by Mackenzie McMahon

The No. 1-ranked Hope College women's basketball team has increased the longest active win streak in NCAA basketball to 58 games as the Flying Dutch took down fellow MIAA member Alma College, in a 94-49 victory on Thursday at Art Smith Arena.

Hope is now tied with DePauw University (Indiana) for the fifth-longest Division III women's basketball winning streak.  

"I think we played with a great deal of energy tonight, and we played really hard on the defensive end," head coach Brian Morehouse said. 

Hope improved to 13-0 overall and 5-0 in MIAA conference play. 

The Flying Dutch never trailed in their second of three games this week, outscoring the Scots 19-9 in the first quarter and mimicking their dominant win over Adrian on Wednesday night.where the orange and blue held the lead throughout the game.  

Junior Meg Morehouse, pictured, scored a career-high 17 points. The guard from Zeeland, Michigan (Zeeland East HS) went 6-for-7 for field goals, 3-for-3 in 3-pointers, and 2-of-2 in free throws.

"Meg actually plays better when she is tired. It was almost good that we had a game last night, so that back-to-back actually helped her," Brian Morehouse said. "Meg is just the energizer, she plays for the team so hard, it's nice to see the ball go in for her, because so often she's the one that's dishing the ball and not always the one on the receiving end of the pass." 

Senior Olivia Voskuil (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) also nabbed 17 points for the Flying Dutch.

Senior Kenedy Schoonveld (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian) totaled eight points and moved forward in the Flying Dutch's career scoring list, as she surpassed Bria Ebels (2002-2006) and Lisa Hoekstra (1996-2000) for the seventh place spot with 1,250 career points. 

The bench, or better known as the chaos squad, grabbed 51 of the team's 94 points on Thursday, including Meg Morehouse.

Brian Morehouse called it a luxury to have that group coming off the bench. 

"They play chaotically, they play with energy, they play fast, and it's a great thunder and lightning approach with the starters bringing the thunder and then the lightning coming off the bench," said Morehouse. 

Hope held Alma to 31 percent shooting from the field and forced 21 turnovers.

The Flying Dutch's next game is Saturday, Jan. 15 against Albion College at DeVos Fieldhouse. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. Both teams are unbeaten in league play.