The unbeaten Hope College women's basketball team faces a challenge from nationally ranked Olivet College tonight for a share of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association lead.
Tipoff is 6 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse on "Orange Out" night that features a women's and men's varsity doubleheader. Hope fans are asked to wear orange in support of the Flying Dutch and Flying Dutchmen.
This is the 83rd game between Hope and Olivet in women's basketball. The rivalry dates back to 1973. Hope leads the all-time series by a 69-13 margin, including an 82-57 win at Olivet on Nov. 26.
Coach Brian Morehouse's Flying Dutch brings in a 16-0 record and an 8-0 mark in MIAA play. Hope remained ranked No. 2 in the USA Today Sports NCAA Division III Coaches Poll and No. 4 in the d3hoops.com rankings. Click here to see the USA Today Sports and d3hoops.com polls.
Picture of senior guard Anna Kaufmann at right by Tom Renner, Hope College Sports Information.
Olivet debuted in the d3hoops.com at No. 24 this week. The Comets are 16-2 overall and 8-1 in MIAA action.
Hope won the first matchup with Olivet this season 82-57 on Nov. 26 at Olivet. Sophomore forward Maura McAfee of Midland (Midland HS) scored a game-high 20 points for the Flying Dutch.
Olivet is currently on an 11-game win streak. The Comets have not lost since Dec. 11 at Aquinas.
Click here for MIAA standings and today's league schedule.
Tonight's game features two of the MIAA's highest-scoring teams.
Hope leads the MIAA and is ranked seventh nationally by scoring 84.4 points per game. Olivet is third in the MIAA at 74.8 points per game.
The Flying Dutch top the MIAA in team defense, allowing 58.3 points per game overall and 55.5 to MIAA opponents.
Hope will look to slow the MIAA's individual scoring leader — Olivet center Stefanie Lang, who is averaging 20.7 points per game. Lang also tops the MIAA in rebounding at 14.0 per game.
McAfee is tied with Olivet guard Chelsea Ciba for sixth in the MIAA in scoring at 13.9 points per game. McAfee is second in the league in rebounding at 9.9 per game.
Click here for MIAA statistics and leaders.
Hope's student section — the Dew Crew — is sporting orange Hope headbands as part of tonight's "Orange Out." The headbands are sponsored by the Hope Fund. Learn more about how you can support the Hope Fund at hope.edu/hope-fund.
Tonight's Hope-Olivet women's junior varsity game at the Dow Center has been cancelled.
