ADRIAN, Mich. - Out of all the uncertainty surrounding the Adrian women's basketball team's calendar recently, the Bulldogs are back on their originally scheduled slate, for now.
In case you missed it, the black and gold (5-11, 2-6 MIAA) were on track for back-to-back home games this week with Calvin University and Alma College. However, COVID protocol forced the latter of the two back to next week, leaving Adrian with a rematch against the Knights on Wednesday before traveling to Saint Mary's College on Saturday.
It will have been 11 days since the last meeting between the 'Dogs and the Knights. Earlier this month in Grand Rapids, the locals were held to a season-low 37 points en route to a 25-point victory for the home team.
Calvin (12-5, 5-3 MIAA), in particular, did a notable job defending from outside the paint, limiting Adrian to just 2-of-18 from three-point territory, while also allowing only two free throw attempts over the entire game.
Gabby Timmer, the conference's active leading-scorer and rebounding-leader, posted a game-high 16 points against the Bulldogs to go along with 11 rebounds. On the season, the senior is averaging 19.9 points and 10.5 rebounds an outing, and her 56.6 percent effort from the field ranks fourth in the MIAA.
As a team, the Knights sport the league's fourth-highest scoring average at 65.1. That mark is nearly seven points greater than Adrian's (58.3), and another five points better than Saint Mary's (52.6).
The Belles (4-14, 3-6 MIAA) have been in a slump since defeating the Bulldogs 62-52 back on December 4, 2021, losing eight of their last 10.
In fact, Saint Mary's is the only team in the MIAA that does not have a player with a double-digit scoring average.
Julia Schutz and Maddie Rzepka currently pace the team on the scoresheet with 9.6 and 8.5 points a game, respectively. Schutz, a freshman, is also second in total blocks (10) and fifth in total rebounds (51).
The team's leader on the glass, Bella Dugas (86), scored a team-high 14 points in Adrian back in December.
When Wednesday does rolls around, it will be the Bulldogs first home game since December 22, 2021.
Chelsea Palmer is averaging 15.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game so far in 2022. In four appearances this year, the senior also leads the team with nine blocks.
Makayla Clement actively ranks second on the team with a 7.5 scoring mark, which is complimented by a team-best 23 steals, second-best eight blocks, and third-best 27 assists.
Kiaya Warner, who is the only player to have started in all 16 games so far for the 'Dogs, sports a team-leading 29 assists.
In this week's schedule, Adrian will be looking to snap both a three-game skid to the Belles, and a four-game drought to the Knights.
Live stats and video will available for each contest. For fans planning to attend either of this week's games, please be aware of Adrian College's and Saint Mary's College's policies regarding spectators at athletic events.
