Calvin Box Score

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Elmhurst College women's basketball team dropped its 2008-09 season opener, falling 65-58 to Calvin College at the Wisconsin Lutheran College Tip-Off Tournament.

Elmhurst led 26-22 at halftime and maintained its lead for the first 13 minutes of the second half, before Calvin grabbed control. A 3-pointer by Courtney Kuncz with just over seven minutes remaining put Calvin on top (48-47) and they never trailed the rest of the way. The Kurncz 3-pointer was the start of a 10-2 run for the Knights that gave them an 55-49 lead. Elmhurst was unable to cut the deficit to less than four points for the final five minutes of the contest.

Turnovers and fouled plagued the Bluejays throughout the game. Elmhurst turned the ball over 30 times in the contest. After going to the foul line only four times in the first half, Calvin attempted 27 free throws in the second half, including seven straight to build a six-point lead in their 10-2 run.

The Bluejays finished the game shooting 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the floor and 27.8 percent (5-of-18) from beyond the arc. Calvin shot 48.9 percent (23-of-47) from the floor and 20 percent (2-of-10) from downtown. Elmhurst led the battle on the glass with a 43-31 advantage.

Lyndsie Long led the Bluejays with 21 points, including 16 in the second half. Long shot 8-of-17 from the floor. Kelsey Monroe added 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Laurel Benson came off the bench to score six points in the loss. Charnele Harris added a team-high eight rebounds.

The Bluejays had no answer for Calvin's Marcia Harris, who scored a game-high 35 points, including 25 in the second half. Harris shot 12-of-16 from the field and 11-of-15 from the foul line. Sarah Partridge added 10 points while Kurncz finished with nine points and seven boards.

Elmhurst will face Finlandia University in the tournament's consolation game tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.