by Alan Babbitt
Hope College is hosting a first- and second-round pod in the 2022 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball on Friday-Saturday, March 4-5, at DeVos Fieldhouse.
The Flying Dutch will be joined by LaRoche University (Pa.), Marietta College (Ohio), and Wittenberg University (Ohio).
The pod winner will advance to the sectional round on Friday-Saturday, March 11-12, on campus sites. Winners of the four sectional sites will advance to the national semifinals and final March 17 and 19 at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted by SportsPITTSBURGH and Presidents' Athletic Conference.
SCHEDULE
Friday, March 4
5 p.m. Marietta (21-5) vs. Wittenberg (18-7). Video | Live Stats
7 p.m. Hope (26-1) vs. LaRoche (20-5). Video | Radio WHTC-AM 1450 | Live Stats
Saturday, March 5
7 p.m. First-round winners. Video | Live Stats
TICKETS
Tickets cost $10 for general admission and $7 for students with ID and youth. All seating is general admission in designated sections.
Tickets will be available online through the Hope College ticket office, or in person or by phone at (616) 395-7890 beginning on Wednesday, March 2, at 9 a.m. at the Hope ticket office, 100 E. 8th Street. The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Order Online
Tickets can be purchased at DeVos Fieldhouse, while supplies last, when doors open at DeVos Fieldhouse on Friday, March 4, at 4 p.m. and on Saturday, March 5, at 6 p.m.
MASKING OPTIONAL
Wearing a mask is optional for spectators inside DeVos Fieldhouse.
CONCESSIONS
Hope College concessions stands will be open for all three games.
MORE INFO
NCAA Division III Tournament Announcement PDF
NCAA Division III Tournament Bracket Online | PDF
MEET THE TEAMS
Hope
The Flying Dutch (No. 2 D3hoops, No. 3 WBCA) won the MIAA Tournament to clinch an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Led by head coach Hope won a share of the MIAA regular-season championship, sharing the title with Trine University. This is the Flying Dutch's 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance. Hope won national championships in 2006 and 1990. The Flying Dutch were ranked No. 1 and unbeaten in 2019-20 heading into sectionals before the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guard Kenedy Schoonveld is the MIAA MVP for the third consecutive season. Center Olivia Voskuil is a four-time MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-MIAA First Team honoree.
LaRoche
The Redhawks clinched a share of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference by defeating co-champion Penn State-Behrend on the final day of the regular season, then won three games to capture the AMCC Tournament title and clinch the league's automatic bid to the national tournament. This is LaRoche's seventh postseason appearance in the past 13 years under head coach Kam Gissendanner. LaRoche have won 14 games in a row. The Red Hawks have three double-digit scorers: guard Danajah Sanders (13.7), guard/forward Makayla Abram (12.4), and guard Avanna Mazyck (12.2).
Marietta
The Pioneers received an at-large berth after going 21-5 during the regular season and finishing third in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Marietta lost in the quarterfinals of the OAC Tournament to the University of Mount Union (Ohio). This is the Pioneers' second NCAA Tournament appearance. Head coach Kole Vivian is in his fifth season. Forward Erin Hann and guard Olivia Gribble top the Pioneers in scoring at 10.2 points per game.
Wittenberg
Wittenberg won the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament for the ninth time last week, including a semifinal win over top-seeded DePauw University (Ind.) to earn the league's automatic berth. This is Wittenberg's 10th postseason appearance. The Tigers finished first in the NCAC regular-season standings. Head coach Tamika Williams-Jeter is in her first season as head coach. Forward Kristie Kallis leads Wittenberg in scoring 13.7 points per game. Senior guard Abigail Yunker is also in double figures at 11.4 points per game.
