Unbeaten, still.
The Hope College women's basketball team passed its first test of the season in the Hope College Tournament championship game, using a second-half surge to earn the victory over Illinois Wesleyan University, 80-73.
"I think it was a big growth game for us, I think when you play a really good team, like we did today, you're not going to run out to big leads," said head coach Brian Morehouse. "[Your opponent] is going to fight throughout the game, and I thought [Illinois Wesleyan] exposed us on some defensive things, but we kept fighting."
Down by three at the half, Hope jumped into the second half with a renewed energy to improve to 4-0 this season.
"I thought that we went in at halftime and the vibe was a little off, we were behind in the score, and they had just run off a huge second quarter. They had mature conversations, came out, warmed up and I think we played really exceptional basketball in that third quarter to get up [in points], I think that was the big thing, and then I thought we finished the game really well."
The Flying Dutch put together their highest shooting percentage quarter during the final stanza on Saturday afternoon at 72.7%.
Hope gained the lead just 30 seconds in after a soaring three-pointer from junior Karsen Karlblom (Crystal Lake, Illinois / Prairie Ridge HS). The Orange and Blue's lead did not waiver for the remainder of the game.
Hope's largest lead of the game, 77-70, also came within the fourth quarter.
Junior Olivia Bellows (Lake City, Michigan / Lake City) grabbed a game-high 20 points and was named Hope College Tournament MVP.
Sophomore Sydney Vis (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) joined Bellows on the all-tournament team after chipping in 12 points in the championship win over the Titans.
Junior Jada Garner (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow) finished with 11 points.
The Flying Dutch bench garnered nearly half of the team's 80 points, with 37.
Lauren Huber and Ava Bardic of Illinois Wesleyan were selected to the all-tournament team. Huber led the Titans against Hope with 23 points.
John Carroll's Hallie Landies also made the all-tournament team.
Hope returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 21, for the first road game of the season at Wisconsin Lutheran College in a 5 p.m. Central time tipoff.
