In 2006, the Hope College women's basketball team traveled to three states, including the birthplace of its sport, to become national champions.
Ten years later, those Flying Dutch will gather at DeVos Fieldhouse — where the journey started — to celebrate the accomplishment.
On Saturday, Hope will recognize the anniversary of its second basketball national champion during Alumni Day at DeVos Fieldhouse.
There will be a 1 p.m. exhibition game between past Flying Dutch players and this season's junior varsity team.
At 3 p.m., the varsity team will play
Saint Mary's College in Michigan
Intercollegiate Athletic Association action. The Flying Dutch are off to a 20-0 start and lead the MIAA with a 12-0 league record.
Members of the 2005-06 national championship team will be honored at halftime.
Click here for the Hope-Saint Mary's game program.
"I'm really looking forward to it. It will be an emotional day," said head coach Brian Morehouse, whose career record is 499-76.
"The 2006 team is special because they won it all. That's an incredible thing to do."
The 2006 team finished with a school-record 33 wins in 34 games, including victories in Springfield, Massachusetts of 69-56 against Southern Maine in the national championship game and 59-56 against Scranton, Pennsylvania in the national semifinals.
Guard Bria Ebels was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Guard Julie Henderson also made the all-tournament team.
Hope also defeated four other teams in the NCAA Tournament: DePauw, Indiana 76-60, Washington-St. Louis 92-89, Capital, Ohio 75-56 and Denison, Ohio 72-51. The Flying Dutch completed the season on a 30-game win streak to join the 1990 team as national champs.
Click here to read an April 2006 "News From Hope College" story about the basketball national champions and get links to photo galleries from the title game.
Morehouse is looking forward to everything involved with Alumni Day.
"That's everything about this program," Morehouse said of Alumni Day. "Respecting the foundation that's been laid before us, whether they played for me, coach Tod Gugino or Sue Wise. It's about respecting who became before us and made it possible to play this game we love.:
Current players do a great job of wanting to know about the people before them and respecting them, Morehouse added.
2005-06 ROSTER
Players
Becky Bosserd, junior from Sparta
Jordyn Boles, sophomore from Grand Rapids
Brieann Bryant, freshman from Farwell
Bria Ebels, senior from Holland
Linda Ebels, senior from Falmouth
Julie Henderson, junior from Grand Haven
Jennie Intveld, senior from Carson City
Sarah Jurik, junior from Mesick
Courtney Knox, freshman from Mattawan
Kaitlyn Kopke, freshman from Haslett
Lindsay Lange, sophomore from Manistee
Megan Noll, senior from Lake Orion
Kate Reincke, freshman from Eaton Rapids
Joanne Stewart, senior from Big Rapids
Stacy Warsen, sophomore from Cutlerville
Ellen Wood, junior from Naperville, Illinois
Coaches
Brian Morehouse, head coach
Colly Carlson, assistant coach
Becky Sutton, assistant coach
Dean Morehouse, assistant coach
Colleen Corey, junior varsity coach
Morgan Hughes, student assistant
Abbey Tucker, student assistant
2006 SCHEDULE
Hope 94, Edgewood 55 (H-1st DeVos Game)
Hope 82, Benedictine 55
Hope 77, Saint Mary's 38 (A)
Wheaton 47, Hope 40 (A)
Hope 71, Carthage 42 (A)
Hope 82, Albion 78 - ot (A)
Hope 95, Tri-State 55 (H)
Hope 63, Pitt-Greensburg 57 (A)
Hope 71, North Central 45 (A)
Hope 72, Franklin 70 (A)
Hope 70, Wilmington 67 (A)
Hope 93, Kalamazoo 28 (H)
Hope 81, Adrian 48 (A)
Hope 82, Olivet 60 (H)
Hope 64, Calvin 54 (A)
Hope 76, Alma 69 (H)
Hope 69, Albion 50 (H)
Hope 71, Tri-State 32 (A)
Hope 90, Kalamazoo 44 (A)
Hope 103, Adrian 67 (H)
Hope 86, Rochester 38 (H)
Hope 70, Olivet 56 (A)
Hope 71, Calvin 46 (H)
Hope 71, Alma 49 (A)
Hope 91, Saint Mary's 66 (H)
Hope 80, Kalamazoo 47 (H)
Hope 78, Olivet 51 (H)
Hope 63, Calvin 44 (H)
Hope 72, Denison 51 (A-NCAA)
Hope 75, Capital 56 (A-NCAA)
Hope 92, Washington, Mo. 89 (A-NCAA)
Hope 76, DePauw 60 (A-NCAA)
Hope 59, Scranton, Pa. 56 (A-NCAA)
Hope 69, Southern Maine 56 (A-National Championship Game)
