LocalSportsJournal.com

A big second quarter and a team effort lifted Western Michigan Christian girls’ basketball to a 42-39 win on the road over a hot-shooting Grand Rapids Covenant Christian on Friday.

The Warriors were led by an 18-point second quarter and Maddie Folkema’s 18-point night. WMC had to withstand Covenant Christian’s Sophia Meulenberg, who drained seven 3-pointers and had a game-high 23 points on the night. 

WMC struggled at the start as it trailed 11-5 after Meulenberg scored all 11 of her team’s first-quarter points off three triples and a field goal.

Folkema helped spark the Warriors’ second-quarter response that resulted in a 23-18 lead at half time. The freshman guard scored seven of her team’s 18 second-quarter points and was aided by Eveline and Abigail Derdowski. The pair of Derdowskis combined for nine points—five from Evelyn that included a 3-pointer. Defense was also key for WMC as it held Meulenberg to no second quarter points. 
 

The second half was more Meulenberg as she hit four more 3-pointers—two in each quarter. But WMC was able to limit the Chargers to nine third-quarter points for a 30-27 lead heading into the fourth.

Madelyn Systema gave the Warriors three key points in the fourth quarter to support Folkema’s seven points. Maria Eenigenberg also contributed two of her seven points in the final eight minutes. 

Folkema piled up the stats for WMC, finishing with seven rebounds, eights steals and three assists. Eenigenbug also stepped to lead the Warriors with nine rebounds, and Abigail Derdowski finished with six points.

WMC is now 7-1 overall and will next travel to Spring Lake on January 18.