by Alan Babbitt

Long before the top-ranked Hope College women's basketball team ventured on a now 60-game winning streak, the Flying Dutch learned how to be a national powerhouse from legendary NCAA Division III coach.

Dixie Jeffers, who retired last month after coaching at Capital University (Ohio) for 35 years, set an inspiring example.

With Monday's 96-31 win against Olivet College on Monday at DeVos Fieldhouse, the Flying Dutch equaled Capital's 60-game winning streak between 1994 and 1995. Both team are tied for the fourth-longest streak in NCAA Division III women's basketball history.

Head coach Brian Morehouse credited Jeffers — whose Capital teams became the first to repeat as Division III national champions in 1994 and 1995 — for showing how to build a competitive and student-athlete focused program.

"Dixie was one of, if not my biggest role model, when I took over the women's program. We went down there early on and got beat by them. I saw what greatness looked like when I watched Dixie's team," Morehouse said, referring to an 86-75 loss to Capital in the NCAA Tournament. "They were a well-oiled machine. They played hard. They were led by an incredible woman. She just built strong women through basketball.

"It is meaningful when we're able to hear our name with programs and people like that."

The Flying Dutch (15-0, 7-0 MIAA) own the longest active winning streak in all of NCAA Basketball, regardless of gender.

Hope can match Thomas More College (Ky.) for the third-longest winning streak in Division III history with a win at Saint Mary's College on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m.

Against Olivet, the Flying Dutch dominated from the opening tip.

Hope scored the game's first 20 points and did not allow Olivet to score until 1 minutes, 22 seconds remained in the first quarter. The Flying Dutch went on to lead 52-10 at halftime.

In all, Hope set a DeVos Fieldhouse record with 31 steals and forced 47 turnovers. Olivet (2-14, 0-8 MIAA) shot 38.7 percent from the field, going 12-of-31 from the field.

The Flying Dutch scored 64 points off of turnovers.

Junior Savannah Feenstra (Osceola, Indiana / Northwood HS) led Hope with 13 points off the bench.

Senior Olivia Voskuil (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) added 11 points.

Senior Hannah Smith (Midland, Michigan / Midland), pictured, chipped 10 points off the bench.

Olivet was led by Julie Decker's 10 points.