The Knights had an answer for every made Hope shot in the first half, as the game was tied five times and the lead exchanged hands eight times. Neither team leading by more than four points—when a three-pointer by freshman Kristi Brummel gave the Knights an early 10-6 advantage. Calvin sophomore Lindsey Peuler collected eight first-half points, including two three pointers, to keep the Knights in close contention with Hope. In addition, Calvin held its latest lead in the half with under two minutes to play when freshman Jennifer DeFauw nailed a jumper to put the Knights up 22-21. Hope’s Ellen Wood closed out the half with three points to give Hope a slim 24-22 half-time lead.
This two-point lead marked the tightest half of this season’s Hope-Calvin contests, as previous games saw Hope holding an 11-point lead at Hope (February 11th) and a 5-point lead at Calvin (January 14th) at half-time.
Freshman Marcia Harris tied the game for the seventh time, 24-24, making a jumper right out of the gate to start the second half. Junior Lisa Winkle (Grand Rapids/South Christian) kept the Knights in the game, scoring matching six Hope points over the next five minutes; her third jumper of that time frame tied the game up again at 30-30. A quick defensive rebound and a made jumper by sophomore Erica Boonstra gave Calvin its first second-half lead, 32-30, with over 14:30 left to play. The scoring was back-and-forth for the next three minutes, becoming tied three times: at 32, 34, and 36.
However, with just over nine minutes left in the half, Hope gained a five-point lead, 42-37, with a boost from two consecutive field goals by Ellen Wood. Calvin proved it was still in the game, twice reducing the gap to two points, including a 44-42 deficit at 6:21 when sophomore Charis Larson made a jumper. That shot was the last Calvin, being fatigued from sticking so close to Hope for over three-fourths of the game, saw for the next 5:30 as Hope embarked on a 17-0 run that included eight made free-throws. Boonstra broke the scoring drought with just under a minute to play, but time ran out, preventing any come-back for the Knights. In the last seconds, Hope scored another two points to gain a 63-44 victory and the MIAA Tournament crown.
Despite Calvin’s commendable efforts against one of the best teams in the nation, Hope out-rebounded Calvin 40-29, including 14-7 on offensive rebounds. The Dutch also capitalized on Calvin’s turnovers by scoring 20 points off of Calvin’s 27 turnovers.
Leading Calvin in defeat were Lisa Winkle with 12 points and 11 boards, Peuler with eight points, and Brummel with five points. Lisa Winkle’s effort marked her 29th collegiate double-double.
Hope’s leading scorers were Jordyn Boles with 12 points, Bria Ebels and Ellen Wood with 11 points a piece and Wood adding 12 rebounds, and Julie Henderson and Linda Ebels with nine points each and Ebels with nine rebounds.
Calvin now awaits news from the NCAA Division III board; the picks will be announced late Sunday evening while the brackets will be released on Monday morning.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Newspaper Box Score Calvin College vs Hope College 02/25/06 3:00p.m. at Hope College, DeVos Fieldhouse At Hope College, DeVos Fieldhouse HOPE COLLEGE 63, CALVIN COLLEGE 44 CALVIN COLLEGE (23-4) Lisa Winkle 5-11 2-4 12; Lindsey Peuler 2-7 2-4 8; Kristi Brummel 2-9 0-0 5; Erica Boonstra 2-6 0-0 4; Marcia Harris 2-4 0-0 4; Sarah Partridge 1-3 0-0 3; Jennifer DeFauw 1-2 0-0 2; Sarah Winkle 1-3 0-0 2; Charis Larson 1-4 0-0 2; Kelly Trewhella 1-2 0-0 2; Emily Schrotenboer 0-0 0-0 0; Wendy Zigterman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-51 4-8 44. HOPE COLLEGE (27-1) Jordyn Boles 3-8 4-4 12; Ellen Wood 5-10 1-2 11; Bria Ebels 3-11 4-6 11; Julie Henderson 4-9 0-0 9; Linda Ebels 3-7 3-4 9; Stacy Warsen 1-3 1-4 3; Lindsay Lange 1-2 1-3 3; Kate Reincke 1-1 0-0 2; Kaitlyn Kopke 1-1 0-0 2; Megan Noll 0-0 1-2 1; Courtney Knox 0-0 0-0 0; Jennie IntVeld 0-0 0-0 0; Joanne Stewart 0-0 0-0 0; Sarah Jurik 0-0 0-0 0; Brieann Bryant 0-0 0-0 0; Becky Bosserd 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-52 15-25 63. Calvin College................ 22 22 - 44 Hope College.................. 24 39 - 63 3-point goals-Calvin College 4-12 (Lindsey Peuler 2-4; Sarah Partridge 1-3; Kristi Brummel 1-4; Kelly Trewhella 0-1), Hope College 4-12 (Jordyn Boles 2-5; Bria Ebels 1-5; Julie Henderson 1-2). Fouled out--Calvin College-Lindsey Peuler, Hope College-None. Rebounds-Calvin College 29 (Lisa Winkle 11), Hope College 40 (Ellen Wood 12). Assists-Calvin College 9 (Charis Larson 2; Lindsey Peuler 2; Kelly Trewhella 2), Hope College 14 (Julie Henderson 7). Total fouls-Calvin College 21, Hope College 11. A-1550 MIAA TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP