Knights dominate Belles
By KATIE McVOY
Assistant Sports Editor
The Calvin Knights' homecoming game was anything but hospitable to the visiting Belles as they dropped their ninth consecutive game 80-45 Saturday. Problems that seemed to be on their way out the door Wednesday against Kalamazoo came back to haunt Saint Mary's.
"I think they really came out pumped up and ready to play," senior starting guard Julie Norman said. "We didn't come to play the first half."
The Knights' victory marks its second straight homecoming victory against Saint Mary's, bringing Calvin into a tie for third place in the MIAA and dropping the Belles to last place with a record of 1-9.
Head coach Suzanne Smith returned Kristen Matha to the starting rotation for Saturday's game. Norman, Mary Campione, Katie Christiansen and Anne Blair joined her for the first minutes on the floor.
Calvin dominated the court for all 40 minutes. The Knights' intense defense held the Belles to 13 points in the first half to lead at the break 47-13. Saint Mary's shot just 15 percent from the floor during the first half. The Knights also forced 15 Saint Mary's turnovers in the first half alone, two more than the game total of 13 from Wednesday night's game.
"We took a back seat approach," Norman said. "There were a lot of mental mistakes. Every aspect of our game fell apart."
Calvin's offense scorched the Saint Mary's defense, shooting 67 percent from the floor during the first half to take the 34-point lead.
The second half was less dramatic and exhibited better play by the Belles.
During the second half, Calvin only outscored Saint Mary's by one point, 33-32. The Belles more than doubled their shooting percentage in the second half to 33 percent, but fell short of Calvin's 46 percent from the field.
"We came in very upset with the way we played the first half," Norman said. "We put on the press right away and got them to turn over the ball."
The Belles forced Calvin into nearly as many turnovers as the Belles committed — 23 to 26.
Sophomore guard Christiansen led the Belles with 18 points and three rebounds.
"[Christiansen] was getting good shots off," Norman said. "She has just really stepped up."
Sophomore forward Kristen Matha added six points and eight rebounds.
Sophomore guard Jennifer Plakmeyer led Calvin with 19 points, three assists and three steals. Teammates Emily Mejeur and Tara Bergsma joined the effort with 11 points and 12 rebounds respectively.
Saint Mary's will face off against MIAA leader Hope on Wednesday at home.
All Sports Stories for Monday, February 5, 2001
