Eck put Calvin up 21-20 with under nine minutes remaining in the half. Sophomore Marcia Harris then took over on offense for the Knights. Harris scored the next four baskets from the floor for Calvin as she mixed in an array of post-moves and short jump-shots. Despite Harris’ great play, Albion stayed close as Calvin led 32-31 at the half.
In the second half, the Britons tied the game at 47 on a lay-up by Emi Guimond five minutes after the break only to see the Knights answer with back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore Kristi Brummel (GR South Christian) and junior Lindsey Peuler. When Brummel completed a fast-break lay-up with 12 minutes left the Knights lead had ballooned to seven. The Britons a 5-0 run to climb back to Calvin but a steal and lay-up by junior Nikki Zimmerman kept the Knights one step ahead of the Britons. Calvin was able to stave off any comeback by Albion by converting its free-throws. Two free-throws by Brummel put the game out of reach in the final minute, giving Calvin a 73-65 advantage.
Harris led all scorers with 19 points for Calvin. Brummel proved to be the difference for Calvin as she scored a career-high 18 points off the bench. Winkle was equally impressive in scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, collecting her 40th collegiate double-double. Calvin shot 45.5 percent from the field and converted on 21 of 25 (84 percent) free-throws. Calvin continued its impressive ball-control of late by committing a season-low nine turnovers while the team dished-out 18 assists, led by Peuler who had four.
Coach Ross was hoping Winkle and Harris would come up big. “Lisa and Marcia played so well down in the post,” he said. “We tried to establish that early and set the tempo for the game. They’ve been dominant for us all season and it was no different in this game.”
“Kristi Brummel was great tonight,” Ross said about his leading bench-scorer. “We’ve come to expect great play from her; she has been a constant performer at a very high level for us. She is a fighter and great to have as a weapon off the bench, I can’t say enough about her.”
Babcock and Megan Garvey each scored 15 points for Albion; the Britons converted 40.4 percent of their field goals and 86.4 percent of their free-throws.
Calvin is back in action on Saturday when its plays St. Mary’s College at home in an afternoon affair starting at 3pm. Calvin defeated St. Mary’s by only one-point, 53-52, when the two teams faced each other down in South Bend in early January.