Megan Keley

The Hope College women's basketball team beat Saint Mary's College 89-59 on Wednesday to clinch at least a share of its 14th conference championship.

The nationally ranked Flying Dutch will go for an outright Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association title at 3 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Trine (Ind.) University.

Hope improved to 22-0 overall and 14-0 in MIAA play behind 17 points from senior guard Megan Kelley of Rockford (Rockford HS) and 10 from senior guard Anna Kaufmann of Davenport, Iowa (Davenport Central).

Kaufmann made her first start of the season after taking the spot of injured freshman Angelique Gaddy of Caledonia (Grand Rapids South Christian HS).

"I love that they're resilient. That is why we are champions," Hope coach Brian Morehouse said.

Kelley scored all of her points during the first half to help coach Brian Morehouse's Flying Dutch grab a 53-25 halftime lead in front of a DeVos Fieldhouse crowd of 856.

Kelley shot 75 percent from the field (6-of-8) during the opening 20 minutes, including 100 percent from 3-point range (3-of-3).

Kaufmann also did not miss a shot before halftime, netting seven points on one 3-pointer, one 2-point field goal and two free throws.

The Flying Dutch shot 48.3 percent from the field for the game (28-of-58) and 50 percent from 3-point range (9-of-18).

Four players scored eight points apiece for Hope — senior guard Brittany Berry of Grand Rapids (Catholic Central HS), senior center Kelsey Masserant of Novi (Novi HS), freshman forward Elizabeth Perkins of Eaton Rapids (Lansing Christian HS) and freshman forward Mandy Traversa of Winfield, Ill. (Wheaton North HS).

The effort capped a celebration of National Girls & Women In Sports Day at Hope.

Hope is ranked No. 2 this week in the USA Today Sports NCAA Division III Coaches Poll and No. 3 by d3hoops.com. 

The Flying Dutch also learned on Wednesday they were ranked in the first Great Lakes Regional rankings of the season. Click here to read more about the rankings.