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| Calvin celebrated its 14th
win of the season on Hope's home court after beating its archrival
76-74. Calvin athletics photo |
In a game befitting one of Division III's premier rivalries, No. 14 Calvin edged No. 11 Hope 76-74 on the Flying Dutch's home court, while No. 10 George Fox rolled over No. 15 Whitworth in a battle of unbeatens.
After Hope scored the first eight points of the game, Calvin rallied to take the lead at the half, 39-29. The Knights led for most of the second half until Hope guard Brittany Berry buried a three-pointer to put the Flying Dutch back in front by one with 5:43 to play.
With 19 seconds remaining and Hope trailing by two, Berry drove hard to the rim and hit an offbalance runner while being fouled to tie the game. She converted the free throw to put Hope in front, 74-73. Calvin drove down the floor and Breanna Verkaik dished it to Hannah Acre, who hit a turnaround shot in the paint while being fouled with two seconds left. She made the free throw to put Calvin in front 76-74 and both teams called timeouts to set up a last second play. Hope got the ball across halfcourt but the pass to Maura McAfee on the baseline was too long and she couldn't get an angle for the final shot. Recap
In addition to her game-winning shot, Acre finished with 16 points and six rebounds. Kayla Engelhard had 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and Breanna Verkaik scored 15 for Calvin (14-0, 7-0 MIAA). McAfee scored 19 for Hope (14-2, 6-1 MIAA). The teams will meet again on Calvin's floor on February 18.
What was supposed to be a heavyweight fight between undefeated NWC teams was no contest as No. 10 George Fox clobbered No. 15 Whitworth 70-39. Against the Bruins' defense, the Pirates had almost three times as many turnovers (11) as field goals (four) in the first half. George Fox is 15-0, 6-0 in the NWC after sweeping visiting Whitman and Whitworth this weekend.
Catholic withstood a late rally by No. 7 Scranton and topped the Lady Royals in Washington D.C., 46-42. Scranton had the ball down two points with 22 seconds left but missed the potential game-tying shot. Michele DeSantis led the Cardinals (12-4, 6-1 Landmark) with 14 points and eight rebounds. Sarah Payonk had 14 points and 14 boards for the Lady Royals (15-2, 7-1).
St. Vincent tried to snap No. 2 Thomas More's long winning streak in conference and built a 37-27 halftime lead. But the Saints forced Thomas More into 13 turnovers in the second half and roared past the Bearcats, 75-58. Thomas More's starting backcourt combined for 43 points, led by Abby Owings' 18 points.
No. 1 FDU-Florham was pushed by conference rival DeSales, but pulled away from the Bulldogs for a 69-59 win. DeSales got as close as 64-59 with a minute left, but the Devils made five of six free throws to wrap up the win.
No. 25 Luther defeated Coe 72-62 to take sole possession of first place in the IIAC. Meagan Koepnick led the Norse with 18 points. Carthage dropped back into a tie for first in the CCIW by virtue of its 75-61 loss to Millikin and No. 12 Wheaton (Ill.) beating Augustana 65-62.
Andrea Desvignes hit a three-pointer at the buzzer and Farmingdale State topped Mount St. Vincent 67-64 in the Skyline Conference. Desvignes finished with a rare double-double (25 points, 10 steals).