The Hope College women's basketball team is eager to return to the court. 

The NCAA Division III reigning National Champions are looking to maintain last year's work ethic and continue to be a force to be reckoned with. 

The Flying Dutch return 10 letterwinners for the 2022-23 season, with five prominent players looking to lead this season after collecting the MIAA league title (co-champions), MIAA Tournament title, and the NCAA Championship title last year. 

The Orange and Blue posted a 32-1 overall record during the 21-22 season, with a 15-1 MIAA regular season record.

On October 31, Hope was voted No. 1 in the D3hoops.com preseason rankings.

Head coach Brian Morehouse said defense will be a strength for this season's team moving forward. The Flying Dutch head into their season and home opener on Friday, November 11 against Geneva College (Pa.) at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Flying Dutch Breakdown

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Brian Morehouse, 27th season
Assistant Coaches: Courtney Kust '13, Colly Carlson '92, Kyle Lurvey, Dean Morehouse, Austin Randel

2022 Roster

The Flying Dutch's roster of 18 players features five key returning players in seniors Kate Majerus, Ella McKinney, Claire Baguley., Meg Morehouse, and Savannah Feenstra.

Majerus returns for a fifth season with Hope after starting all 33 games last season and averaging 18.0 minutes per game. The education major from Sycamore, Illinois (Sycamore) led the team in both 3-pointers made with 50 and field-goal percentage with .536. 

McKinney returns to the court after earning a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament team after leading Hope in the championship game with a career-high 21 points. The biology major from Haslett, Michigan (Haslett) collected 291 points and posted 57 assists during her junior season.

Baguley returns for a senior season after averaging 16.4 minutes per game and collecting 225 points for the Flying Dutch. The environmental science major from Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Central) was the NCAA Elite 90 winner as a junior.

Morehouse returns for her senior season after averaging 15.5 minutes per game during last season. The physical and health education major from Zeeland, Michigan (Zeeland East) totaled 191 points last season with 59 steals off the bench. 

Feenstra is making her comeback after an injury late in the season took her off the court. The nursing major from Osecola, Indiana (Northwood) was a key player with 115 rebounds, averaging 5.2 rebounds per game. Feenstra also snagged a .628 free throw percentage from the line for Hope.

MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

The Flying Dutch finished at the top in the 2022-23 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll with all eight possible first place votes. Coaches were not able to vote for their own teams.

In the MIAA poll, Hope finished ahead of runner-up Trine University (16 points, 1 first-place vote), Calvin University (25). Albion College (27), Alma College (34), Saint Mary's College (46), Adrian College (47), Olivet College (57) and Kalamazoo College (64).

2022 Schedule

The Flying Dutch begin the season hosting back-to-back tournaments with  the Tip Off Tournament on November 11 and 12 and the Hope College Tournament on November 18 and 19 at DeVos Fieldhouse.

The Flying Dutch will play their first five games at home before going on the road for the first time on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Calvin University in the MIAA opener.

Hope faces off with 4 Top 20 teams before Christmas, including Illinois Wesleyan, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Wisconsin-Lutheran, and Trine. 

The Flying Dutch will play four of their first five MIAA opponents on the road, with the first matchup against Trine for the season taking place at DeVos Fieldhouse on Saturday, December 17. 

Six MIAA teams will qualify for the league tournament that runs from Wednesday, Feb. 22 through Saturday, Feb. 25. The top two teams earn first-round byes. The MIAA Tournament champion claims the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Finding Hope

The Flying Dutch are the third team in NCAA Division III women's basketball history with at least three national championships. Washington University in St. Louis has five national titles; Amherst (Mass.) has three.

Hope has made the NCAA Tournament 22 times during its history, capturing three titles in 2022, 2006, and 1990. 

Head coach Brian Morehouse is the sixth Division III women's basketball coach to win at least two national championships. He also guided the Flying Dutch to the 2006 crown in Springfield, Massachusetts. Sue Wise led Hope to its first national title in 1990.

Hope is gearing up for and looking for the team's 21st MIAA Championship season. Hope last notched three regular season titles in a row twice before, in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 season, and before that during the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 season. 

The Orange and Blue aim to earn the 19th MIAA Tournament title in team history. 

Hope is 240-9 all-time at DeVos Fieldhouse for an .965 home-court winning percentage. 

Coach's Outlook

"Our schedule is really front loaded with some really great matchups and that presents a lot of opportunity, and it also presents a little bit of stress knowing that we're going to be young in certain spots, but it also gives us the opportunity to see some growth come forward on the court in some really big games. I like that [this team] really loves basketball, and they love coming to practice, they love getting coached up, and when you have that growth mindset, I think you can really improve a lot." - Brian Morehouse