by Alan Babbitt

An orange-and-blue filled UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse at Duquesne University reveled in another memorable achievement for the Hope College women's basketball team.

A total of 1,108 fans watched the Flying Dutch defeat the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 71-58, for Hope's third national title. 

Photo by Lynne Powe

Many more Hope faithful watched the game on television from across the country, including hundreds at a watch party on campus at the Haworth Hotel. The support meant so much, fifth-year senior Kenedy Schoonveld said.

"We're biased for sure, but, hands down, we have the best fans," Schoonveld said. "Whitewater traveled well, too. It was packed in there. To have those people behind us, who have stuck with us through thick and thin this entire season, meant the world to us."

Fans are invited to greet the Flying Dutch today upon their arrival back to DeVos Fieldhouse.

The team's bus is scheduled to return to campus at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Links

Game Recap | Photo Gallery | Media Coverage

Notes

The Flying Dutch are now 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.

Read More: 1990: The Miracle on Eighth Street | 2006: Oh, The Places We've Gone

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.

Brian Morehouse enjoyed a special family moment with his daughter, Meg Morehouse. They cut down the nets together after doing the same thing 16 years ago when she was a ball girl for the 2006 national champions. Dean Morehouse, Brian's father, has been a long-time advisor and scout on the Flying Dutch coaching staff.

Photo by Lynne Powe

Sydney Muller is Hope's third NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, joining Bria Ebels (2006) and Dina Disney (1990). Muller averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists during the national semifinals and final.

Ella McKinney joined Sydney Muller on the all-tournament team. The junior guard scored a career-high 21 points against Whitewater and propelled a 29-2 edge in points off the bench for the Flying Dutch.

Three fifth-year seniors — Sydney Muller, Kenedy Schoonveld, and Olivia Voskuil — completed their careers with a 138-8 record. Over the past three seasons, they helped the Flying Dutch win 77 of 78 games and record a school-record 61-game winning streak that ties for the third-longest winning streak in NCAA Division III women's basketball history.

Shortly before tipoff, Kenedy Schoonveld was named by D3hoops.com Division III Women's Basketball Player of the Year. She headlined a 20-player D3hoops.com All-America team that included Olivia Voskuil, a fourth-team selection. 

With five points against Whitewater, Kenedy Schoonveld moved into second place all-time in Hope's scoring annals with 1,479 points. She passed Francesca Buchanan  (1,476 points from 2016-19). Amanda Kerkstra tops Hope with 1,568 points from 1999-2003.

The Flying Dutch eclipsed the 30-win mark for the fifth time in team history and the first time in 12 years. With a 32-1 record, Hope has joined the 2005-06 team that finished 33-1, the 2019-20 team that went 32-2, the 2002-03 team that finished 31-1, and the 2007-08 team that went 30-1. The Division III record is 34 games by DePauw (2012-13).

Hope's six-point deficit against Wisconsin-Whitewater four minutes into the second quarter was its largest of the NCAA Tournament. The Flying Dutch previously overcame a five-point deficit to Marietta (Ohio) in a second-round victory at DeVos Fieldhouse.